How to claim flight delay compensation
You can claim yourself for free, or pay a claims company to do it for you. Either way, the steps are the same, and they start with the airline.
Checked against official sources on 16 October 2026
In short
- Compensation is not paid automatically. You have to claim it from the airline that operated the flight.
- If the airline refuses, or has not replied after 8 weeks, you can go to a free, approved dispute resolution body.
- Court is the last step, usually through the small claims track.
- A claims company can do all of this for you, for a share of what you are paid.
Before you start
Check your flight to see whether it is likely to be covered and roughly how much you could be owed. Then gather:
- Your booking reference, flight number and date
- The names of everyone who was on the booking and on the flight
- Your booking confirmation and boarding passes
- The time you arrived at your final destination
- Anything the airline told you about the cause, especially in writing
- Receipts for meals, hotels or transport you paid for yourself
Two ways to claim
| Compared on | Claim yourself | Use a claims company |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | A share of any compensation, usually with VAT added. You pay nothing if the claim fails. |
| Your time | You write to the airline and follow up | The company handles the airline, and court if needed |
| Suits you if | The case is clear and you are happy to chase it | You would rather not deal with the airline, or it has already refused |
The steps below are for claiming yourself. If you use a claims company, it follows the same steps on your behalf.
Step 1: Claim from the airline
Write to the airline that operated the flight. Most have an online claim form. Give the details above, say which law you are claiming under (UK261 or EU261), and ask for the amount for each passenger. The CAA advises claiming from the airline first, because compensation is not paid automatically.
If our checker says your claim looks unlikely, it can write the claim letter for you, ready to copy into an email.
Step 2: Wait for a final answer, up to 8 weeks
If the airline turns your claim down, ask it to put the reason in writing. If it has not given you a final answer within 8 weeks of your written complaint, you can move to the next step.
Step 3: Use a free dispute resolution body
Many airlines belong to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme approved by the CAA. The two approved bodies are AviationADR and CEDR.
- It is free for passengers.
- You must apply within 12 months of the airline’s final response, or of your last written contact with it.
- If you accept the decision, the airline has to follow it. If you do not accept it, you can still go to court.
If the airline is not in a scheme, the CAA’s Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT) can review your complaint and raise it with the airline, but it cannot make a binding decision. The CAA’s ADR page explains how the schemes work.
Step 4: Court, as a last resort
The CAA says the small claims court is usually the most appropriate place for airline disputes. GOV.UK explains how to make a claim in England and Wales, and the Scottish and Northern Irish courts have their own processes. It can be worth taking legal advice first, and checking whether your home insurance includes legal cover.
How long you have
UK261 does not set its own time limit. The general limit for court claims is six years in England and Wales (Limitation Act 1980, section 9) and five years in Scotland (Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, section 6). For EU claims the limit depends on each country’s national rules. Whatever applies, claim as soon as you can, while you still have your documents.
Claiming under EU261
For a flight covered by EU261, you also claim from the airline first. Your Europe says that if the airline does not reply within 2 months, or you are not happy with its answer, you can complain to the national enforcement body in the country where the problem happened. EU residents may also be able to use ADR or the European Small Claims procedure. Your Europe explains the process.
About claims companies
Claims companies take on your claim in return for a fee, usually a share of the compensation. They work on a “no win, no fee” basis and should show you their fee before you sign up. Read their terms, especially any extra charges if the case goes to court or if you deal with the airline directly after signing up.
When our checker shows a claim is likely, it offers a link to a claims partner. If you use it, we may be paid a commission. That does not change the partner’s fee. How we make money explains this in full.