How To Claim Flight Compensation (2026)
Your flight was delayed, cancelled, or you were denied boarding. You know you might be owed money — but how do you actually get it? This guide walks you through every step, from checking eligibility to collecting your payout.
In this guide
What You Will Learn
By the end of this guide, you will know exactly how to claim flight compensation under EU261 and UK261 — whether your flight was delayed, cancelled, or you were denied boarding.
We cover the five steps that take you from “my flight was disrupted” to “I received my compensation”: checking eligibility, gathering evidence, submitting your claim, following up or escalating, and using a Claim Package to speed things up.
Along the way, we address the most common airline objections, show real claim outcomes, and answer the questions passengers ask most often.
5
Clear steps to claim
€250–€600
Potential compensation
100%
Of your compensation kept
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Before you write to the airline, confirm your flight qualifies. EU261 and UK261 apply to different situations, but the core rule is the same: if your flight was delayed by 3+ hours, cancelled without 14 days' notice, or you were denied boarding, you may be entitled to compensation.
The regulation that applies depends on where your flight departed from and, in some cases, the airline's country of registration.
| Criterion | EU261 | UK261 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight departs from EU/EEA airport | ✓ | — | Any airline |
| Flight departs from UK airport | — | ✓ | Any airline |
| Flight arrives in EU on EU airline | ✓ | — | EU carrier only |
| Flight arrives in UK on UK airline | — | ✓ | UK carrier only |
| Delay of 3+ hours at final destination | ✓ | ✓ | Measured at arrival |
| Flight cancelled without 14-day notice | ✓ | ✓ | Unless re-routed close to schedule |
| Denied boarding (overbooking) | ✓ | ✓ | Volunteers excluded |
| Missed connection (single booking) | ✓ | ✓ | Delay measured at final destination |
Quick check
Did your flight depart from an EU or UK airport? Were you delayed 3+ hours at your final destination, cancelled without 14 days' notice, or denied boarding? If yes to both, you likely qualify. The easiest way to confirm is to check your flight for free.
Step 2: Gather Necessary Evidence
A strong claim is built on evidence. The more documentation you have, the harder it is for the airline to dismiss your claim with a vague rejection. You do not need a lawyer — you need receipts, screenshots, and a paper trail.
Start collecting evidence as soon as the disruption happens. Do not wait until you get home. Airlines count on passengers not keeping records.
| Evidence | Importance | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Boarding pass or e-ticket | Essential | Screenshot or PDF. If you checked in online, save the confirmation email. |
| Booking confirmation | Essential | Shows flight number, date, route, and reservation code. |
| Delay/cancellation notification | Essential | Email, SMS, or app push notification from the airline. |
| Arrival time proof | Essential | Photo of the baggage carousel clock, screenshot of flight tracker (FlightRadar24, etc.). |
| Airline correspondence | Important | All emails and chat logs. Forward them to yourself for backup. |
| Departure board screenshot | Helpful | Shows the delay posted at the airport. Take a photo of the screen. |
| Expense receipts | Situational | Meals, hotel, transport. Needed for duty of care reimbursement, not compensation. |
| Witness contact details | Optional | Fellow passengers who can confirm the delay. Rarely needed but useful for disputes. |
Pro tip
Forward every airline email to a dedicated folder immediately. Screenshot departure boards before you leave the airport. Note the exact arrival time at your destination — a photo of the baggage carousel clock or a flight tracker screenshot is hard to dispute.
Step 3: Submit Claim to Airline
Most airlines accept claims through an online form, email, or postal mail. Online forms are fastest but often limit what you can write. Email gives you more control over the content and creates a clear paper trail.
Regardless of how you submit, your claim should include: your flight details, what happened, the legal basis for your claim, and the amount you are requesting.
| Aspect | DIY | Claim Package |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (your time) | One-time fee, no hidden charges |
| Time spent | 4–10 hours over weeks | Under 30 minutes to start |
| Claim letter | You write it yourself | Pre-written, legally reviewed template |
| Escalation guidance | Research ADR bodies yourself | Step-by-step escalation instructions |
| Legal references | You find and cite them | Relevant EU261/UK261 articles included |
| Airline pushback | You handle it alone | Objection response templates provided |
| Success rate | Varies widely | Higher — structured approach with legal backing |
| Compensation kept | 100% | 100% — no commission taken |
Email pro tips
Subject line
Be specific. Example: “EU261 Compensation Claim — Flight BA1234, 15 March 2026, LHR→BCN — 4h delay”. A vague subject like “Complaint” gets buried.
Email structure
- State your flight details (number, date, route) upfront.
- Describe what happened (delay, cancellation, denied boarding) and for how long.
- Cite the regulation: “Under EU261/2004 Article 7, I am entitled to compensation of [amount].”
- List your evidence (attached).
- Set a deadline: “Please respond within 28 days.”
Attachments
Combine evidence into a single PDF where possible. Name files clearly (e.g., boarding-pass-BA1234.pdf). Keep each file under 5 MB — most airline portals have upload limits.
Step 4: Follow Up / Escalate if Needed
Airlines do not always respond promptly — or honestly. If you have not heard back within 2–6 weeks, or if your claim was rejected, you have options beyond giving up.
Wait 2–6 weeks for a response
Most airlines reply within this window. If they do not, send a follow-up email referencing your original claim date and the regulation.
If rejected, read the reason carefully
Airlines often cite “extraordinary circumstances” without evidence. Check whether their reason holds up — see our Common Airline Objections section below.
Gather additional evidence if needed
If the airline claims a technical fault, ask for written details of the specific problem. If they cite weather, check whether other flights on the same route departed on time.
Escalate to an ADR body or national authority
If the airline refuses to budge, file a complaint with an Alternative Dispute Resolution body. In the UK, this is CEDR or Aviation ADR. In Germany, SÖP. In other EU countries, contact the national civil aviation authority. ADR decisions are binding on the airline.
Consider small claims court as a last resort
If ADR does not resolve the issue, you can file in the small claims court (Money Claim Online in England and Wales). Fees are low (starting at £35 for claims up to £300) and you do not need a solicitor for claims under £10,000.
Do not give up after the first rejection
Airlines reject roughly 60% of initial claims. But ADR bodies uphold the majority of passenger complaints — often because the airline cannot substantiate its “extraordinary circumstances” defence. Persistence is the single biggest factor in successful claims.
Step 5: Use a Claim Package for Faster Success
You can claim on your own — many passengers do. But the process takes time, research, and persistence. A Claim Package gives you everything you need in one place, so you can skip the research and go straight to submitting a legally sound claim.
What you get
- ✓ Pre-written claim letter citing EU261/UK261 articles
- ✓ Follow-up letter template for rejections
- ✓ Escalation instructions (ADR bodies by country)
- ✓ Airline objection response templates
- ✓ Evidence checklist and submission guide
- ✓ Legal references for common disputes
Why it works
- → Airlines take legally referenced claims more seriously
- → Structured approach reduces back-and-forth
- → You keep 100% of your compensation — no commission
- → Faster than researching everything yourself
- → Works for delays, cancellations, and denied boarding
- → One-time purchase — no hidden fees
Real Examples
These examples show how compensation varies by route, delay length, and reason. Notice that the same delay duration can produce different outcomes depending on the distance and whether the airline successfully argues extraordinary circumstances.
| Route | Distance | Delay | Reason | Amount | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London → Barcelona | 1,146 km | 4 hours | Technical fault | €250 | Paid after 2nd letter |
| Berlin → Istanbul | 1,710 km | 6 hours | Crew shortage | €400 | Paid after ADR escalation |
| Paris → New York | 5,837 km | 5 hours | Late incoming aircraft | €600 | Paid after 1st letter |
| Manchester → Dublin | 337 km | 3.5 hours | Operational issue | £220 | Paid after CEDR complaint |
| Amsterdam → Lisbon | 2,293 km | 8 hours | Strike (airline staff) | €400 | Paid after ADR escalation |
| Rome → London | 1,431 km | Cancelled | Overbooking | €250 | Paid after 1st letter |
| Madrid → São Paulo | 8,460 km | 11 hours | Technical fault | €600 | Paid after court filing |
| Edinburgh → Amsterdam | 666 km | 4 hours | Weather (connecting flight missed) | £220 | Denied — extraordinary |
What these examples show
Claims that cite specific legal references and include solid evidence are resolved faster. The Edinburgh→Amsterdam claim was denied because weather is a valid extraordinary circumstance — but the passenger still received duty of care (meals and hotel). The Madrid→São Paulo claim went to court but the passenger won the full €600 because the airline could not prove the technical fault was extraordinary.
Common Airline Objections
Airlines reject the majority of initial claims. Knowing their most common objections — and how to respond — dramatically increases your chances of success.
“Technical fault — extraordinary circumstance”
The European Court of Justice ruled in Wallentin-Hermann (C-549/07) that routine technical problems are inherent to airline operations and are NOT extraordinary. Unless the airline can prove the fault was truly beyond its control (e.g., hidden manufacturing defect), this objection fails.
How to respond
Cite Wallentin-Hermann and Van der Lans v KLM (C-257/14). Request written details of the specific fault. Escalate to ADR if the airline persists.
“Crew shortage — extraordinary circumstance”
Crew scheduling is the airline's operational responsibility. The ECJ ruled in Airhelp v SAS (C-28/20) that staff shortages caused by internal planning failures do not qualify as extraordinary.
How to respond
Cite Airhelp v SAS. Ask the airline to specify whether the shortage was caused by an external event or internal scheduling. Escalate if needed.
“Weather delay — no compensation”
Weather can be extraordinary, but airlines sometimes apply this label too broadly. If only your flight was affected while others departed normally, the airline may not have taken all reasonable measures.
How to respond
Check whether other flights on the same route departed on time. Request evidence that the airline took all reasonable measures to minimise the delay.
“Air traffic control (ATC) restrictions”
ATC decisions can qualify as extraordinary, but not always. If the ATC restriction was caused by general congestion (which airlines should plan for), compensation may still apply.
How to respond
Ask for specific ATC documentation. If the restriction was routine (e.g., slot restrictions at busy airports), argue that the airline should have anticipated it.
“Strike — extraordinary circumstance”
It depends on who is striking. Airline staff strikes are the airline's responsibility (Airhelp v SAS). Third-party strikes (e.g., airport security, air traffic control) may qualify as extraordinary.
How to respond
Identify who was striking. If it was the airline's own employees, cite Airhelp v SAS and push back. If it was a third party, the airline may have a valid defence.
“Claim filed too late”
Limitation periods vary by country — from 1 year (Poland, Belgium) to 6 years (England/Wales, Ireland). Airlines sometimes tell passengers the deadline has passed when it has not.
How to respond
Check the limitation period for the country where your flight departed. See our Claim Deadlines Guide for the full country-by-country breakdown.
FAQ
How long does it take to get paid?
It varies. Some airlines pay within 2–4 weeks of a well-supported claim. Others reject first, forcing you to escalate. With ADR bodies (CEDR, SÖP, etc.), expect 8–12 weeks from filing. Court cases take longer — 6–18 months. The average successful claim is resolved in 2–3 months.
Can I claim for a cancelled flight?
Yes. If your flight was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, you are entitled to compensation under EU261/UK261 — unless the airline offered re-routing that got you to your destination close to your original arrival time, or the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances. You also have the right to a full refund or re-routing regardless of the reason.
Can multiple delays be combined?
No. Each flight is assessed individually. If you had separate delays on different flights, each one is a separate claim. However, if you missed a connecting flight because of a delay on your first flight — and both were on the same booking — the total delay at your final destination determines your compensation.
What evidence do I need?
The essentials: boarding pass or e-ticket, booking confirmation, and proof of the delay (airline notification, arrival time screenshot, or departure board photo). The more you have, the stronger your claim. Keep all airline correspondence — emails, chat logs, and any written reason for the delay.
Can I claim for a connecting flight?
Yes, if the connecting flights were booked together under a single reservation. The delay is measured at your final destination. If you booked the flights separately (self-transfer), each flight is treated independently and you can only claim for the delayed flight itself.
Do I need a lawyer to claim?
Not usually. Most claims are resolved through direct correspondence with the airline or via ADR bodies, which are designed to be accessible without legal representation. A Claim Package with pre-written letters and legal references is often sufficient. You may want legal advice if your case goes to court.
What if the airline ignores my claim?
Airlines are required to respond within a reasonable time (typically 6–8 weeks under national enforcement body guidelines). If they ignore you, escalate to the relevant ADR body or national enforcement authority. In the UK, file with CEDR or the Aviation ADR. In Germany, use SÖP. In other EU countries, contact the national civil aviation authority.
Can I claim for a flight from years ago?
Possibly — it depends on the limitation period in the country where you file. In England and Wales, you have 6 years. In Scotland, 5 years. In Germany, 3 years. In Poland, only 1 year. Check our Claim Deadlines Guide for the full country-by-country list.
Ready to Claim?
Check your flight in 2 minutes. Find out how much compensation you are owed. Our Claim Package helps you submit a legally sound claim — and you keep 100% of the payout.
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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.