The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.
Delayed flights, list bags and cancellations are far more common than any of us regular travellers would like. If you’re the kind of traveller who typically flies more than once per year, the chances are you’ve probably tasted this chaos at some point.
In the last few years, I had to spend 36 hours in Niger suffering its punishing saharan heat in the winter clothes I left England in (the plane left without unloading anybody’s bags…) and on another occasion was left in Dubai for 18 hours on account of a late flight from Manchester.
On both of these occasions I was entitled to compensation although neither airline exactly advertised this fact at the time.
What most travelers don’t realize is that compensation might be your legal right—and hundreds of millions in unclaimed payouts are left on the table every year.
This is why we have put together this ultimate, epic guide to airline compensation. We will walk you through everything you need to know including:
- When you’re entitled to compensation
- How much you can claim
- What to do when airlines say no
- When your travel insurance can step in
- And a whole lot more.
The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.
Flight Delays and Lost Luggage by the Numbers
Before we dive into the process, let’s look at how widespread the issue really is.
Global Air Travel Disruption Statistics:
- In 2023, over 22% of flights globally were delayed by 15 minutes or more.
- That’s more than a staggering 18 million flights affected.
- 2% of all flights were cancelled outright.
- According to SITA, 26 million bags were mishandled in 2022 — about 7.6 bags per 1,000 passengers.
- The average delay for a disrupted flight in Europe is 66 minutes.
- Some airlines have doubled the number of cancelled and delayed flights post-COVID
- An estimated €5 billion in compensation goes unclaimed each year under EU Regulation 261 alone.
Basically, the problem of airline under-performance is a huge one and it’s getting worse. Should we let them get away with, it or should we hit them back where it hurts? Right in the share-holder dividends…
Unlock Our GREATEST Travel Secrets!
Sign up for our newsletter and get the best travel tips delivered right to your inbox.
When Are You Entitled to Flight Compensation?
Your right to claim compensation depends on where you’re flying, the airline, and the reason why the flight was disrupted. Here are the major protections, though as you likely know we’re in the era of “shrinkflation,” where airline take more and give less;
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
EU / UK Flight Compensation (EU Regulation 261/2004 + UK261)
You may be entitled to between €250–€600 if:
- Your flight arrives 3+ hours late
- Your flight is cancelled less than 14 days in advance
- You were denied boarding due to overbooking
Conditions:
- Flight departs from an EU/UK airport (any airline), or
- Flight arrives in an EU/UK airport with an EU/UK carrier
Payouts based on distance:
| Distance | Delay | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| < 1,500 km | 3+ hrs | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | 3+ hrs | €400 |
| 3,500+ km | 3–4 hrs | €300 |
| 3,500+ km | 4+ hrs or cancelled | €600 |
Extraordinary circumstances (e.g. strikes, extreme weather) generally void eligibility.
US Regulations
When travelling in the U.S., compensation is mostly limited to:
- Denied boarding (involuntary bumping): Up to 400% of your one-way fare (max $1,550)
- Lost/damaged bags: Up to $3,800 domestic or ~$1,800 international under the Montreal Convention
So how about cancellations and delays? Well airlines must only offer rebooking or refunds, but no cash payout is mandated by law. You can find out more about U.S. Airlines commitments here.
Canada, Brazil, India, and More
- Canada (APPR): Up to C$1,000 for delays or cancellations within airline’s control
- Brazil: Full refund or rebooking required; additional rights under ANAC 400
- India: Compensation for denied boarding and delays, but payouts are modest (5,000–10,000 Indian Rupees range)
How to Claim Flight Compensation (Step-by-Step)
Here’s what to do if your flight was disrupted and you suspect you’re eligible for compensation;
1. Keep All Documentation
- Boarding passes, e-tickets, receipts
- Screenshots of delay or cancellation info
- Any communication from the airline
We recommend that you keep careful notes and records. Photograph flight announcement boards and write down the reasons given for the delays by any airline staff member. If you can get the staff members’ names, this is even better.
2. Find Out Why the Flight Was Disrupted
It’s vital to try to find out why the flight was delayed.
- Airlines will often cite “extraordinary circumstances” (e.g. storms), even when it’s actually an operational issue (e.g. staff shortages)
- Use sites like FlightStats, FlightAware, or Flightradar24 to verify delay causes
Airlines are shameless entities, especially those known for cheap flights, and will lie here if they can. Last March, my flight from Manchester to Dubai left 2 hours late. The airline claimed it was because a passenger had fallen sick before take off and had to be removed by paramedics. While there was some truth in this, the fact is that the flight was already 90 minutes late before the incident and the reason the passenger fell ill is because he was trapped in an airline seat with no A/C for 90 minutes.
3. Submit Your Claim
Even if you don’t have all of your records it’s still worth trying to submit a claim. Here is what you do;
- Use the airline’s official compensation form (usually found in the Help or Contact section of their website). Occasionally these will be buried/hidden away.
- Clearly state the flight number, date, and reason for your claim
- Be polite but firm. Quote the relevant regulation (EU261, APPR, etc.)
If you can’t find their claim form, send an email to their customer services with ‘Request For Compensation’ as the email header. I’ve drafted a couple of templates that you can use as a starting point:
4. Wait for a Response
- Airlines have up to 30–60 days to respond
- If they don’t, or reject you unfairly, escalate the matter (see next section)
Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.
It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)
Hide Yo’ Money!What If the Airline Rejects Your Claim?
Airlines will often reject a claim even when they clearly have no real grounds to. This is often a “try on” hoping you will get bored, run out of steam, or forget to escalate it in time. As I mentioned earlier, this will sometimes even lie about the reason for rejecting the claim such as mis-citing the reason for the delay.
In ALL cases, one of my top travel tips is that it is worth escalating the matter as doing so forces a proper investigation.
Escalation Options:
- ADR / National Enforcement Bodies (e.g. CAA in the UK, DGAC in France)
- Ombudsman services (free, impartial mediation)
- Use a claims company like:
- AirHelp
- Skycop
- Flightright
- ClaimCompass
- (They will take ~25–35% of the payout)
- Small claims court (especially effective in the UK and EU)
Do I Need To Use a Flight Compensation Claims Company?
Using a flight compensation company can be a smart move if you don’t have the time, patience, or energy to chase after the airline yourself. These companies specialise in navigating the airline bureaucracy, tracking down evidence, calling out bullshit, and making legally sound claims.
If your flight disruption occurred within the last few years, they can often check your eligibility instantly and then file the claim on your behalf. They’re especially useful if your original claim has been rejected and you’re unsure how to escalate it any further.
Photo: @joemiddlehurst
However, there’s a trade-off here – most of them charge a commission of 25–35% of your compensation, only if the claim is successful.
So, if your case is straightforward—like a delay of over 3 hours on an EU flight — you may want to try the DIY route first. But if the airline is stalling, being vague, lying, or you’re dealing with cross-border legal complexities, using a claim company could mean the difference between giving up and getting your payout.
What About Lost or Damaged Luggage?
So far we have focused on late and cancelled flights but lost or delayed luggage can actually be far more frustrating and is a lot more common than you might want to believe.
If your bag is delayed, lost, or arrives broken;
- Report it at the airport before the leaving baggage claim area
- Get a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) and keep a copy of this
- Submit a claim within:
- 7 days for damaged bags
- 21 days for delayed/lost bags
- You can claim up to:
- $3,800 (US domestic)
- €1,300 / $1,800 (international – Montreal Convention)
Pro Tip: Document the contents and value of your bag. Keep receipts for any essentials you bought while waiting for your luggage.
Can Travel Insurance Help?
Claiming airline compensation for delayed flights and lost luggage is one route, but sometimes another option is to claim on your travel insurance.
Photo: @danielle_wyatt
When Insurance Does Help:
- Trip cancellation or interruption (you get sick, a family emergency, etc.)
- Missed connections and overnight stays
- Baggage loss and emergency essentials
- Some premium policies cover delays over 3+ hours with fixed payouts
Be sure to check the fine print here though — many travel insurers exclude disruptions caused by the airline (which would fall under flight comp laws instead) and insist that you claim from the airline even in circumstances when the airline has been obstinate.
Also keep in mind that claiming on your insurance runs the risk of increasing your premiums for evermore so try not to do it unless you have to.
At this point, I think it’s worth us indulging in a bit of a side-quest to talk about travel insurance generally.
A Word About SafetyWing…
Personally we never take a trip without first arranging good travel and health insurance and our go-to provider these days is SafetyWing.
These days most of Team Backpacker use SafetyWing who offer excellent and simple travel health insurance cover for long term travellers and digital nomads.
For full details, you can read about their Nomad Essential and Complete Plans here. Or alternatively you can just bash the buttons below to go directly to their site.
Pro Tips for Maximizing Compensation Success
Before we sign off, let’s look at some pro-tips for claiming flight and airline compensation;
- Be persistent: A lot airlines deny ALL initial claims hoping you’ll just drop it
- Document everything: Especially the delay duration at arrival, not just departure
- Know your rights before flying
- Use templates: Pre-written compensation letters (like the ones below)
Final Thoughts
For us, Claiming flight compensation isn’t just about getting a few bucks back. It’s about holding airlines accountable for their shitty performance and reclaiming your time, money, and sanity.
Whether it’s €600 from a cancelled flight or getting reimbursed for emergency underwear off the back of a baggage delay — you deserve to be made whole.
If you’ve had a disrupted flight recently, check if you’re eligible. The worst they can say is no….
Buy Us a Coffee!
A couple of you lovely readers suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links, since we’ve decided to keep the site ad-free. So here it is!
You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee. If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂
