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Denied boarding and overbooking
If you were denied boarding against your will — usually because the flight was overbooked — and you had a confirmed booking and checked in on time, the airline must compensate you straight away.
What you are owed
| Flight distance | UK261 | EU261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (and intra-EU flights over 1,500 km) | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | £520 | €600 |
Almost every flight between the UK or Ireland and the Canary Islands is between 2,500 and 3,300 km, so the usual amount is £350 (UK261) or €400 (EU261) per passenger, including children with their own seat.
Plus a choice of refund or re-routing, and care (meals, communication, hotel if needed). If you volunteer to give up your seat in exchange for benefits you negotiate, the fixed compensation no longer applies — so check the offer carefully.
Airlines may deny boarding for legitimate reasons (health, safety, security or inadequate travel documents), in which case no compensation is due.
Claiming yourself (free)
Write to the airline with your booking reference, flight number, date and what happened, and ask for the fixed compensation under UK261 or EU261. If they refuse or don't reply within 8 weeks, escalate: UK airlines usually belong to an ADR scheme (e.g. AviationADR or CEDR); otherwise the UK CAA can help. For flights departing Spain (including the Canaries) you can complain to AESA, and in Ireland to the Aviation Regulator.
Using a claims company
If you don't want the hassle, a company like AirHelp handles it on a no-win, no-fee basis. You get less money (they keep a fee), but they deal with the airline and, if needed, the courts.
Last reviewed 20 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.