AIRLINE · DENIED BOARDING
SASDenied boarding compensation — are you owed money?
If you were bumped from an overbooked flight against your will, compensation is due immediately — and the extraordinary-circumstances defence does not apply.
In May 2026, no SAS departures from UK airports were recorded arriving 3 or more hours late in official CAA data, and 1.4% were cancelled. That ranks SAS 18th of 24 tracked airlines for fewest compensation-relevant disruptions. See the full league table →
UK / EU airline · full rights
UK261 applies to every SAS flight to or from the UK. If you were delayed 3+ hours or cancelled and the airline was at fault, you can claim.
When SAS has to pay
UK261 · ARTICLE 4 · ARTICLE 2(J) · ARTICLE 7- ARTICLE 4(1)
Before bumping anyone, the airline must first ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for agreed benefits. A volunteer negotiates their own deal and gives up the fixed compensation.
- ARTICLE 4(3)
If you were denied boarding against your will, the airline must immediately pay the fixed compensation under Article 7, and provide re-routing or a refund and care.
- ARTICLE 2(J)
This only counts as “denied boarding” if you presented yourself for boarding on time. Refusal on reasonable grounds — health, safety, security, or inadequate travel documents — is excluded and carries no compensation.
- ARTICLE 5(3)
The extraordinary-circumstances defence is written into the cancellation article, not the denied-boarding one. Overbooking is a commercial decision, so it is not a defence against paying you.
What you are owed besides the cash
- ARTICLE 8
A full refund within seven days, or re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity — your choice.
- ARTICLE 9
Meals, refreshments and communications while you wait, plus accommodation and transfers if the wait runs overnight.
Rules quoted from Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as retained in UK law. Article links go to the text on legislation.gov.uk so you can read them yourself. This is information, not legal advice — the airline decides on the facts of your specific flight.
SAS · performance
CAA DATA · MAY 2026- 3+ hours late
- 0.0%Clean record — no 3-hour delays recorded in May 2026.
- Cancelled
- 1.4%of scheduled flights
- Average delay
- 6minacross all flights
- Routes flown
- 11in May 2026 CAA data · 3 with delay stats here
Delay statistics derived from UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) punctuality data. UK CAA flight punctuality statistics · May 2026. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the CAA. How we calculate these figures →
SAS · month by month
5 MONTHS OF CAA DATA · UK DEPARTURES| Month | Flights | 3h+ late | Cancelled | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 541 | 0.2% | 2.5% | 14 min |
| February 2026 | 550 | 0.7% | 3.3% | 13 min |
| March 2026 | 605 | 0.0% | 3.7% | 6 min |
| April 2026 | 635 | 0.0% | 2.3% | 5 min |
| May 2026(latest) | 681 | 0.0% | 1.4% | 6 min |
Aggregated across every route SAS flew from UK reporting airports that month — see how these figures are calculated.
How to claim from SAS
Gather your details
Flight number, date, and scheduled vs actual arrival times. You don't need these to check with Owedly — only to claim from SAS.
Submit to SAS
Send a written claim citing UK261, stating the delay length and that you’re seeking the fixed compensation for your distance band.
Escalate if needed
No adequate response within 8 weeks? Take it to the airline’s ADR scheme or the Civil Aviation Authority.
How much UK261 pays
| Band | Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| A | Under 1,500 kme.g. London–Paris, Manchester–Dublin | £220 |
| B | 1,500–3,500 kme.g. London–Athens, Edinburgh–Lisbon | £350 |
| C | Over 3,500 kme.g. London–New York · £260 if 3–4h late, £520 if 4h+ | £260–£520 |
The amount depends only on distance — not your ticket price or the airline. SAS’s average delay is 6 minutes, but averages hide the flights that cross the 3-hour line.
Denied-boarding compensation is payable immediately at the airport, and is separate from any refund or re-routing you are also owed. Accepting a voucher as a volunteer gives up this entitlement.
Check your SAS denied boarding
Check · SAS denied boarding
6 FIELDSIt depends
It depends — you may be owed ~£350 if it was the airline’s fault
- Your flight is covered by UK261 and the delay is long enough to qualify — but whether you’re actually owed money depends on the cause.
- If the delay was the airline’s fault (for example a technical or crew problem), you could be owed around £350. If it was caused by extraordinary circumstances like extreme weather or an air-traffic-control strike, no compensation would be due.
- Ask the airline for the specific reason in writing, then check your claim.
You usually have up to 6 years to claim in England, Wales & Northern Ireland (5 years in Scotland). This is for information — it does not affect the estimate above.
Partner hand-off (AirHelp). Claim services typically charge a success fee — you can also claim directly with the airline for free.
ESTIMATE ONLY · NOT LEGAL ADVICE · OFFICIAL CAA GUIDANCE
Think you’re owed for a SAS flight?
Run the six-question check and, if you’re eligible, hand off to a claims partner.
Partner hand-off (AirHelp). Claim services typically charge a success fee — you can also claim directly with the airline for free.
SAS routes with delay stats
All routes →SHOWING 3 OF THE 11 ROUTES SAS FLEW IN MAY 2026 CAA DATA
SAS — your questions
Can I claim compensation for a SAS denied boarding?
If you were bumped from an overbooked flight against your will, compensation is due immediately — and the extraordinary-circumstances defence does not apply. SAS is a UK or EU/EEA carrier, so UK261 covers its flights both to and from the UK.
What happens if I volunteer to give up my seat?
Before bumping anyone, the airline must first ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for agreed benefits. A volunteer negotiates their own deal and gives up the fixed compensation. (Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as retained in UK law.)
What if I was bumped against my will?
If you were denied boarding against your will, the airline must immediately pay the fixed compensation under Article 7, and provide re-routing or a refund and care. (Article 4(3) of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as retained in UK law.)
When does being refused boarding not count?
This only counts as “denied boarding” if you presented yourself for boarding on time. Refusal on reasonable grounds — health, safety, security, or inadequate travel documents — is excluded and carries no compensation. (Article 2(j) of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as retained in UK law.)
How much is SAS denied boarding compensation worth?
The amount is fixed by distance, not by ticket price or airline: £220 for flights of 1,500 km or less, £350 for 1,500–3,500 km, and £520 for flights over 3,500 km. It is paid per passenger.
Other airlines
Delay statistics derived from UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) punctuality data. UK CAA flight punctuality statistics · May 2026. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the CAA. How we calculate these figures →
UK261 amounts & eligibility rules last verified 8 July 2026 against gov.uk and CAA guidance by Mohammed Arafat Khot · about this site