London to Paris flight compensation

Which rules apply on this direction

Flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) depart the United Kingdom, so UK261 (retained Regulation 261/2004) applies to every airline that operates the route. The great-circle distance is 348 km (up to 1,500 km), which puts the fixed compensation at £220 per passenger for a delay of three hours or more at arrival, a cancellation announced less than 14 days ahead without a close replacement, or involuntary denied boarding.

Whatever the cause, care starts earlier than compensation on this short-distance flight: after 2 hours of delay at London Heathrow Airport the airline owes meals and communication, and after 5 hours you may abandon the trip and demand a refund of the unused ticket.

Airlines on the route and whether they are covered

• British Airways (BA, UK licence): covered on this direction (UK261 applies to every airline departing the United Kingdom). Member of CEDR Aviation.

• Air France (AF, EU/EEA licence): covered on this direction (UK261 applies to every airline departing the United Kingdom). Member of Médiation Tourisme et Voyage (MTV).

Departing from London Heathrow Airport

Heathrow operates at close to full runway capacity, so weather and air-traffic flow restrictions turn into delays and “capacity” cancellations faster than at any other UK airport. A general reference to restrictions at Heathrow is not a defence: the airline has to show the restriction that applied to your flight.

Heathrow is British Airways’ hub; on a single booking through Heathrow the delay is measured at the final destination and the distance band covers the whole journey.

Airport guides: London Heathrow Airport · Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport — the causes airlines cite at each end, the enforcement body, and the other routes with their own page.

Return direction

The return, Paris → London, departs France, so it falls under Regulation (EC) 261/2004 (EU261) on every airline instead of UK261 (retained Regulation 261/2004): €250 per passenger.

The two directions are paid in different currencies: pounds on this leg, euros on the return.

Escalation also moves to France: complaints go to Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) (France) rather than UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA); the dispute-resolution scheme is Médiation Tourisme et Voyage (MTV); the limitation period for a court claim is 5 years instead of 6 years; a court claim is brought before the Tribunal judiciaire — procédure simplifiée / European Small Claims Procedure.

Where to escalate

Claim from the airline first. If it refuses or does not answer, the competent enforcement body for this direction is UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) (United Kingdom). Approved ADR schemes: AviationADR (https://www.aviationadr.org.uk — Ryanair, easyJet, TUI Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Wizz Air and others) and CEDR (https://www.cedr-assist.com/consumer/aviation/ — British Airways, BA CityFlyer, Cathay Pacific, SAS). Airlines not in a scheme, including Jet2: CAA Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT).

The United Kingdom also has an approved dispute-resolution scheme, AviationADR, whose decisions bind the airline. Free for passengers. Open the case online once the airline has given its final answer or eight weeks have passed without one.

Court claims in the United Kingdom are subject to a limitation period of 6 years (Limitation Act 1980, s. 5 (England and Wales; six years). Scotland: five years under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973.).

A court claim goes to the County court — Money Claim Online (small claims track). Claims up to £10,000 on the small claims track; court fee recoverable if you win.

About this route

Heathrow–Charles de Gaulle carries heavy business traffic on British Airways and Air France. French ATC strikes are the most common defence on the Paris side; on the London side, Heathrow capacity restrictions in winter weather. Both must be proven for the specific flight.