Delayed airline passengers only 4 in 10 claim compensation

The consumer Group “Which?” found 9000 flights and 37 million passenger journeys to and from UK were delayed by 15 minutes or more between June 2014 and May 2015, and out of 90,000 passengers who could be eligible to claim compensation only four in 10 people, 38% put in a claim. So delayed airline passengers are potentially missing out on millions of pounds of compensation.

Passengers delayed for over three hours are entitled to up to 600 euros (£422).

Those protected by the Denied Boarding Regulation have to be flying with an EU-based airline or flying from an EU airport.

Alex Neill the Which? director of campaigns wants people to assert their rights and hold their airline to account for those delays and claim the compensation that they are owed.”

Half of those delayed said they received no detailed information about the delay from the airline as they generally did “everything to fight it believing that there’s a chance they’re not responsible”. The airlines aren’t very good at telling its customers their rights and lots of people can’t be bothered as it is complicated.

Passengers travelling within the EU who are delayed for more than three hours could be entitled to up to 400 euro (£282) in compensation, which rises up to 600 euro (£422) if the journey is over 2,170 miles. But delays caused by “extraordinary circumstances” are not eligible for compensation under EU regulations.