Aer Lingus delay compensation: check your flight against the record
Aer Lingus is an EU carrier. Flights out of the UK are covered by UK261; flights out of the EU by EU261; flights from the EU into the UK by both, and you choose which to claim under.
Enter the flight number and date. We pull the actual arrival time, the Eurocontrol air-traffic delay logged at both airports that day and the airport weather, then tell you whether Aer Lingus owes you £220, £350 or £520 per passenger and how strong the airline's likely defence is.
Typical Aer Lingus routes
| Route | Distance | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin to Heathrow | 450 km | €250 / £220 |
| Dublin to New York JFK | 5,100 km | €600 |
| Manchester to Dublin | 265 km | £220 |
| Dublin to Malaga | 2,160 km | €400 |
Bands: up to 1,500 km £220 / €250; 1,500 to 3,500 km £350 / €400; over 3,500 km £520 / €600 (halved for a 3 to 4 hour long-haul delay).
What to know about claiming from Aer Lingus
- Aer Lingus is an Irish (EU) carrier. Dublin to Heathrow is covered by EU261 (departed the EU) and UK261 (arrived in the UK on an EU carrier); Heathrow to Dublin by UK261 and, arriving in the EU on an EU carrier, EU261. Aer Lingus UK (EG) operates some Belfast routes as a UK carrier.
- Transatlantic flights from Dublin fall under EU261 at €600. The return from the USA to Dublin is also covered because Aer Lingus is an EU carrier.
If Aer Lingus refuses or does not answer within 8 weeks: This airline is not on the CAA's list of airlines signed up to an ADR scheme, so for a UK flight the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT) is the free route. PACT can take the complaint up with the airline but, unlike an ADR scheme, cannot make a binding decision. The small claims court remains open.
You can claim from Aer Lingus for free.
Use the claim page above and a free template from the CAA, Which? or MoneySavingExpert. Our £4.99 letter adds the verified flight record and the day's delay and weather evidence, which is what you will need if Aer Lingus replies with “extraordinary circumstances”. Claims firms charge 35% to 50% of the payout for the same claim.
Aer Lingus compensation questions
Answers people search for
How much does Aer Lingus pay for a delay?
€250 up to 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500 to 3,500 km, €600 over 3,500 km under EU261; £220, £350 and £520 under UK261 where that applies. Dublin to New York at 5,100 km is €600 per passenger.
Should I claim in euro or sterling from Aer Lingus?
Where both regulations apply you may choose. Irish residents claim under EU261 with the Irish Aviation Authority as enforcement body; UK residents usually claim under UK261, with the CAA's complaints team and the UK small claims track as the escalation routes (Aer Lingus is not on the CAA's list of airlines in an ADR scheme).