What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Flights in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England have been affected by air traffic control issues – the second major disruption at UK airports in a few weeks.

When a flight is cancelled or delayed, passengers affected have various rights, such as a refund or an alternative flight at no extra cost. However, these can vary depending on which carrier you are flying with and from where.

Extra compensation is payable only when an airline is at fault, which is not the case with air traffic control problems.

Under UK law, airlines have a duty to look after you when flights are delayed or cancelled.

The reason for the delay or cancellation does not matter. So anyone affected by the air transport delays will be eligible.

That includes providing meals and accommodation, if necessary, and getting you to your destination. The airline should organise putting you on an alternative flight at no extra cost.

Additional losses, such as unused accommodation, might require a claim to a credit card provider, if that was the payment option used.

After that, a claim may need to go to your travel insurance provider, but there is no standard definition of what is covered.

It may require a close look at the details of the policy to see what is covered and in which circumstances.

Passengers are also being urged to heed travel advice from the UK government , external , as this can also affect travel insurance rights.

UK law generally applies to your flight if you are flying from a UK airport on any airline, arriving at a UK airport on an EU or UK airline, or arriving at an airport in the EU on a UK airline.

If your flight was coming into the UK on a non-UK or EU airline, then you should check the terms and conditions of your booking.

If your flight is covered by UK law, your airline must let you choose between either getting a refund or being booked on to an alternative flight.

You can get your money back for any part of the ticket you have not used.