If your flight was cancelled or delayed by over three hours in the last six years and the airline was at fault, you may be entitled to compensation of between £110 and £520 per passenger, according to Martin Lewis. The Money Saving Expert (MSE) founder explained in his latest newsletter that this applies on top of any refunds, alternative flights, or food reimbursement already received.
Eligibility criteria
The rules cover UK or EU 'regulated' flights. Any flight departing from a UK or EU airport qualifies, regardless of the airline. For flights arriving at a UK or EU airport, only those operated by a UK or EU airline are covered.
Compensation is only due if the cancellation or delay was the airline's fault, such as staff shortages, security concerns, mechanical issues, or operational decisions. 'Extraordinary circumstances' like extreme weather, airport or traffic control problems, and missed flights due to EES delays do not count.
Two types of compensation
For delay compensation, the flight must have arrived more than three hours late, based solely on arrival time. Amounts range from £220 to £520 depending on flight length and delay duration. For cancellation compensation, entitlements vary based on when you were told – if notified within two weeks of departure, you could get between £110 and £520, depending on how much earlier or later the alternative flight departs. Flight distance also affects the amount.
Lewis recommends using a free online complaint tool like Resolver, rather than paid services, as it reminds you to escalate if rejected and ensures all compensation goes to you. Reader Lilia shared she received £520 each for a delayed flight from South Korea after citing her rights from Martin's website.
