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Use a flight compensation service only if you are willing to give up part of any award in exchange for doing less paperwork. It does not make you eligible, and official guidance does not show that it raises the chance of a successful claim. You can claim from the airline yourself without paying an agency, and both the UK and EU have escalation routes if the airline refuses or stalls. The real decision is whether saving time is worth a percentage of what you receive.
Start with the route, not the airline on your ticket
Eligibility depends on where the journey starts and ends and which carrier operates each flight. The airline named on your ticket can differ from the operating carrier, so check the operating airline on your booking confirmation or boarding pass before you do anything else.
| Your itinerary | Rules that can apply |
|---|---|
| Departs a UK airport, any airline | UK rules |
| Arrives in the UK on an EU or UK airline | UK rules |
| Arrives in the EU on a UK airline | UK rules |
| Departs an EU airport, any airline | EU rules |
| Departs a non-EU airport on a flight operated by an EU-licensed carrier | EU rules may apply; confirm against the official guidance for that route |
What compensation amounts apply
The amount depends on the distance of the flight and, under the UK rules, sometimes on how late you arrived. These are standard amounts, not guaranteed payouts.
| Flight distance | UK amount (UK Civil Aviation Authority delay guidance) | EU amount (Your Europe guidance and the European Commission’s 2026 announcement) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | Depends on the length of the delay; check the CAA’s current tiers | €600 |
The EU figures are the standard protection the European Commission said it maintained in its June 2026 announcement. The Your Europe guidance on the same bands was last checked on 21 September 2026. The UK figures come from the CAA’s delay guidance as published at the time of writing in October 2026.
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#1 Best Overall
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OLIXIS 20 Inch Carry-On Luggage, Hardside Suitcase with Spinner Wheels, Lightweight ABS Hard Shell Travel Luggage, TSA Approved Lock, Expandable Small Suitcase for Business & Travel–Light Grey
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A long delay does not guarantee compensation
- EU guidance generally requires that you reach your final destination at least three hours late. Measure arrival at the final destination, not at an intermediate connection.
- Both UK and EU rules allow the airline to refuse payment where the cause was an extraordinary circumstance. Ask the airline to state the cause in writing, because you need that statement to decide whether to challenge it.
- Distance is judged on the itinerary you booked, so the exact routing can change which band applies. Confirm the route before assuming a figure.
Claiming it yourself
UK flights
In the UK, compensation is not paid automatically. The UK Civil Aviation Authority states: “The CAA recommends that consumers seeking to make a complaint should complain directly to the airline or airport concerned.” Its claims-agency and complaint guidance sets out the route below.
- Confirm the route and the operating carrier from your booking and boarding pass.
- Gather your evidence: booking confirmation, boarding pass, the airline’s delay or cancellation messages, proof of your actual arrival time, and receipts for reasonable care costs such as meals or accommodation during the disruption.
- Submit a written claim to the airline. Compensation and care expenses may go through separate airline processes, so ask which applies to each and keep copies of everything you send.
- If the airline’s final answer is unsatisfactory, or you have had no reply for more than eight weeks, escalate. Use an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider if the airline takes part in one. If it does not, use the CAA’s Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT).
EU flights
- Establish the applicable route and the operating carrier using the table above.
- Check the arrival delay at your final destination and the stated cause of the disruption.
- Claim from the operating airline. EU guidance says the operating airline is generally responsible for handling the complaint.
- If the complaint is not resolved, use the official national enforcement or consumer-help body in the country concerned, and keep a written record of every exchange.
What a claims service adds, and what it costs
A flight compensation service takes on the letters, follow-up and sometimes escalation, in return for a fee. The CAA warns that claims agencies typically charge fees that can be a significant proportion of the compensation. The fee is the variable that most passengers underestimate.
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Consider a UK flight that pays £350 where a provider takes 25%. This is an illustrative rate, not a quoted one. You would receive £262.50 before any additional charges. Claiming directly on the same terms would leave the full £350, but you would have to do the work yourself.
Questions to put to any provider before you sign
- What is the total fee, as a percentage or fixed sum, and does VAT apply?
- Is there an extra charge for legal action or court proceedings, and is it deducted from your share?
- Whom are you authorising to act, and what does any power of attorney or assignment allow? Can you still contact the airline yourself without affecting the agreement?
- Does the service check route, carrier, delay length and extraordinary circumstances before taking your case, and what happens if it rejects or abandons the claim?
- Which personal documents does it need, how are they stored, and how long are they kept?
- Where is the award paid, and how are deductions shown to you?
Direct claim, claims service or escalation body compared
| Option | Typical cost | What you handle | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct claim to the airline | No agency fee | Written claim, evidence and follow-up | Clear documents and you are comfortable writing letters |
| Flight compensation claims service | Fee taken from the award; check the total, including any legal-action charge | Supplying documents and approving the claim; the provider handles follow-up | You want the paperwork handled and accept a smaller net payout |
| ADR provider (UK, where the airline participates) | Not stated in the CAA guidance cited | Submitting the case after the airline’s final answer or eight weeks without reply | The airline has refused or stalled |
| CAA PACT (UK, where the airline does not participate in ADR) | Not stated in the CAA guidance cited | Submitting the complaint after the airline stage | The airline is outside an ADR scheme |
When a provider is worth considering
- Claim directly if your documents are clear, the airline responds, and you are willing to write a few letters.
- Consider a provider if the airline has refused, the process is dragging, or you would rather pay a share than manage escalation. Compare the net amount you would keep, not the headline figure.
- Do not sign an agreement you have not read in full, especially one that transfers the whole claim to the provider.
The 2026 EU reform: what has and has not changed
On 15 June 2026 the European Commission announced a political agreement on revised passenger-rights rules and said it had maintained the current standard compensation levels. A political agreement is not the same as an adopted law. The announcement did not establish formal enactment or an effective date. As of 8 October 2026, use the bands above, and check the Commission’s pages and your national enforcement body before filing, because the timing of any change could affect a claim you submit now.
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Quick Recap
Bestseller No. 4
Best Value
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