Many people lost money during the recent travel chaos, but you might be able to get paid for flight delays.
In October 2013, at 8 p.m. Jordanian time, we were told that our flight would be late for another two and a half hours. We were going to miss the last train out of London Heathrow, which meant we’d have to pay £50 for a taxi. The tiny dinner box with a dry cheese sandwich and a limp croissant didn’t make up for that. Wonderful.
We complained and moaned, but we agreed to pay the extra money. We didn’t find out we were owed money until a few months later, when we were talking to a friend. Between us, we were owed £420.
Nearly 10 years later, we’re on our way to Heathrow Airport when we get a text message that our flight to Norway has been cancelled. This is just one more example of the recent travel chaos that has hit the UK’s transportation hubs. We were rerouted, put on hold for six hours, and missed our connecting flight because of it. We learned our lesson, though, and have already asked for money back.
If you were on a flight that was delayed more than three hours or was cancelled, you may be able to get money back, depending on the situation.
HOW TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOR FLIGHT DELAYS
1. Look at the “Questions” section and make sure you can say “yes” to everything there. If so, continue to step 2. If not, I’m afraid your claim isn’t likely to be accepted.
2. Look online for the airline’s complaints department and send them a letter using moneysavingexpert.com’s free online reclaim tool.
Make sure to include the name(s) of the passenger(s), your address, contact information, flight details (booking reference, flight number, departure airport, and destination airport), flight length (check here), and your flight receipt, as well as any supporting documents you may have (boarding passes or tickets).
3. Complain to the Civil Aviation Authority if the airline tries to get out of it.
QUESTIONS
Was it an EU flight?
EU flights are the only ones that get compensation. This is a flight that leaves from or lands at an EU airport. It doesn’t matter which airline is taking the flight. This means that any flight from London to New York qualifies, but a flight from New York to London that is on a non-EU airline won’t (e.g. Jet Airways).
What about Brexit?
The rules for paying for flight delays haven’t changed since Brexit. EU regulation 261 is the most important law, and it has not changed since the end of the Brexit transition period. The British government made EU261 a law in the UK.
Was it the airline’s fault?
Only if the airline was to blame for the delay or cancellation does the passenger get paid. So, bad weather, strikes, political problems, safety issues, technical problems caused by the plane manufacturer, or decisions made by the people in charge of air traffic are all examples of “extraordinary circumstances” that free the airline from any responsibility.
If, on the other hand, the delay was caused by a crew member or pilot who was late, a cancellation because there weren’t enough passengers, technical problems caused by the airline, or failed safety checks, they will be responsible. See a longer list of things that are out of the ordinary.
Was the delay over three hours?
Only when a flight is late by three hours or more is compensation paid. This means that if you left three hours late but made up five minutes in the air and landed two hours and fifty-five minutes late, you would not be eligible for compensation. What matters is when you arrived, not when you left. How much you get depends on how far you flew and how long you were late:
- Up to 1,500km (3 hours): £210 per person
- 1,500km-3,500 km (3 hours): £335 per person
- 3,500km+ (3-4 hours): £250 per person
- 3,500km+ (4+ hours): £505 per person
Check the distance of a flight at www.webflyer.com.
Visit www.flightstats.com to see if your flight was late (must register)
Mapquest Directions was the first company to offer online maps and turn-by-turn directions.
Was the delay/cancellation after 2007?
Flights after February 2005 are eligible for compensation, but airlines might try to be sneaky with claims made before 2007, since they can’t be taken to court over them.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Flights that get cancelled should be covered by travel insurance up to about £3,000, or at least the cost of the trip. Over the years, we’ve used a few different companies, but now we’re covered by an annual multi-trip policy from Heymondo. The policy covers theft, medical costs up to $10 million USD, cancellation, and Covid-19.
Heymondo has single-trip and annual multi-trip policies, as well as a long-stay option that is great for digital nomads and people who work from home. All policies come with the Heymondo app, which lets you talk to a doctor 24 hours a day, get free help calls, and manage your claims easily.
