How to Claim Flight Compensation (Step by Step)

For a clear-cut delay you can claim flight compensation yourself, for free, and keep all of it — no firm taking 25–35%. Here's the exact process, what to say, and how to escalate if the airline says no.

1. Confirm you qualify

Before you write anything, run your flight through our compensation checker. It tells you which law applies, whether you're eligible, and roughly how much you're owed. If the verdict is "likely owed", you have a strong claim worth pursuing.

2. Gather your evidence

• Your booking reference (PNR) and e-ticket
• Your boarding pass, if you have it
• Any delay or cancellation notification (email/SMS from the airline)
• Notes on the actual arrival time and, if you know it, the reason given

You don't need much — and you should never send your passport, bank details, or payment to anyone to "process" a claim for free.

3. Write to the airline

Email the airline's customer-relations team a clear, dated letter that states your flight details, what went wrong, the regulation you're relying on, and the exact amount you're claiming. Our claim-letter generator assembles this for you with the correct legal references — you just fill in the blanks, copy it, and send it.

4. Set a deadline and follow up

Give the airline a reasonable deadline — 14 to 28 days is normal. If they go quiet, follow up once in writing. Keep everything in one email thread so you have a clean record.

5. Escalate if they refuse

If the airline refuses without a good reason — or blames "extraordinary circumstances" you doubt — you can escalate:

• UK: the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), or an approved ADR body the airline belongs to.
• EU: the national enforcement body in the relevant Member State.
• Canada: the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), after the airline's 30-day window.

Make the airline prove any extraordinary circumstance — the burden is on them, not you.

When to hand it to a firm instead

If the case is genuinely difficult — a flat refusal, a disputed cause, a multi-leg or codeshare tangle, or one heading to court — a no-win-no-fee firm can be worth its cut. They absorb the hassle and the litigation risk, and you pay nothing if they lose. See the honest math in DIY vs a claims firm.