Free Guide – Flight delayed or cancelled? Claim the compensation you’re owed

Passengers across Europe have left an estimated €3.2 billion in flight compensation unclaimed. That’s money airlines could owe travellers for delayed, cancelled and disrupted flights, but which passengers have never claimed.

Don’t assume you can’t claim. Airlines reject thousands of complaints every year, but many passengers never challenge those decisions or check whether they qualify in the first place and as a result, airlines continue to hold billions of euros that could belong to passengers.

If your flight arrived late, got cancelled, left you stranded after a missed connection or the airline refused to let you board, don’t assume you’ve missed your chance. Check whether you can claim and take the first step towards getting the compensation you’re owed.

Check your flight first

Before you contact the airline, find out whether you can claim compensation.

Check your flight

The checker helps you:

• Check whether your flight qualifies
• Understand your rights
• Estimate what you could claim
• Decide what to do next

Flight delayed?

Check whether you can claim compensation.

Flight cancelled?

Check whether the airline owes you compensation or a refund.

Missed a connection?

Find out whether your disrupted journey qualifies.

Airline rejected your claim?

Check whether the airline gave you a valid reason.

Claim compensation for these flight problems

You can often claim compensation when:

• Your flight arrives more than three hours late
• The airline cancels your flight
• The airline denies you boarding because it sold too many tickets
• A delayed flight causes you to miss a connecting flight on the same booking

Airlines don’t have to pay compensation for every disruption. Severe weather, airport closures and air traffic control restrictions can affect your rights.

Don’t guess, check your eligibility

How much could you claim?

Depending on the route and the disruption, you could receive up to £520 per passenger.

If you travelled with family or friends, each passenger may have their own claim.

The quickest way to find out what you could receive is to use the Resolver flight compensation checker.

Make your claim in four steps

1. Check your eligibility

Start with the Resolver flight compensation checker

You’ll usually need:

• Flight number
• Airline name
• Departure airport
• Arrival airport
• Travel date

2. Gather your evidence

Collect:

• Booking confirmations
• Boarding passes
• Airline emails and notifications
• Photos or screenshots showing delays
• Receipts for meals, hotels or transport

The more evidence you have, the easier it becomes to support your claim.

3. Contact the airline

Send your complaint directly to the airline that operated the flight.

Include:

• Your booking reference
• Flight details
• Details of the disruption
• Copies of supporting evidence

4. Challenge a rejection

Don’t stop if the airline rejects your claim.

Ask the airline to explain exactly why it won’t pay compensation and provide evidence to support its decision.

If you’re still unhappy, escalate your complaint through Resolver.

Need help writing your complaint?

Copy the template that matches your situation and drop in your flight details.

Flight delay compensation claim

Subject: Flight Delay Compensation Claim

Booking reference: [BOOKING REFERENCE]

Flight number: [FLIGHT NUMBER]

Travel date: [DATE]

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to request compensation following a delay to my flight.

Flight [FLIGHT NUMBER] from [DEPARTURE AIRPORT] to [ARRIVAL AIRPORT] arrived approximately [NUMBER OF HOURS] hours later than scheduled.

I believe this delay qualifies for compensation and ask that you investigate my claim and confirm whether compensation is payable.

I have attached supporting evidence and details of any expenses I incurred as a result of the delay.

I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

[NAME]

Flight cancellation compensation claim

Subject: Flight Cancellation Compensation Claim

Booking reference: [BOOKING REFERENCE]

Flight number: [FLIGHT NUMBER]

Travel date: [DATE]

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing regarding the cancellation of my flight.

Flight [FLIGHT NUMBER] from [DEPARTURE AIRPORT] to [ARRIVAL AIRPORT] was cancelled on [DATE].

Please explain the reason for the cancellation and confirm whether compensation is payable. I also request reimbursement of any eligible expenses resulting from the disruption.

I have attached supporting documents.

I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

[NAME]

Airline rejected your claim?

Subject: Request for Review of Flight Compensation Claim

Booking reference: [BOOKING REFERENCE]

Flight number: [FLIGHT NUMBER]

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your response.

I do not believe you have provided enough information to justify rejecting my claim.

Please explain in detail why compensation is not payable and provide any evidence supporting your decision.

I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

[NAME]

Start your complaint

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim if I accepted food vouchers or hotel accommodation?

Yes. Accepting assistance from the airline does not usually affect your right to compensation.

Can I claim for a missed connection?

Potentially. If all flights were booked together and a delay caused you to miss your onward connection, compensation may be available.

Can I claim for an old flight?

In many cases, passengers in the UK can claim for flights going back up to six years.

What if I no longer have my boarding pass?

You may still be able to claim if you have other evidence such as booking confirmations or airline correspondence.

What if my claim has already been rejected?

Airlines sometimes reject valid claims. If you believe the decision is wrong, ask for further information and consider escalating the complaint.

How long does it take to receive compensation?

Timescales vary between airlines, but many claims take several weeks or months to resolve.

Don’t leave money on the runway

Passengers leave millions of pounds in flight compensation unclaimed every year. Before you write off a delayed or cancelled flight as bad luck, check whether the airline owes you money.

Check your flight now

If your flight arrived late, was cancelled, left you stranded after a missed connection or you were denied boarding, check whether you can claim compensation and start your complaint today.