EU261 · UK261 · US DOT · Montreal
Claim your flight compensation. Keep 100%.
Free, copy-paste letters for delayed, cancelled and overbooked flights, missed connections, refunds, and lost or delayed baggage — each with the legal citation, the amount you're owed, and how to escalate. No claim agency taking a third.
16 letters & guides
- Compensation claims Cancelled flight compensation claim letter (EU261 / UK261) Claim compensation when your flight was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice — plus your separate right to a full refund or re-routing. 4 min →
- Compensation claims Flight delay compensation claim letter (EU261 / UK261) Claim fixed compensation of up to €600 / £520 when your flight arrived 3+ hours late, with a copy-paste letter citing Regulation 261/2004 and the amount for your distance band. 4 min →
- Compensation claims Denied boarding / bumping compensation letter Claim compensation when you were involuntarily denied boarding on an overbooked flight — EU261/UK261 fixed amounts, or US DOT bumping compensation up to $2,150. 4 min →
- Compensation claims Missed connection compensation letter (EU261 / UK261) Claim compensation when a delayed first leg made you miss a connecting flight on the same booking and you reached your final destination 3+ hours late. 3 min →
- Refunds & expenses Claim meals, hotel & transport during a long delay Recover out-of-pocket costs — meals, hotel, and transport — during a long delay or cancellation under the EU261/UK261 "right to care", which applies even in extraordinary circumstances. 3 min →
- Refunds & expenses Demand a refund instead of a voucher (EU261 / UK261) When your flight is cancelled or massively delayed, demand a full cash refund to your original payment method — not a voucher — using your Article 8 right. 3 min →
- Refunds & expenses US DOT automatic refund demand letter (2024 rule) Demand an automatic cash refund under the 2024 US DOT rule when a US flight is cancelled or significantly changed and you don't accept it — in your original payment, not a voucher. 3 min →
- Baggage Damaged baggage claim letter (Montreal Convention) Claim repair or replacement when the airline damages your bag — under the Montreal Convention, with the strict 7-day written-complaint deadline. 2 min →
- Baggage Delayed baggage claim letter (Montreal Convention) Claim your out-of-pocket costs when your checked bag is delayed — under the Montreal Convention internationally (up to ~1,519 SDR), with the strict 21-day deadline. 3 min →
- Baggage Lost baggage claim letter (Montreal Convention) Claim the value of your bag and its contents when the airline declares it lost — up to ~1,519 SDR per passenger under the Montreal Convention, with an itemized inventory. 3 min →
- Know your rights EU261 / UK261 compensation amounts & eligibility The exact fixed compensation by distance band under EU261 (€250/€400/€600) and UK261 (£220/£350/£520), who's covered, the 3-hour rule, and the 50% reduction. 5 min →
- Know your rights Extraordinary circumstances — when the airline owes nothing (and when it still does) The honest eligibility rules for EU261/UK261 — what counts as extraordinary (weather, ATC strikes) versus what doesn't (most technical faults, own-staff strikes), so you don't overclaim or get fobbed off. 4 min →
- Know your rights Montreal Convention: baggage & delay limits and deadlines The current Montreal Convention 1999 liability limits (1,519 SDR baggage, 6,303 SDR delay, raised 28 Dec 2024) and the strict 7-day / 21-day / 2-year deadlines for international flights. 4 min →
- Know your rights US air passenger rights (DOT): refunds, bumping & baggage What you're actually owed on US flights — the 2024 automatic-refund rule, denied-boarding compensation up to $2,150, $4,700 baggage liability, tarmac rules — and why there's no EU-style delay payout. 5 min →
- If they refuse Do it yourself & keep 100% (vs claim agencies) Why airline-claim agencies keep 25–35% of your compensation, when DIY is easy, and when paying a no-win-no-fee agency might still make sense. 3 min →
- If they refuse If the airline refuses: escalate to the regulator or ADR What to do when the airline ignores or rejects your claim — escalate to the EU national enforcement body, UK CAA/ADR, or US DOT, use a chargeback, or take it to small claims. 4 min →
The airline owes the money to you — not to a middleman.
For a qualifying EU/UK flight, compensation is a fixed amount set by law (up to €600 / £520) the airline must pay directly once you ask in writing. Claim companies keep 25–35% for sending one letter — this gives you that letter, with the verified amounts and honest eligibility rules.
FAQ
Are these flight-claim letters free?
Yes. Every letter is a free copy-paste template, no account or paywall. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much can I get for a delayed or cancelled flight?
EU261 pays a fixed €250–€600 by distance for a 3+ hour arrival delay, cancellation with under 14 days’ notice, or denied boarding; UK261 is £220–£520. The US has no fixed delay compensation but gives automatic refunds for cancelled/significantly changed flights.
Do I need a claim company like AirHelp?
No. They keep 25–35%. The airline owes you directly — a letter citing the regulation usually gets it paid, so you keep 100%.
When does the airline NOT have to pay?
Only for extraordinary circumstances (weather, ATC/external strikes, security). Most technical faults and the airline’s own-staff strikes still owe compensation. Care (meals/hotel) and refunds apply regardless.
What about a lost or delayed bag?
International: Montreal Convention up to ~1,519 SDR (~$2,100); complain within 7 days (damage) / 21 days (delay), sue within 2 years. US domestic: up to $4,700.