How to Claim UK/EU Flight Compensation?

How to claim UK/EU flight compensation? Are you even entitled to it?

Flight delays, cancellations, and overbookings happen daily. In many cases, especially when flying with a European airline, you’re protected by the EU’s Flight Compensation Regulation 261/2004 (EC 261), which ensures air passenger rights. This means that if your flight is disrupted, the airline must assist you or compensate you—and often both. In this article, I will explain how to claim up to €600 from the airline, how to do it yourself, and how a flight compensation company can help. The key thing to remember is this: to get the compensation, you need to ask for it.

Now, let’s go through how to claim flight compensation.

Check flight compensation online.

Flight Compensation: Basics

When flying with European airlines, you are protected by EU Regulation 261/2004 (EC 261)*.

This means you’re covered by European regulations for all European airline flights, providing clear entitlements, unlike in other parts of the world.

If you encounter a problem with your European airline flight, here’s the amount you can claim:

• €250 for flights up to 1500 kilometers;
• €400 for flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometers;
• €600 for flights over 3500 kilometers.

That’s up to €600 per passenger.

You are entitled to compensation if your flight is disrupted due to the airline’s fault.

1. If your flight is delayed for 3 or more hours, you can get UK/EU flight delay compensation;
2. If your flight is cancelled at the last minute (0-14 days before departure), you may be entitled to flight cancellation compensation;
3. If your flight is overbooked, and you are denied boarding involuntarily, you are entitled to flight overbooking compensation (often called “denied boarding compensation”).

In other parts of the world, things are more complicated. Whether you’re entitled to compensation and how it will be handled depends on the airline’s policy. They may offer compensation or a refund in case of a flight disruption, or they may provide nothing or only a discount code for your next flight. Each airline handles these situations differently. You will need to contact the airline to resolve the issue. In the US, Israel, Brazil and India, you have more protection thanks to their laws.

* Regulation 261/2004 (EC 261) also applies to some non-European airline flights. If your flight leaves from Europe on a non-European airline and faces disruptions, you could be entitled to flight compensation.

By Europe, European Union and EU here on this website we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. This is where these European regulations work.

How to Claim UK/EU Flight Compensation?

There are two ways how to claim UK/EU flight compensation.

Please note – compensation will not be provided unless you file a claim.

The types of compensation include:

• flight delay compensation,
• flight cancellation compensation,
• flight overbooking compensation (i.e., denied boarding compensation),
• missed connecting flight compensation (which is the same as flight delay compensation).

1. Make a Claim Yourself

Compensation will not be provided unless you file a claim.

Legal documents might not be your favourite thing.

That’s true for most of us. Airlines are aware that many people don’t fully understand their rights. But you should file a claim once you return from your trip.

You can submit a claim online by contacting the airline directly. It’s not without its challenges, but it’s manageable. Visit the airline’s website to use the feedback and contact form. Provide all required details about your flight, submit the claim, and be patient as the process may take a few months. Prepare to exchange multiple messages and engage in negotiations. Ensure you have all flight details, reasons for the delay, and the duration of the delay handy.

If the airline refuses to pay compensation, contact the national enforcement body or think about legal action. Learn what to do if your claim gets rejected.

Be persistent—this is crucial. If you’re making a claim independently, remember the importance of persistence in your communication with the airline. Do not accept a negative response without further inquiry. Seek second, third, and even fourth opinions if necessary. Do not accept airline vouchers if they are not to your preference.

2. Use the Services of a Flight Compensation Company

How to claim UK/EU flight compensation without much hassle?

You can save time and avoid stress by using a flight compensation company.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Please provide your details and flight information.
• Upload your boarding pass and a copy of your passport.
• Sign the claim online.

That’s it. Now you can sit back and relax while a team of professionals handles the work. They will contact you with any updates regarding your compensation.

Did you know that you could get up to €600 per passenger? If you’re a family of four traveling together, you could claim up to €2400. One person just needs to fill in the flight details and information about the family members, sign the claim online, and wait for the money. Even your child/infant is entitled to UK/EU flight compensation.

How Much Is EU Flight Compensation?

In most situations, flight compensation amounts are as follows:

• €250 – short flights;
• €400 – medium-distance flights;
• €600 – long-haul flights.

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

Do you have further questions about claiming UK/EU flight compensation or understanding your rights when flying with European airlines? Feel free to ask in the comments section.

Featured photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels