The easy way to claim for flight delay compensation

Flight delay compensation solicitors will act as your legal representative, helping you know your rights and going through the claims process for you. If the matter goes to court, they’ll act on your behalf and do what it takes to make sure you get your desired outcome.

Many do try to claim for their flight interruption themselves. However, when the disruption isn’t so clear-cut, the process is a lot tougher. And, if your claim is rejected or paused by the airline, then you’ll have a battle on your hands. Flight delay compensation will provide you with accurate legal advice so you can take the most effective course of action with your claim.

Food and drink, access to the phone and emails, even potentially accommodation and any related journeys – these are all services that the airline should give you, usually after a two-hour delay. This is a legal obligation in line with the EU regulation 261/2004.

When comfort services will become your entitlement is dependent on a few factors: the length of the delay, the distance of your flight, and the countries you’re flying from and to. The table below illustrates this:

If you weren’t provided these services, but still had to pay for them, then you might be able to claim reimbursements from the airline. Hold on to any receipts connected to your interrupted flight. You should bear in mind that these need to be reasonable – if you’ve chosen the most expensive hotel, for example, it’s doubtful the airline will reimburse you.

Your entitlement begins when the flight arrives at its destination three hours or more later than anticipated. The longer the flight delay, and the further the distance, then the more you can expect to receive. You should also be aware that the reason for the flight interruption needs to be considered the airline’s fault for your claim to be valid.

If your flight was delayed by over five hours, then who’s at fault and the distance no longer matters. You also have the option to not board the flight – and you can claim either way. If your flight is cancelled or you were denied boarding due to an overbooked flight, you have the right to claim for this as well.

The flight delay needs to be related to something that the airline had control over for you to receive compensation. So, if it was down to a lack of bookings or a technical problem, this would be considered their fault. However, the likes of bad weather or a security risk would be counted as ‘extraordinary circumstances’, though this can be a bit of a grey area.

While there is the option to claim for flight disruptions as far back as 2005, laws in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will realistically only allow you to claim for those from the last six years. In Scotland, you can only backdate your compensation claim by five years.

We understand that high legal fees are the last thing you need, so we provide cost options that suit you. Our services are offered on a fixed basis, though we also offer an hourly rate for those requiring a more flexible approach. Discover our full pricing here, or book an initial consultation to find out more.