Air France UK compensation: EU261, UK261 and overlap
Short answer: an Air France flight departing the United Kingdom is normally within UK261. An Air France-operated flight from the EU to the UK is normally within EU261 and can also engage UK rules because Air France is an EU carrier arriving in the UK. The passenger may choose the useful legal route but cannot receive duplicate fixed compensation for the same disruption.
Free eligibility check
Check your case in the form
Enter your route, date and type of disruption. We will check whether your case qualifies for a claim under EU 261/2004 or UK261.
What happened to your flight?
Claim up to €600 for a delayed or cancelled flight.
Choose the situation that applies to your flight:
This guide reflects UK CAA and EU information checked on 13 August 2026. UK amounts are stated in pounds and are not a currency translation of EU awards.
Direction and operator decide coverage
| Flight actually operated by Air France | Usual starting framework |
|---|---|
| London to Paris | UK261 |
| Manchester to Paris and onward on one ticket | UK261 connection analysis |
| Paris to London | EU261; UK261 can also be relevant |
| New York–Paris–London on one Air France ticket | assess EU and UK scope, operator and final destination |
| AF-coded US–UK flight operated by Delta | test Delta and the route, not the AF code |
UK261 generally protects departures from UK airports and arrivals in the UK on UK or EU carriers. EU261 protects departures from EU airports and qualifying arrivals into the EU on EU carriers. Air France’s EU status creates possible overlap, especially between Paris and the UK.
Do not submit two claims as though the same inconvenience happened twice. Preserve both legal analyses and state any payment received.
UK compensation amounts
Current CAA guidance lists:
| UK261 distance and delay | Fixed amount per eligible passenger |
|---|---|
| Flight under 1,500 km | GBP 220 |
| Flight from 1,500 to 3,500 km | GBP 350 |
| Flight over 3,500 km, arrival 3–4 hours late | GBP 260 |
| Flight over 3,500 km, arrival over 4 hours late | GBP 520 |
London–Paris is under 1,500 km, so the UK amount usually begins at GBP 220. For a protected London–Paris–long-haul journey, distance and final destination can change the category.
EU261 uses EUR 250, EUR 400 and EUR 600 bands, with a possible long-haul reduction. Select a coherent regime and do not add GBP 220 to EUR 250 for one London–Paris delay.
Delay and connected journeys
UK CAA guidance measures compensation using final arrival for protected connecting bookings. A late Air France flight from London that causes a missed CDG connection can therefore be assessed at the last destination on the ticket.
Separate bookings are different. If London–Paris is one ticket and Paris–Bangkok another, Air France is not automatically responsible under UK261 for the independent second flight. The first sector can still qualify on its own.
Record aircraft-door arrival, replacement boarding passes and the complete e-ticket. A short London departure delay can create a long final delay after a missed protected connection.
Cancellation rights under UK261
For a covered cancellation, Air France must offer the choice of refund or alternative transport. The UK CAA states that rerouting can include another airline or suitable mode of transport where it reaches the destination significantly sooner.
Fixed compensation depends on notice, replacement timing and cause. Less than 14 days’ notice can qualify, subject to detailed seven-to-fourteen-day and under-seven-day windows. Extreme weather, external ATC or airport strikes may defeat the fixed payment while rerouting and care remain.
Keep the original notice time and every option Air France presented. If the passenger accepts a refund, the airline no longer has to provide the same journey as rerouting.
Care in the United Kingdom
UK261 care includes reasonable food and drink, communication and hotel plus transfer when an overnight stay becomes necessary. The CAA advises passengers to make reasonable arrangements and retain itemised receipts when the airline cannot provide assistance.
Care thresholds depend on flight distance and departure wait. They are not identical to the final three-hour compensation threshold. A passenger can receive meals before any fixed entitlement is established.
Weather and external strikes do not erase care. The airline’s control matters for compensation, not the basic need created by a qualifying wait.
Air France UK complaint route
Complain to Air France first and keep the reference. The UK CAA’s current ADR list identifies Air France as participating in AviationADR. A passenger can generally approach the relevant ADR after a final response or eight weeks without response, subject to the scheme’s current rules.
Approved ADR can issue a decision within its remit. The CAA’s PACT route is principally for airlines not covered by approved ADR and cannot impose a solution in the same way. Court action remains possible, subject to jurisdiction and time limits.
The CAA notes six years for court claims in England and Wales and five years in Scotland, but the correct cause, forum and any specialist period still need confirmation. Montreal Convention baggage or delay damage has a separate two-year rule.
Example: London–Paris–Montreal
An Air France ticket starts at Heathrow, connects at CDG and ends in Montreal. A delay from London causes the missed transatlantic flight, and arrival in Montreal is nine hours late.
Check:
- every sector is on one booking;
- Air France operated the causal sector;
- UK261 covers the UK departure and connected final destination;
- final arrival and distance set the amount;
- the precise cause and reasonable measures;
- any EU overlap and payment already received.
The claim should not treat Paris as final destination merely because the missed flight occurred there.
Evidence and claim wording
Attach the e-ticket, boarding passes, Air France notices, replacement itinerary, final-arrival proof and receipts. State whether the claim is made under UK261 and quote pounds. If also preserving an EU argument, explain the overlap and confirm no duplicate recovery is sought.
For a partner-operated sector, use the Air France operating-carrier guide. For a connected CDG event, the missed-connection guide provides the final-arrival record.
See the Air France compensation overview.
FAQ
Does UK261 cover Air France from London to Paris?
Yes. UK261 covers departures from UK airports regardless of carrier nationality, subject to the disruption and other conditions.
Does EU261 cover Air France from Paris to London?
Yes, because the flight departs the EU. UK261 can also be relevant for an EU carrier arriving in the UK, but duplicate fixed recovery is not allowed.
How much is a delayed London–Paris claim?
The current UK short-flight amount is GBP 220 per eligible passenger. Under EU261 the comparable band is EUR 250, but do not add both for one event.
Can Air France reroute me on another airline?
Where another suitable service reaches the destination significantly sooner, UK CAA guidance supports discussing that alternative with the airline.
Where do I escalate an unresolved UK Air France complaint?
Complain to Air France first. The CAA’s current list identifies Air France with AviationADR; verify the provider and admissibility when filing.