Flight Late. Bag Lost. Train Gone.
Here's What You're Owed.
Know your rights, gather the proof, and get your money back. No legal jargon. Just the fastest route to a real claim.
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Claim in the right order
Three steps, in this order. Skip one and your claim gets significantly harder to process.
Check if you qualify
Start with the basics: where you flew from and to, how late you arrived, and what caused the disruption. A delay isn't always compensation-worthy, but refunds and care costs can still apply.
- Route: UK/EU vs non-EU rules apply differently
- Arrival delay of 3 or more hours
- Cause: airline fault vs "extraordinary circumstances"
Collect your proof
Your claim is only as strong as your screenshots. Grab what you can while it's fresh. Once 24 hours pass, evidence gets harder to retrieve.
- Booking reference and boarding pass
- Screenshot of delay or cancellation notice
- Photos of airport screens if you have them
- Receipts for any extra costs you spent
Submit the claim
DIY directly with the airline using a template, or use a claims service if you want someone else to do the chasing. Both work. Pick based on how much time you have.
- DIY: free, but slower and more back-and-forth
- Claims service: hands-off, takes a cut if you win
- Keep copies of absolutely everything
Pick your problem
Choose what went wrong and get straight to the guide that covers it.
Flight Delay (3+ hours)
Arrived 3 or more hours late? You might be owed compensation, plus meals, hotel, and rerouting support depending on what caused it.
Flight Cancellation
Cancelled flights usually mean a full refund or rebooking, and sometimes compensation too if it's the airline's fault rather than something outside their control.
Lost, Delayed or Damaged Baggage
Report it fast, get a reference number, and keep photos plus receipts. Timing matters more than most people realise with baggage claims.
Train Delays and Cancellations
Train delay refunds are usually a simple admin job, but you need the right ticket details and timestamps. Delay Repay schemes vary by operator.
Package Holiday Refunds
Package holidays carry extra protections under ABTA and ATOL, making refunds and support far less painful than dealing with airlines and hotels separately.
Extra Costs (Hotel, Meals, Taxis)
If disruption forced you to spend money you hadn't planned on, you may be able to claim those costs back. Every receipt counts, no matter how small.
Top posts on travel compensation
What you can claim
A fast cheat sheet for the most common disruption scenarios.
| What went wrong | What you can usually claim | What you'll need |
|---|---|---|
| Delay compensation | Cash compensation if you arrive very late and it's not down to extraordinary circumstances | Booking ref, boarding pass, proof of arrival time, delay reason |
| Refunds | Full refund on unused tickets, or re-routing if you're cancelled or severely disrupted | Booking confirmation, cancellation notice, payment proof |
| Meals and hotel during disruption | Right to care: meals, refreshments, hotel, and transport if you're stuck waiting overnight | Receipts, proof of delay or cancellation, notes of what staff told you |
| Baggage damage | Repair or replacement costs up to the airline's baggage limits. Timing matters here. | Photos, damage report (PIR at airport), receipts or valuation |
| Missed connections | Rebooking help and sometimes compensation if it's one booking and you arrive very late | Booking showing single itinerary, proof of final arrival delay, screenshots |
Proof checklist
Grab this before it disappears. Evidence gets harder to retrieve the longer you leave it.
Useful tools while you're here
Itinerary Generator
Use AI to build a personalised trip itinerary in minutes. Perfect for planning the next one.
Budget Calculator
Work out exactly what your next trip will cost, across GBP, USD and EUR, before you book.
Entry Requirement Checker
Check visa rules and entry requirements for wherever you're heading next.
Related resources
Travel compensation FAQs
The questions we get asked most, answered honestly.
Is this compensation checker official?
No, it's guidance, not a government tool. The information here covers UK and EU compensation rules as accurately as possible, but always check directly with your airline or rail operator for your specific situation. Rules can change and every case is slightly different.
Do I book compensation claims through The Travel Tinker?
No. When you click a claim link on this page, you go directly to the claims provider or airline. We don't handle any claims ourselves. We just point you in the right direction.
Are the links on this page affiliate links?
Some are, yes. It costs you nothing extra and it helps fund the site so we can keep producing free guides. Our affiliate disclosure covers this fully.
What documents do I need to make a claim?
At minimum: your booking reference, proof of disruption (screenshot of delay notice, cancellation email, or a photo of the departures board), and receipts for any extra costs you incurred. The more evidence the better. See our proof checklist above for the full rundown.
How long do I have to claim?
In the UK, you have up to 6 years to make a flight compensation claim. But the sooner you do it, the easier it is to gather evidence. For train claims, Delay Repay windows are far shorter, sometimes just 28 days depending on the operator. Don't leave it "for later."
What if the airline says "extraordinary circumstances"?
Ask them for the specific reason in writing and still submit your claim. Airlines use "extraordinary circumstances" as a blanket rejection more often than it legitimately applies. Technical faults, for instance, are generally not extraordinary, even though airlines often claim they are. A claims service can push back on this for you.
Can I claim compensation and use travel insurance?
Sometimes, yes. Compensation claims and insurance claims often cover different things, so you can use both in the same situation. Insurance may cover costs that airlines won't, and vice versa. Just make sure you're not claiming for the exact same expense from both.
Don't leave money on the table
Most travellers never claim what they're owed. It takes 10 minutes and it's free to try. Your claim is waiting.