Anyone who has flown since 2019 could be owed up to £520 in cash

Daily Record

8 hours ago

Depending on how long you were held up for you could be owed hundreds of pounds.
Holidaymakers who have flown abroad since 2019 could be owed up to £520 in cash. If you've been on a delayed flight in the last six years you could be entitled to compensation.
This is because there are certain protections providing the flight departed from a UK or EU airport or was operated by a UK or European airline. As confirmed by Which, you have up to six years from the date of the flight to claim.
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However, as highlighted by Citizens Advice, this only applies if the flight is more than three hours late and if it is the airline's fault. This includes if they didn't get enough bookings or there was a technical fault.
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But you're unlikely to get compensation if the delay was because of something outside the airline's control, like bad weather or a security risk. The amount of money you can claim depends on how long the flight was delayed by and how far the journey was.
Citizens Advice states that you could get the following payout:
Delayed three hours or more - less than 1,500km - £220
Three hours or more - between 1,500km and 3,500km - £350
Four hours or more - more than 3,500km - £520
Less than four hours - more than 3,500km - £260
You have to claim from the airline to get compensation. To do so, search their website or call their customer services department.
If your flight is delayed for five hours or more
Citizens Advice says you don't have to take the flight if it's delayed for five hours or more. If you don't take the flight the airline legally has to give you all of 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, eg an onward or return flight
If you're part-way through a journey, a flight back to the airport you originally departed from
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You should get the refund within seven days of the date of the flight. Citizens Advice says: 'Talk to someone from the airline as soon as you decide you don't want to take the flight.'
If your flight is cancelled
You have the legal right to either:
A full refund - including other flights from the airline that you won't use in the same booking such as onward or return flights
A replacement flight to get you to your destination
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To make a claim
To make a successful claim follow these steps:
Contact the airline – this needs to be the airline operating the flight, even if you booked it through another airline. Have all your flight details and booking reference numbers to hand
Write your claim – say what went wrong and what you want the airline to give you. Include copies (not originals) of your tickets and any receipts
Keep records – keep copies of your claim and any response from the airline. Take notes if you speak to anyone from the airline.
You can contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 if you need more help. Or for more information, visit their website here.