How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation: Step-by-Step Guide

Claiming flight compensation doesn't have to be complicated. Follow this step-by-step process to get the money airlines legally owe you.

When your flight is delayed by 3 or more hours, claiming compensation is your legal right under EU law. However, airlines often count on passengers not knowing the exact process or giving up at the first automated rejection.

Step 1: Collect your evidence immediately at the airport. Take photos of departure screens showing the delay, keep your physical boarding pass or digital screenshot, and ask airline staff for the written reason for the delay.

Step 2: Calculate your exact entitlement. Check flight distance and verify your arrival delay at the gate. Step 3: Submit a formal claim letter citing EU Regulation 261/2004. You can use FixMyRights to analyze your flight and generate a pre-formatted legal claim letter in 60 seconds.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What evidence do I need to keep?

Keep your boarding passes, e-ticket confirmation, photos of airport flight boards showing delays, and any emails or SMS messages sent by the airline regarding the disruption.

What if the airline ignores my claim letter?

Airlines are required to respond within a reasonable timeframe (usually 30 days). If they ignore you or reject valid claims, you can escalate free of charge to the National Enforcement Body (such as ANAC in Portugal or CAA in the UK).