FlightLogic

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FlightLogic is an independent, advertising-supported information service that lets you compare airlines, airports, hotels, and travel products. We do not provide financial advice and we do not recommend specific products or providers. Links marked * are advertising links and may earn us commission at no extra cost to you — always read the terms of any product before booking or applying. Learn more about how we make money.

Free eligibility checks

Am I eligible for compensation?

Six situations UK travellers ask about most — each broken into a plain "you likely are / are not eligible" checklist, what you're owed, and the exact claim letter to send.

Quick Answer

Eligibility for flight and holiday compensation depends entirely on the specifics of what happened. FlightLogic breaks down 6 common scenarios — denied boarding, missed connections, downgrades, schedule changes, package holiday cancellations, and strikes or "extraordinary circumstances" — into plain checklists of when you likely are and are not entitled to compensation or a refund, with a link to the exact claim letter to use.

Usually yes, if you did not volunteer

Denied boarding

Bumped from an overbooked flight without volunteering? You are almost always entitled to fixed cash compensation, plus your choice of a refund or re-routing.

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Yes if one booking, no if separate tickets

Missed connection

Whether you can claim depends on one thing: was your connection on the same booking reference as the delayed flight, or booked separately?

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Yes — reimbursement is automatic, not compensation

Downgrade

Booked and paid for business or premium economy but seated in a lower cabin? UK261 entitles you to a fixed percentage refund of that ticket's price.

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Depends on notice given and how far the new time is from the original

Schedule change

Airlines move flight times often, especially months ahead. Whether a schedule change entitles you to compensation depends on how much notice you got and how far the new time is from the original.

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Yes, if it was booked and sold as a package

Package holiday cancellation

If your tour operator cancels the whole package, or changes it significantly, the Package Travel Regulations 2018 usually entitle you to a full refund or an equivalent replacement.

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Depends on the specific cause — many "extraordinary" claims are wrong

Strikes & extraordinary circumstances

Airlines reject a huge share of delay claims by citing "extraordinary circumstances". Some of those claims are correct — many are not. Here is how to tell the difference.

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Eligibility FAQ

Are these eligibility checks a guarantee I will be paid?

No. These pages set out the general legal position under UK261, the Montreal Convention, and the Package Travel Regulations, based on the facts most commonly at issue in each scenario. Airlines and operators assess claims individually, and unusual facts can change the outcome. Use these checklists to judge your chances before you claim, not as a guarantee.

What if my situation involves more than one scenario, like a missed connection caused by a strike?

Read both relevant pages — the compensation rules stack together. For example, whether a missed connection is claimable depends on your booking type (single vs separate tickets), and separately, whether the original delay was within the airline's control or genuinely extraordinary.

Where do I send a claim once I know I am eligible?

Each scenario links to the matching free letter template in our Letter Templates hub, which you can fill in and send directly to the airline, tour operator, or insurer — no claims management company needed.