Your Wizz Air Flight Was £5. Can You Get UK Flight Compensation?

Your Wizz Air flight was cheap (£5, £10, £20). Can you get UK flight compensation?

Cheap flight tickets and deals can be tempting. But what happens when issues arise? Like flight delays or cancellations – does your ticket’s cost matter then? How does it affect your eligibility for flight compensation in the UK? Is ticket price a factor in claiming flight compensation? Can you still get compensation for a very cheap flight?

1. Can You Get UK Flight Compensation if Your Flight Ticket Was Cheap?

Yes, you can get compensation even if your ticket was cheap.

We’re talking about UK flight compensation, divided into three categories:

• UK flight delay compensation
• UK flight cancellation compensation
• UK denied boarding compensation

According to Regulation UK 261, you are entitled to compensation if:

• Your flight is delayed by 3 or more hours (due to the airline’s fault);
• Your flight is cancelled at the last minute (due to the airline’s fault);
• Your flight is overbooked, and you are denied boarding involuntarily.

Though it’s a UK regulation, it applies to tourists from other countries and continents, and sometimes even to flights with non-EU and non-UK airlines. The rules are the same for regular and charter airlines, full-service and low-cost airlines.

It doesn’t matter if it’s Wizz Air, easyJet or British Airways. The price of your ticket doesn’t matter. You can get full UK flight compensation even if your ticket costs only £10 (or even £5).

According to the UK flight compensation regulation, all paying customers should be treated equally and have the same rights to compensation for flight delays, cancellations and overbooking.

Regardless of the ticket price, you are entitled to flight compensation. Whether you paid £5 or £500 for your flight, your entitlements remain the same. If a flight disruption is caused by the airline’s fault, you may be eligible for flight compensation. Yes, even if your ticket was very cheap, you can still receive compensation.

2. Can You Get UK Flight Compensation if Your Flight Was With a Low-Cost Airline (Wizz Air UK, Jet2, EasyJet, Ryanair UK, Etc.)?

Understanding your passenger rights is crucial.

Passengers flying with a low-cost airline can claim compensation.

If you are flying with a budget airline, such as Ryanair UK, Jet2, Wizz Air UK or easyJet, you may be entitled to compensation if your flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked due to the airline’s fault. Regardless of the ticket cost or airline, your entitlements remain the same.

Compensation is based on flight distance, not ticket price or airline category.

If you have to wait at the airport due to flight delay, cancellation or denied boarding, you have a right to care – free meals and, if necessary, a free hotel stay.

2.1 Can You Get Flight Compensation if Your Flight Was With a EU Low-Cost Airline?

You are entitled to certain rights when flying with EU low-cost airlines. These rights are protected under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and, in some cases, under Regulation UK 261.

Yes, you may get either a UK flight compensation or EU flight compensation.

Here are all the possible scenarios:

	Regulation UK261	Regulation EC261/2004
EU – EU	–	✓
EU – UK	✓	✓
EU – Third Country	–	✓
UK – EU	✓	✓
UK – UK	✓	–
UK – Third Country	✓	–
Third Country – EU	–	✓
Third Country – UK	✓	–

Learn more: Regulation EC261 vs UK261

2.2 Can You Get Flight Compensation if Your Flight Was With a non-European Low-Cost Airline?

If you are flying with a non-EU and non-UK low-cost airline, you may be entitled to compensation, too. Just remember – your flight must depart from a European airport (including UK airports) and must be disrupted due to the airline’s fault.

These are some non-European airlines that fly to Europe:

• Scoot
• Pegasus
• FlyDubai
• Air Arabia

	Regulation UK261	Regulation EC261/2004
EU – EU	–	✓
EU – UK	–	✓
EU – Third Country	–	✓
UK – EU	✓	–
UK – UK	✓	–
UK – Third Country	✓	–

Read more: You Are Flying With a Non-EU, Non-UK Airline: Which Laws Protect You as a Passenger?

3. How Much Is the Flight Compensation in the UK?

UK flight compensation ranges from £220 to £520, depending on the flight distance.

Yes, even if your ticket costs only £5.

Compensation amounts are the same for all passengers, including babies and children.

Here’s how to calculate UK flight compensation:

When your destination is within the UK / EU:

When your destination is outside the UK / EU:

There is one exception. If the distance of your flight is greater than 3,500 kilometres, and you reach your destination with a delay between 3 to 4 hours, you will be receiving £260 not £520 (50% of the compensation). If the delay is longer than 4 hours, you will get full compensation of £520.

If you are entitled to European flight compensation, it is paid in euros (€250, €400 or €600).

Read more:

• How to Claim UK Flight Compensation?
• How Far Back Can You Claim Flight Compensation in the UK?
• Why Seek Legal Representation to Claim UK Flight Compensation?

If you have further inquiries regarding UK flight compensation regulations, feel free to ask in the comments section.

Featured photo by Nikolaos Dimou from Pexels