Claim Flight Compensation Yourself
You do not need a claim company for every EU261 or UK261 case. If the route is covered, the delay is clear, and you can keep the evidence organised, you can often submit the claim yourself and keep the full airline payout.
Quick answer
Start by checking whether the flight is likely eligible. Then send a structured airline claim with evidence. If the airline rejects or ignores it, challenge the reason rather than starting over with a claim company immediately.
Free eligibility check before you write to the airline.
DIY Claim Path
Check eligibility first
Confirm the route, operating airline, delay at final destination, cancellation timing, denied boarding, or missed-connection facts.
Save evidence before writing
Keep booking proof, boarding passes, airline messages, arrival delay proof, receipts, and the airline reason if available.
Write a specific airline claim
State the regulation, flight details, arrival delay, requested amount, passenger names, and payment details.
Track the airline response
Save portal screenshots and emails. If the airline ignores or rejects the claim, respond to the exact reason.
Escalate only when the file is ready
Use ADR, national enforcement, or court routes with a clean evidence pack, not a loose chain of reminders.
Mistakes That Make DIY Claims Harder
- Claiming based on departure delay instead of final arrival delay.
- Forgetting that separate tickets are not the same as one-booking connections.
- Accepting voucher wording without checking whether it settles the compensation claim.
- Letting the national limitation deadline approach while waiting for airline replies.
- Sending emotional complaints without flight details, amount, regulation, or evidence.
When DIY Is A Good Fit
DIY works best when the facts are simple: one booking, clear 3+ hour final arrival delay, no strong extraordinary-circumstances evidence, and documents you can upload. It becomes harder when the airline gives a technical, weather, strike, or missed-connection defence that needs a detailed response.
Good DIY rule
If you can explain the claim in one paragraph and attach the evidence in one pack, DIY is worth considering before giving away commission.
Related Guides
Check Before You Write
Confirm eligibility, amount, and likely weak points before you send the first airline claim.
Start the free claim checkSource note
This guide gives practical claim-preparation guidance for EU261 and UK261 passengers. It is not legal advice, and escalation routes vary by airline and country.
Disclaimer
This guide is provided for informational purposes only. FlightClaimGuide does not provide legal advice and recommends seeking independent professional advice for complex legal matters.