Life is slowly getting back to normal, summer is quickly approaching and many of us are looking forward to holidays abroad this year. We're all in desperate need of getting a bit of sun on our skin after the past two years, but even the most-anticipated holidays can be hit with travel delays.
There's nothing we can do to prevent disruption, but there are things we can do to help soften the blow. You can claim hundreds of pounds in compensation if your flight is delayed for a lengthy period, and there are also other benefits you can seek if you end up hanging around for your plane to take off.
According to Citizens Advice, you may be able to claim compensation if your flight was leaving from the UK (no matter which airline you're travelling with), if you're arriving in the UK and travelling with a UK or EU airline or if you're arriving in the EU and are travelling with a UK airline. However if this doesn't apply to you, you should contact your airline directly, as what you’ll be entitled to will depend on the airline, as well as the destinations you left from and arrived in.
Here's all you need to know about how to claim compensation if your flight is delayed.
What should I do if my flight is delayed?
First of all, check what the airline should give you if the flight has been postponed. This is because if your flight is delayed for long enough the airline could be responsible for offering you food and drink, access to phone calls and emails and accommodation if you’re delayed overnight.
Citizens Advice says how long the delay has to be depends on the distance of the flight and the countries it's flying between, but people are able to check the flight distance on the WebFlyer website.
It's possible the airline may give you vouchers to get these things while you're waiting, and passengers shouldn't be afraid to ask a member of staff for help. If this isn't an option just make sure you keep receipts for expenses, and put in a claim for the expenses at a later date.
When can I claim compensation?
People are able to claim compensation if the flight arrives more than three hours late due to a fault of the airline. This means it could be due to something like a technical fault or due to the fact the airline failed to get enough bookings.
If the delay is the result of something out of the airline's control, such as bad weather, you're unlikely to get compensation. When a flight is delayed you're entitled to a set amount of compensation, but it depends on both the distance of the flight and the length of the delay.
If you're delayed by three hours or more you could be entitled to claim between £220 and £520 . To make the claim all you have to do is apply directly via the airline.
- If you're delayed by three hours or more, and have a flight distance of less than 1,500km, you're entitled to £220
- If you're delayed by three hours or more, and have a flight distance of between 1,500km and 3,500km, you're entitled to £350
- If you're delayed by four hours or more, and have a flight distance of more than 3,500km, you're entitled to £520
You can claim via the airline's website or by contacting customer services.
What if my flight is delayed by more than five hours?
If your flight is delayed by five hours or more you don't have to board the plane. Delays of more than five hours means the airline has to give you the following:
- a full refund for the flight
- a full refund for other flights from the airline that you won’t use in the same booking, such as an onward or return flight
- if you’re part-way through a journey, a flight back to the airport you originally departed from
If you decide not to travel you should talk to a member of staff as soon as you decide you've changed your mind. But, if you do take the flight, you can still claim up to £520 in compensation if the reason for the setback was the airline's fault.
This will again depend on the distance and destination of your flight, and how long you were delayed for.
What if my flight is cancelled?
If your flight devastatingly gets cancelled you are legally entitled to a full refund or a replacement flight to ensure you still arrive at your destination. You're also entitled to a flight back to where you originally departed from if you only made it part-way through your journey.
You can ask for these options at the airport or make a claim at a later date. For further information visit the Citizens Advice website.
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