DIY guide
How to claim flight compensation yourself.
Some passengers can claim directly from the airline. The key is to separate compensation from refunds and expenses, submit complete evidence, and track deadlines.
Key points
- DIY may work well for straightforward, well-documented claims.
- Keep a complete copy of every airline message and attachment.
- Escalation gets harder if the facts, route, or documents are incomplete.
Before you contact the airline
Collect the booking confirmation, boarding pass, passenger names, flight number, route, scheduled and actual arrival times, and every message explaining the disruption. If the airline gave vouchers or refund options, keep those separate from statutory compensation.
What to write
State the disrupted flight, date, passengers, route, final arrival delay, and compensation basis. Ask for statutory compensation rather than mixing the request with refunds, meals, hotels, or general inconvenience.
When managed review helps
Managed review is more useful when the airline rejects responsibility, the itinerary has connections, evidence is incomplete, limitation dates are close, or the passenger does not want to manage follow-ups and escalation.
- Use the AirReclaim checker before sending if you want a route-band estimate.
- Do not sign any authorization until you understand fees and standing.
- Keep your own record even if a managed service later handles the claim.