If you're flying out of a UK airport this year, it's worth brushing up on two things that trip travellers up most often: what you're allowed to bring on board, and what you're entitled to when things run late.
Start with hand luggage. There's no single UK-wide size rule — each airline sets its own limits, and they vary a lot. Budget carriers are the strictest: on some, only a small under-seat bag is free, and a full-sized cabin case costs extra unless you've paid for priority boarding. Full-service airlines are typically more generous, usually allowing a main cabin bag plus a personal item. The practical move is to check your specific airline's dimensions before you pack, not at the gate, where oversized bags can be charged at eye-watering rates. Liquids still follow the familiar 100ml rule at most UK airports, though some have been rolling out newer scanners that relax this — check your departure airport before you travel.
Then there are delays. Under UK air passenger rights rules (UK261, the post-Brexit version of the EU's EU261), you can claim compensation when your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late, and the delay was within the airline's control. Payouts depend on distance: roughly £220 for short-haul flights, up to around £520 for long-haul. Extraordinary circumstances — serious weather, air traffic control strikes, security alerts — exempt airlines from paying, but technical faults and crew issues generally don't.
Beyond compensation, airlines owe you care during long waits: food, drink and, for overnight delays, accommodation and transfers. If your flight is cancelled, you're entitled to a choice of a refund or rerouting — and you don't have to accept a voucher if you'd rather have cash.
For travellers, the takeaway is simple: screenshot your airline's baggage policy before you leave, keep boarding passes and receipts for any delay expenses, and know that compensation claims can usually be made directly with the airline — free of charge — if your arrival is three or more hours late.
