0% commission · 100% payout
Check what you're legally owed in 15 seconds.
Keep 100% of your payout — free claim letters to the airline without paying 35% commission to a claims company.
Use the airline that actually operated the flight, not the one you booked with.
Likely eligible
Statutory payout per passenger
£220
Total for 2 passengers
£440
Your saving vs a claims company
If you used a 35% + VAT claims company, they would take £185.
With our free direct claim letter, you keep the entire £440.
100% payout · £0 commission
- • Departs from a UK airport, so UK261 applies to any airline.
Estimate based on statutory UK261/EU261 rules. Not legal advice.
Free claim letter generator
Fill in your details — the letter updates instantly. Send it via the airline's claims portal or email. Nothing is stored or sent from this page.
[Your full name]
[Your address]
[Your email]
18 October 2026
British Airways – Customer Relations / Claims Department
Re: Statutory compensation claim – Flight [flight number] on [date of flight]
Booking reference: [booking reference]
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to claim compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as retained in UK law and amended by the Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 ("UK261") in respect of flight [flight number] from London (LGW) to Palma (PMI) on [date of flight], operated by British Airways.
The flight was delayed, arriving at the final destination more than 4 hours late (measured from when the aircraft doors opened).
The great-circle distance of this route is approximately 1,310 km. Under Article 7 of UK261, the compensation due is £220 per passenger. The claim is made on behalf of the following 2 passenger(s):
1. [Passenger name 1]
Total compensation claimed: £440
In line with the judgments of the Court of Justice of the EU in Sturgeon (C-402/07) and Nelson (C-581/10), and the Court of Appeal in Huzar v Jet2.com [2014] EWCA Civ 791, technical problems arising in the normal operation of an airline are not extraordinary circumstances. If you contend that extraordinary circumstances apply, please provide full evidence and explain what reasonable measures were taken to avoid the disruption.
Please pay the compensation in money by bank transfer, as required by Article 7(3). I do not accept travel vouchers in place of cash.
I look forward to your response within 14 days. If this claim is rejected or not resolved within 8 weeks, I will refer it to your approved Alternative Dispute Resolution body or the relevant enforcement authority, and reserve the right to issue proceedings without further notice.
Yours faithfully,
[Your full name]
Prepared using the free claim letter template at flightcompensationcalculator.co.uk.Statutory compensation amounts
Under 1,500 km
£220
€250 under EU261
e.g. London – Amsterdam
1,500 – 3,500 km
£350
€400 under EU261
e.g. Manchester – Tenerife
Over 3,500 km
£520
€600 under EU261
e.g. Heathrow – New York (50% if 3–4h late)
Claiming directly vs. claims management companies
Same law, same airline, same outcome — the only difference is who keeps the money.
| Free direct letter | Claims company (CMC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | 0% — you keep 100% | 25–35% + VAT (up to 42%) |
| Admin / handling fees | None | Often £25–£45 per passenger |
| Your legal rights | Identical (UK261/EU261) | Identical (UK261/EU261) |
| Typical turnaround | 2–8 weeks direct from airline | Often 3–6+ months |
| Free ADR escalation | Yes — CEDR / AviationADR | Yes, but fee still applies |
| Who controls the claim | You | The company |
How to claim in four steps
- 1
Check eligibility
Use the calculator above to confirm UK261 or EU261 and your exact amount.
- 2
Copy your free letter
Add flight and passenger details — the letter pre-fills with the statutory amount.
- 3
Submit to the airline
Paste into the airline's claims portal or email customer relations. Keep a copy.
- 4
Escalate to ADR
Rejected unfairly or no reply in 8 weeks? Escalate free to CEDR or AviationADR.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to claim flight delay compensation?
In England and Wales you have up to 6 years to bring a claim under UK261 (5 years in Scotland). EU countries set their own limits, from 1 year (Belgium, Poland) to 3 years (Germany) or longer.
What counts as extraordinary circumstances?
Events outside the airline's control such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, security risks, bird strikes and political unrest. Routine technical faults, crew shortages and strikes by the airline's own staff are not extraordinary.
Do I have to accept vouchers instead of cash?
No. Article 7(3) says compensation must be paid in money (cash, bank transfer or cheque). Vouchers can only be used if you agree in writing.
What about connecting flights?
If all flights were on a single booking, compensation is based on the delay at your final destination and the total distance from first departure to final arrival. Separate tickets are treated as separate flights.
Why not use a claims company?
Claims companies typically charge 25–35% plus VAT — up to 42% of your payout. Airlines must process direct claims for free using the same statutory rules.
How is the delay measured?
At your final destination, from the scheduled arrival time to when at least one aircraft door opens (CJEU Germanwings v Henning, C-452/13).