Quick summary: Airline rejected your flight delay claim? Learn how to organise delay evidence, airline reasons, expenses and escalation documents.
Read the airline reason carefully
The airline should explain why it rejected the claim. Keep the full response, especially if it refers to extraordinary circumstances, weather, air traffic control, technical issues or knock-on delays.
Keep flight and delay evidence
Save booking confirmations, boarding passes, flight numbers, arrival time evidence, airline app messages, airport screenshots and any written reason given at the time.
Separate compensation from expenses
Compensation and reimbursement are different. Keep receipts for food, transport, accommodation or calls separately from the fixed compensation claim.
Check the escalation route
If the airline uses an ADR provider, that may be the next route. If not, the CAA may be relevant for eligible complaints. Keep all airline correspondence in date order.
Evidence checklist
- Booking confirmation and boarding pass
- Airline rejection email or final response
- Actual departure and arrival time evidence
- Reason given for the delay or cancellation
- Receipts for reasonable expenses
- ADR or CAA complaint correspondence
Common questions
What if the airline says extraordinary circumstances?
Ask what specific event caused the delay and keep evidence that helps test the explanation, such as flight status updates and airport communications.
Are food and hotel costs part of compensation?
They are usually treated separately. Keep receipts and note whether the airline provided care during the delay.
Should I resubmit the same claim?
It is usually better to respond with organised evidence and address the airline reason rather than repeatedly sending the same complaint.