Cancelled or delayed flights can be a real dampener that not only sees you lose out on your holiday, but often all the money you put down.

Flights can be cancelled for a number of reasons, whether that be through strike action, pilot shortages or poor weather.

Luckily, there are a number of top tips for making sure large travel companies adequately compensate you.

Top 3 tips for making sure you receive compensation when your flight is delayed or cancelled

Epping Forest Guardian: Filing a claim immediately will increase your chances of compensation (Canva)Filing a claim immediately will increase your chances of compensation (Canva) (Image: Canva)

Anton Radchenko, the founder of AirAdvisor, has listed his top three tips for making sure you are compensated for a cancelled flight.

Anton recommends that you never accept vouchers as a form of compensation as regulations require airlines to pay you in cash.

He also advised that claimants file a claim immediately after the cancellation rather than weeks and months later as early reports "are more likely to be successful".

Finally, he said you should hold on to any luggage tags and all receipts for costs as evidence of how much you are owed.

He added:  “At any given moment in time airlines are likely to be working on thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of compensation claims, so you should aim to speed the process up by ensuring that you can evidence being on the flight(s) you are claiming for.

"Sometimes, you might not be able to access your tickets, so prepare secondary evidence like emails from the airline regarding your flight, luggage tags, receipts from the airport you travelled from and scans of passport stamps.”

Epping Forest Guardian: Anton recommends you gather all receipts and emails to ensure you have enough evidence (Canva)Anton recommends you gather all receipts and emails to ensure you have enough evidence (Canva) (Image: Canva)


Recommended Reading: 

What to do if your passport gets lost or stolen in the UK or when you're abroad

Find out how long it can take to renew a British passport (it won't take months)


Use an airline compensation calculator to see how much you could be owed for cancelled flights

Anton recommends that users try the AirAdvisor flight delay compensation calculation as many claims are dependent on the airline and specific policies in place.

He said: "AirAdvisor is here to check if you're entitled to compensation, and we'll help you get it. Simply head to our website submit your details and we’ll do an instant check to find out if you’re entitled to compensation – at no cost to you."