It’s not rare, especially if you often travel by airplane, for your flight to be delayed or even canceled.
It’s not even that big of a problem if your future plans don’t depend exactly on your time of arrival.
Flights can be delayed for various reasons, from weather to mistakes made by the airline. Whatever the reason is, you’re the one who needs to sit and find something to do at the airport while you wait for your flight.
Of course, if it’s an hour or two difference, it’s not a big deal. However, a flight is sometimes delayed for more than 5 hours, which can be very stressful.
If you want to know if you have the right to file a claim and in which case, we’ve listed everything you need to know when your flight’s been delayed.
Waiting for a delayed flight
If you’re stuck at the airport because your flight was delayed for long enough, your airline is obligated to give you: access to your emails and phone calls, food and drink, accommodation (if, of course, you’re delayed overnight).
Now, let’s see how long the delay has to be in order to have the right to these things listed above.
If your flight distance is less than 1,500 km, the flight needs to be at least 2 hours delayed.
For flight distances between 1,500 and 3,500 km, the delay has to be at least 3 hours long.
Finally, for any distance bigger than 3,500 km, your flight should be delayed at least for 4 hours.
If someone from the airline doesn’t offer to help you or refuses to pay for those things, keep the receipts and file a claim later.
However, keep in mind that only if your flight was delayed for 3 hours or more, and it was strictly the airline’s fault, only then do you have the right to get compensation.
Getting a compensation
If your flight was leaving from the UK or arriving in the UK or EU, you might be able to get compensation.
To be more specific, if you’re arriving in the UK, to get the compensation you need to be flying with a UK or EU airline.
On the other hand, if you’re arriving in the EU, your airline should be from the UK.
If none of these cases is yours, contact the airline to find out what you are entitled to. It also depends on the country you’re flying from and to.
The amount of compensation
Depending on your flight’s distance and the length of the delay, you have the right to a set amount of compensation.
For example, when your arrival was delayed for 3 hours or more, you’re entitled to a set amount of £220 of compensation if your flight’s distance was less than 1,500 km, and £350 if your flight’s distance was between 1,500 and 3,500 km.
On the other hand, when your arrival was delayed for 4 or more hours, your compensation amount should be £520 for distances longer than 3,500 km. Read more about myenvoyair.
Filing a claim
To get compensation, you have to claim from the airline. Go to your airline’s website or contact their customer services department by phone or email.
For any past delays stretching back as far as February 2005, in theory, you can apply for compensation.
However, in practice, your chances to go back further than 2015 are not very high.
Some even believe your claim will probably be refused if the delay happened more than six years ago.
Considering everything, make sure you meet the criteria for seeking compensation – the distance and the hours of delay.
To increase your chances, contact your solicitor to get as much as you can out of your claim.
