Flight Delay Compensation Get up to £508/person, back to 2005

You may be able to claim huge sums for flight delays and cancellations under EU rules. You could get up to £508 per person, dating back to 2005, if your flight is significantly delayed, or your money back if cancelled.

Crucially, these rules only apply if the flight departed from an EU airport, or you were on an EU airline where the flight landed at an EU airport. Below, we take you through what you need to know and how to claim.

Also see 50 Overseas Travel Tips for more tricks to save

This is an early incarnation of this guide following the recent EU court ruling.
Please suggest any changes in the Flight Delays forum thread and get our free weekly email for updates.

Will it work?

'I got £970 back'

There have been some huge successes, but we're finding the feedback's binary. People either get easy payouts, or hit a brick wall that only court action will solve. So it's up to you. To inspire you, here are some success stories:

"Just got a cheque for £970 from BA for delays in 2009 thanks to you telling me about new legislation. More than I actually paid."Denise, who claimed for two passengers (£485 each) – December 2012

"If it wasn't for the MSE email, I wouldn't have known about this. To get compensation was particularly satisfying, as to make matters worse, on that delayed flight the air conditioning broke."Paul, who claimed £200 – December 2012

"Received £630 (£315 x 2) compensation from Thomas Cook after my flight from Newcastle to Bodrum was delayed 4.5 hours. Thank you MSE and all the members of the forum for their advice." Adam – December 2012

'It won't pay out. GRRRR!'

But, be warned, not everyone is this lucky. Some airline plays hardball, even where they've paid out to other passengers in the past. Here are some examples.

" I made a claim to Easyjet regarding a delayed flight in 2009. I was today told it was declined because 'it is out of time limitation period'."Bob – November 2012

"I decided to pursue KLM for compensation for a delayed flight in October 2009. I've spent weeks battling with KLM and it refuses to pay out. "Liam – November 2012

Could claiming compensation push air fares up? Martin's view

Before putting in a compensation claim, consider that while you have a legal right, an influx of claims could mean airlines have to shell out big bucks – and flight prices may be hiked to make up for any losses.

MoneySavingExpert.com creator Martin Lewis says:

"You have a legal right to make a compensation claim for flight delays and cancellations – yet it's worth being aware that if this becomes mainstream, the added cost to airlines could cause them financial trouble and may lead them to increase future flight prices for everyone.

"I'm not saying this to put you off, yet it's worth examining whether you feel the compensation is right and fair. If you bought a flight and were seriously delayed and inconvenienced – well, we're a consumer website, so we say go for it.

"Yet as the payout is irrelevant to the cost of the flight – there will be some who paid £20 for a cheap flight, were delayed a few hours that didn't really bother them and are entitled to £339 compensation for it. That could really cripple a budget airline's pricing structure.

"For cheaper flights especially, the rules seem weighted against airlines but at the end of the day, it's up to you whether or not to go for it.

How did you get on with your claim. Did it hit turbulence or did you have a smooth landing? Let us know in the forum board.

Flight delayed? Your rights explained

1. Clever site shows whether your flight was delayed.

   If you don't remember whether or not your flight was delayed, check using the clever FlightStats website.

   You'll need to register to use it (it's free). However, as you go further back in time, the site won't show the status of all flights.

   While FlightsStats' terms and conditions say it can’t be used in any passenger rights claims actions, the key here is to use it to find out for your own knowledge how late your flight was – to make sure you’re barking up the right tree – rather than using it specifically for any claim. After all, the airline will hold its own data on flight delays.

   Importantly, while the website shows delays, it doesn't tell you what caused them. To claim compensation, it must be the airline's fault. (More on that later.) To find out the cause of the delay, you have to ask the airline – and you're at the mercy of its explanation.

   How do you know if the delay is the airline's fault?

   Let's face it, most of us wouldn't have a clue how to tell for sure if a problem was due to a technical fault. We wouldn't be allowed to inspect the aircraft, and even if we could, we probably wouldn't have the necessary aviation knowledge.

   If you don't believe an airline when it says the delay wasn't its fault, you can refer the complaint to the regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, which can liaise with the airline on your behalf to establish what caused the delay.

2. To get compensation it must be the airline's fault and must have been an EU flight.

   You can only claim in certain scenarios, these are the key conditions:

   • The flight departed on 17 February 2005 or later (more below).
   • The flight arrived at its destination three hours or more late (more below).
   
   • The flight departed from an EU airport, regardless of the airline, OR was on an EU airline and landed at an EU airport.
   • The delay was the airline's fault, eg, the pilot was sick and not replaced, or the flight cancelled because it was underbooked.

   However, if the airline is not at fault, you cannot claim compensation. These are the circumstances when you cannot claim.

   • The flight arrived fewer than three hours late.
   • The flight departed before 17 February 2005.
   • The flight you were on departed from and landed at a non-EU airport, regardless of the airline, or you were coming from a non-EU country on a non-EU airline, regardless of where it lands.
   • The delay wasn't the airline's fault.

   Where the delay is out of the airline's hands, then 'extraordinary circumstances' include:

   • Bad weather
   • Industrial action
   • Political problems
   • Security or safety issues. We asked the Civil Aviation Authority what counts as being the airline's fault under this category but it says each claim is handled on a case-by-case basis. It is worth claiming nonetheless, as you've little to lose.
   • Air traffic management decisions, eg, airspace shut due to volcanic ash.

   It's a bit of a grey area as to what other situations and scenarios are covered. The only guidance we have is that an 'extraordinary circumstance' relates to anything outside of the airline's hands.

   If you think this applies to you, make a claim. If the airline rejects it you're able to take your complaint to the Civil Aviation Authority, which looks at claims on a case-by-case basis.

3. You can claim back to February 2005... but it's harder for flights before 2007.

   On 23 October 2012, the Court of Justice of the European Union passed a judgment which said consumers who arrived at their destination three or more hours late could claim compensation. This upheld a long-standing rule which airlines had challenged.

   To help, in January 2013, a judge ruled at Stoke-on-Trent County Court that a couple were entitled to €800 in compensation and expenses after their Thomas Cook flight from Tenerife to East Midlands was delayed in 2009. The airline had originally challenged this, stating the delay was not its fault.

   So how far exactly can you claim back? What are the rules?

   While the rules clearly say you can claim back to February 2005, it may be difficult to enforce claims that date back over six years in the UK, as there is no official ombudsman system to pull airlines into line.

   Your only option to get airlines to pay up is via court, if they say no originally. Yet most UK courts will only open cases going back six years, which creates this anomaly.

   Therefore, some airlines are declining claims going back further, as they know the rule cannot be enforced. And this is why we've seen some of the rejections featured above.

   For instance, both Monarch Airlines and Thomas Cook have confirmed they will only consider claims that date back a maximum of six years.

   Quick points:

   It may be more difficult if it's a non-UK claim

   It may be even more difficult when going back a few years, as other countries may have even tighter procedures.

   For example, in the Netherlands, some claims are only being looked at from within the past year. Dutch airline KLM says it will only look into complaints about flights dating back two years.

   Don't fall for airline tricks

   Some airlines are also citing the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions, which they claim state they don't need to look back as far as 2005.

   But don't fall for this rubbish. Under EU regulations, which is what count on delays and cancellations, you can go back to 2005 (unless you need to go to court). The Warsaw and Montreal Conventions apply to other circumstances, such as if your luggage goes missing, so if an airline quotes these, it is trying to trick you.

   What if your claim is on hold?

   Some claims for flight delays may have been on hold for the past few years, pending the court case result. Airlines may automatically reopen them, but to be sure, contact your airline to state you'd like to pursue your claim for compensation.

   If your claim is on hold at a county court, rather than with the airline, then it's not clear whether the court will automatically restart the claim, so you should contact the court to find out.

   However, if your claim is on hold with a court, it's worth starting the complaints process again with the airline, asking it to look again at your case. Remember to include the complaint reference number from your original claim.

4. Two-hour delay? You could be entitled to cash.

   For short delays of under two hours, you don't have a right to compensation, costs or a refund. However, once you've had to wait around that long, you could be owed serious sums. The longer the delay, the more you could get.

   Find out your rights based on the delay length:

   Two hours or more

   If your flight departure is delayed for more than two hours, your airline may also have to look after you until your flight departs. This means you could be provided with food, drinks, communications and accommodation if you are delayed overnight. This rule kicks in on delays of between two and four hours, depending on the length of the flight.

   You are entitled to this help in all circumstances, regardless of the cause of the delay. The Court of Justice of the European Union upheld consumers' right to care and assistance in January 2013 after Ryanair challenged it (see the Ryanair ordered to pay costs MSE News story).

   If you had to pay for these yourself, keep receipts and make a claim for those costs to the airline. See the How to claim section for how to do this.

   Three hours or more

   Passengers can claim compensation of between €250 (£212) and €600 (£508) if you meet the criteria for compensation, already mentioned above. The amount depends on the length of the flight and the delay, see the How much will you get? section.

   This is in addition to food, accommodation and other extra costs (as mentioned above).

   Five hours or more

   But when the delay hits five hours, as well as costs for food, accommodation and other extras, you qualify for a refund of the ticket cost, no matter whose fault the problem was, if you decide not to travel.

   To also get compensation, the problem must be the airline's fault (see conditions above).

   You can get a refund for a delayed flight if:

   • The flight departed from an EU airport, regardless of the airline, or you were on an EU airline that landed at an EU airport.
   • Your flight departure is delayed by five hours or more and you decide not to travel.
   • If you're on a booking with a connecting flight and you're at your intermediate stop, you are also entitled to your money back for all legs on your ticket (including a return at a later date) as well as a flight back to your starting point if the flight lands five hours or more late and your trip no longer has a purpose.

   Can you get both a refund and compensation?

   Yes, you could be entitled to a lot of cash in some cases.

   If you decide not to fly because the departure is delayed by over five hours, if it lands over three hours later than scheduled (instead of miraculously making up the time in the air), and it's the airline's fault, you can also claim for compensation, as well as a refund.

5. You could get up to £508 back, but it depends on the delay and length of flight.

   If you're entitled to compensation, it can be between €250 (£212) and €600 (£508), depending on the delay to your arrival and the length of your journey. BUT compensation is in euros, so the amount you'll get in sterling will fluctuate depending on the exchange rate at the time.

   Importantly, compensation is an ex-gratia payment, different to getting money back for something you've already paid for. It's effectively free cash.

   Click to see this table below for how much you can get.

   How much compensation are you due?
   Flight length	Arrival delay	Compensation due
   Up to 1,500km, eg, London to Paris	3 hours+	€250 (£212)
   1,500km-3,500 km, eg, London to Istanbul	3 hours+	€400 (£339)
   3,500km+, eg, London to New York	3-4 hours	€300 (£254)
   	4+ hours	€600 (£508)
   Sterling figures based on the late March 2013 exchange rate of €1.18 euros to £1

   Quick questions:

   How do you find out how long the flight distance was?

   You can use the Web Flyer website to find out.

6. Not had your question answered yet? Read our FAQs.

   What if your flight was diverted?

   If you arrived at your final destination more than three hours late, depending on the cause of the diversion, you may be able to claim for compensation.

   An example is if you were supposed to fly direct from London to New York, but ended up being diverted via Washington, which meant you suffered a delay.

   What if a delay of less than three hours caused you to miss a connecting flight?

   If the initial disruption causes you to arrive at your final destination over three hours late, depending on what caused the disruption, you can claim compensation from your airline.

   What matters is when you arrive at the final destination on your ticket. So if you book a London to Las Vegas flight via New York, where both legs are on the same ticket, what counts is when you get to Las Vegas.

   But if you book your connecting flight separately from your original flight, meaning it's on another ticket, then you can only claim based on the delay to each individual flight.

   So using the same example, if you book London to New York separately from New York to Las Vegas, and the London to New York journey is delayed by less than three hours, causing you to miss the Las Vegas flight, then you can't claim compensation.

   What if an earlier problem caused a backlog which meant your plane was delayed?

   An example would be you're flying from London to New York and all is fine on your route. However, the airline's schedule means the plane you're due to fly on is arriving in London from Dubai, which runs late on the way to the UK, causing your New York-bound flight to be delayed.

   To be honest, we're not 100% sure whether you can claim for compensation. The law isn't specific enough to cover the above scenario and there haven't been enough previous cases to set a precedent. However, it is still worth making a claim. Why should you be penalised if the airline chose a tight turnaround time, meaning more chance of it suffering delays? If nothing else, it will help set a precedent.

   Can you make a claim if the airline you flew with has gone bust?

   In this instance, you may be a creditor of the company and in that case you would need to make a claim to the liquidator or administrator.

   However, if you paid for a flight using a credit card, you may also be able to pursue compensation with your card company, providing the flight cost £100 or more.

   For more information, see our Section 75 refunds guide.

   Can you make a claim if the airline no longer exists because it was bought out?

   It's likely the business that bought the airline has taken over all liabilities, meaning you can put in a claim to the new owner.

   If the buyer doesn't take over liabilities, but you paid for a flight using a credit card, you may be able to claim for compensation with your credit card company instead, providing the flight cost £100 or over. For more information, see our Section 75 refunds guide.

   If you're unsure about what's happened, ask the CAA.

   What if you were on a package holiday?

   It makes no difference, the rules are exactly the same.

Still not had your question answered? Let us know in the forum discussion and we will endeavor to add it to this section.

Flight cancelled? Your rights explained

1. You could be entitled to money back or a new flight if your flight is cancelled, no matter what the reason.

   When a flight is cancelled, however long before it was due to take off, you have a right to...

   • EITHER a refund for the flight that was cancelled.
   • OR an alternative flight (airlines call this re-routing) to your destination.

   This is:

   
   • As long as it happened after 17 February 2005.
   • Regardless of how long before the flight you were told of the cancellation.
   • Regardless of what it was that caused the cancellation.
   • And if the flight you were on departed from an EU airport — regardless of the airline — OR you were on an EU airline and landed at an EU airport. If you were on another flight anywhere else in the world, you may still be able to get your money back and compensation, but you're at the mercy of another set of rules.

   Quick questions

   What if you're stuck at the airport?

   Airlines have to provide assistance such as food, phone calls and accommodation (where there is an overnight delay) to passengers whose flight has been cancelled, regardless of what caused the cancellation.

   However, this only applies to cancelled flights where you choose to be re-routed at the earliest opportunity. If you decide to get a refund for the cancelled flight, or decide to be re-routed at a later date, then the airline doesn't have to provide this assistance as you're no longer its customer.

   What if the airline didn't do this?

   Sometimes the airline will provide meals and accommodation so you don't need to claim it back. But less caring carriers may not, meaning you end up forking out for these essentials.

   If so, keep all receipts so you can claim. More information in the How to claim section.

   What if you missed a connecting flight because of a cancellation?

   If you can't get to your intermediate stop because your first flight was cancelled, then the airline must refund the whole ticket price.

   If you are offered an alternative flight to get to that intermediate point, then you fall into the delayed flight category.

   What matters is when you arrive at the final destination on your ticket. So if you book a London to Las Vegas flight via New York, where both legs are on the same ticket, what counts is when you get to Las Vegas.

   But if you book your connecting flight separately to your original flight, meaning it is on another ticket, then you can only claim based on the delay to each individual flight.

   So if you book London to New York on a different ticket to New York to Las Vegas, and the London to New York flight is delayed by less than three hours, you can't claim compensation if you miss your flight from New York to Las Vegas.

2. If it's the airline's fault, you may get up to £508 compensation.

   You CAN claim additional compensation of between €125 (£106) and €600 (£508), depending on the arrival time of a rescheduled flight you're put on.

   Even if you go for a refund of your original ticket, rather than be re-routed, meaning you don't travel, you can claim compensation, based on the timings of the alternative flight offered.

   Quick questions

   In what circumstances could you claim compensation?:

   To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:

   • Your flight departed after 17 February 2005.
   • Your rescheduled flight, whether you board it or not, must have arrived at its destination later than scheduled. The compensation for flight cancellations section below explains how much you'll get, depending on the length of the delay.
   • Your flight is cancelled by the airline within 14 days of your journey.
   • The flight you were on must have departed from an EU airport — regardless of the airline — OR it must have been an EU airline and landed at an EU airport. If you were on another flight anywhere else in the world, you may still be able to get your money back and compensation, but you're at the mercy of another set of rules.
   • The reason for the cancellation must have been the airline's fault, eg, the pilot was sick and not replaced, or the flight was cancelled as it was underbooked.

   When can't you claim compensation?

   If any of the following apply:

   • Your flight was cancelled more than 14 days before your journey.
   • The flight you were on departed from and landed at a non-EU airport, regardless of the airline, or you were coming from a non-EU country on a non-EU airline, regardless of where it lands.
   • Where the delay is out of the airline's hands due to an 'extraordinary circumstance'.

   Where the delay is out of the airline's hands, these 'extraordinary circumstances' include:

   • Bad weather
   • Industrial action
   • Political problems
   • Security or safety issues
   • Air traffic management decisions

   The above scenarios are outlined in EU regulations as being 'extraordinary circumstances'. It's a a grey area as to what other situations and scenarios would be covered. The only guidance we have is that an 'extraordinary circumstance' relates to anything outside the airline's hands.

   If you think this may apply to you, it's worth putting in a claim. If the airline rejects it, you're able to take your complaint to the Civil Aviation Authority, which says it looks at claims on a case-by-case basis.

3. If you're bumped off a flight, you're entitled to compensation.

   Where the airline has overbooked and you voluntarily give up your seat, the amount of compensation is between you and the airline to agree on. It must give you either a refund of the ticket price if you decide not to travel within seven days, or an alternative flight.

   If you were forced off due to overbooking, then you fall in the same camp as a cancelled flight. This means you're also eligible for compensation as overbooking was the airline's fault (see above).

4. You could get up to £508 compensation but it depends on the delay and the length of the flight.

   The amount you could get in compensation varies between €125 (£106) and €600 (£508). This depends on the distance of the booked flight, and the delay suffered in reaching your final destination.

   Importantly, compensation is an ex-gratia payment, different to getting money back for something you've already paid for. It's effectively free cash.

   BUT compensation is based in euros – meaning the amount you'll get in sterling will fluctuate depending on the exchange rate at that time.

   Quick questions

   How much compensation could you get?

   Compensation for flight cancellations
   Flight length	0 - 1,500km, eg, London to Paris		1,500 - 3,500km, eg, London to Istanbul		3,500km+, eg, London to New York
   Delay (based on alternative flight arrival)	Up to 2 hours	More than 2 hours	Up to 3 hours	More than 3 hours	Up to 4 hours	More than 4 hours
   Compensation	€125 (£106)	€250 (£212)	€200 (£169)	€400 (£339)	€300 (£254)	€600 (£508)
   Sterling figures based on the late March 2013 exchange rate of €1.18 euros to £1.

   How do you find out how long the flight distance was?

   You can use the Web Flyer website to find out.

5. Not had your question answered yet? Read our FAQs

   Can you make a claim if the airline you flew with has gone bust?

   In this instance, you may be a creditor of the company and in that case you would need to make a claim to the liquidator or administrator.

   However, if you paid for a flight using a credit card, you may also be able to pursue compensation with your card company, providing the flight cost £100 or more.

   For more information, see our Section 75 refunds guide.

   Can you make a claim if the airline you flew with no longer exists because it was bought by another airline?

   It's likely the business that bought the airline has taken over all its liabilities, meaning you can put in a claim to the new owner.

   If the buyer doesn't take over the liabilities, but you paid for a flight using a credit card, you may be able to claim for compensation with your credit card company instead, providing the flight cost £100 or over. For more information, see our Section 75 refunds guide.

   If you're unsure about what's happened, ask the CAA.

   What if you paid using air miles?

   If you paid for part, or all of your flight using air miles and you opt for a refund for a cancelled flight, the CAA says it's reasonable for the airline to reinstate the air miles.

   Provided any taxes were included in the ticket price, these should also be refunded. However, taxes paid at the airport rather than as part of the original booking are unlikely to be refunded.

   What if you were on a package holiday?

   The tour operator has to either get you an alternative flight, an alternative holiday or refund the whole holiday cost.

   If you need to make a claim, contact the tour operator. The rest of this guide relates only to flights booked outside a package.

Still not had your question answered? Let us know in the forum discussion and we will endeavor to add it to this section.

How do you claim?

First, we need to determine whether this is your first claim or if you have already put in a claim that is on hold. If it's your first claim, then skip to Step 1. But if you've had a case that was on hold, continue reading.

What if your claim is already on hold?

What about claims on hold at court level?

First time claims

To claim for a refund, compensation or additional costs for the first time when a flight has been cancelled or delayed, you should initially:

• Prepare all documents, including boarding passes, tickets and any proof of the delay.
• Use these links if you need to check if your flight was delayed and how far the flight distance was. Both affect the compensation.

1. Step 1: Complain to the airline

   Check the airline's website to find out the best way of complaining. Bear in mind airlines may try every trick in the book to try to get out of paying. If this is the case, you can take your complaint further, as we explain below.

   

   Also, beware of claims management companies saying they'll put in a claim for you. But going down this route will cost you (usually around 25% + VAT), when you could put in a claim yourself for nothing. What to write.

   In your complaint, briefly explain what went wrong and state what you want in terms of compensation and/ or reimbursement. Use our template letters, which are based on information from the Civil Aviation Authority.

   Delayed flights Cancelled flights
   
   

   What evidence do you need?

   • Passenger details including names, your home address, email address and phone number.
   • Previous airline reference number if you been in contact before about the same complaint.
   • Flight details such as the booking reference, flight number, where you were travelling to and from and on what dates.
   • The flight length. You can check this on the Web Flyer website.
   • You should also include copies of supporting documents such as receipts, flight tickets or boarding passes. If you can't find these immediately, check your email inbox for e-tickets.

   Do you need a boarding pass to claim?

   The CAA says for cancellation claims, passengers should only need proof of purchase in order to make a claim.

   For delays, passengers will need to prove they were at the check-in. The best way to do this is to either submit:

   a) Your boarding pass.

   b) Email confirmation of boarding passes being issued and other forms of acknowledgement if you don't still have your boarding pass.

   c) If you've lost your boarding pass or other forms of acknowledgement, ask the airline if it has confirmation you checked-in, We've heard of success when trying this.

2. If you're successful, hurrah! If not, go to step 2.

   Please report successes in the Flight Delays forum thread.

   How long should my claim take?

   This depends on the airline as there is no standardised timescale. British Airways says it takes up to four weeks, Easyjet says it varies on a case-by-case basis.

   The CAA says if you haven't had a response to your complaint from the airline after 21 days, you should chase the airline for a reply. If after 28 days from the start of the claim you still haven't had a response you can refer your complaint to the CAA to look into. See Step 2 for further details.

3. Step 2: What if my claim gets rejected?

   Sadly, there's no independent ombudsman service for the airline industry, along the lines of the Financial Ombudsman Service. If you're unhappy with the response you get from the airline, you may be able to take up your complaint with the UK's regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the European Consumer Centre (ECC) or the regulator in the country of departure.

   However, none of these are ombudsman schemes, so they cannot decide cases or impose requirements. They will advise you whether they think you have a valid complaint and, if so, will take it up with the airline. Who to appeal to

   You can only complain to the CAA about certain flights, otherwise you need to complain to the European Consumer Centre. What matters is where you departed from and where the airline is registered, as the table below shows.

   Who to complain to?
   Departure country	Airline based in...	Who to complain to
   UK	Doesn't matter	CAA
   EU, not UK	EU, not UK	European Consumer Centre or regulator in departure country
   EU, not UK	Rest of world	Regulator in departure country
   Non-EU, arriving in EU	EU	CAA

   When writing, set out all the details of your complaint and include copies of all correspondence. To help, use our template letters:

   Complain to the CAA – delays Complain to ECC/other regulator Complain to the CAA – cancellations
   
   
   

   Please report successes in the Flight Delays forum thread.

   How long should my claim take?

   The CAA will acknowledge the complaint within 10 days, although it says it can then take several weeks to resolve, partly because of the high volume of claims, and partly because of the need to investigate in detail.

4. Step 3: What if you lose again?

   If the relevant regulator or the European Consumer Centre takes up your complaint but you still lose, you may have to take your complaint to a local county court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or a sheriff court in Scotland.

5. More info

   To use the courts' small claims system, your claim needs to be under £10,000 in England and Wales, or under £3,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

   You can ONLY take your case through the small claims system within six years from the delayed flight in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

   In Scotland, you've got five years.

   • Booked flights in the UK? If you booked tickets in England or Wales, as this is where you completed the contract, you should be able to take your claim through the courts in England and Wales, regardless of where the airline is based. We're awaiting confirmation on whether this also applies to Scotland and Northern Ireland - we'll update this guide as soon as we know.
   • Got a UK address for the airline? The European Consumer Centre says if so, you can take an airline to court here, even if the head office is based elsewhere.
   • Flight departed or arrived in the UK? The ECJ ruled in a flight cancellations case in 2009 that you can take an airline to court for cancellation claims in either the country the plane departed or arrived at, regardless of the airline's base.

   If none of the above apply, the European Small Claims Procedure can be used for cross-border complaints for claims of under €2,000. This can be carried out in a county court in England and Wales.

   For more information on going to court and what this entails, see our Small Claims guide and How to Complain guide. It may also be worth considering taking legal advice.

   To discuss the guide, please report successes in the Flight Delays forum thread.

   Made a claim? Let others know how it's gone in the MSE Forum on your airline's thread:

   • British Airways
   • Easyjet
   • Flybe
   • Jet2
   • KLM/Air France
   • Lufthansa
   • Monarch
   • Ryanair
   • Thomas Cook
   • Thomson
   • Virgin Atlantic

   If your airline's not listed, let us know on the guide's discussion thread.