Compensation Letter

A compensation letter is a written document addressed to an airline to claim any money owed to you as a result of a delayed or canceled flight. This includes meals and drinks taken while waiting at the airport, as well as a refund of flight ticket costs if you ended up not using your ticket.

This letter should be sent to the airline along with all receipts of reasonable expenses incurred and any documents showing you had booked a flight. These documents include your ticket, baggage tags, boarding pass and a copy of your passport. It is important to have your facts straight before writing a compensation letter. This means you must find out the cause of delay or cancellation. Getting regular updates of the situation as you wait also gives you additional information to use in supporting your claim.

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How to write a compelling compensation letter

It's important to note that eligibility for compensation is limited to whether the reason for flight delay or cancellation is within the airline's control. However, there are several key points that are essential for your letter to make it as compelling as possible. These are a description of your situation, how much you're claiming from the airline and the correct regulation supporting your claim.

A compelling letter requires a vivid account of your flight experience as it provides a reason for your claim. It is also important to familiarize yourself with the appropriate regulations supporting your claim. Note that the regulation that applies to your case depends on your point of origin, whether the US or Europe. Remember to address your letter to the airline you flew with as it may be different from the one you had initially booked.

AirHelp is here to help you get compensation for flight delays and cancellations. Find out what you could be entitled to.

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About AirHelp

AirHelp is the world's largest air passenger rights organization, here to help air travelers secure compensation for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights.

We make claiming compensation easy and stress-free. Whether you are unsure of your rights, lack the time, or simply want an expert to handle your entire claim for you, AirHelp can help you get what you are rightfully owed.

We operate on a no win, no fee basis, so you can check your compensation risk-free.


Claiming Compensation for Flight Delays and Cancellations

How do you know when you should claim compensation for a delayed or canceled flight? Though the law can be complicated, we're here to break it down for you:

Delayed flights: you may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late.
Canceled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was canceled less than 14 days before it was due to depart.
Overbookings: you are owed compensation any time you are denied boarding through no fault of your own — so long as you didn't voluntarily give up your seat.

We should note that if extraordinary circumstances were involved, arirlines are under no obligation to pay compensation. Examples of extraordinary circumstances include bad weather, travel restrictions, and air traffic control strikes. Though these situations cause delays and cancellations, the airline isn't at fault, so can't be expected to offer compensation.

Remember these are European flight regulations and so only apply to flights departing from an EU airport, or flights landing in the EU with a European airline. The table below makes it clear which flights are covered:

Claim up to $650 in compensation if your flight has been delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last 3 years.

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How Much Flight Compensation?

DistanceCompensation
All flights under 1,500 kmUp to $270 per person
Internal EU flights over 1,500 kmUp to $430 per person
Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 kmUp to $430 per person
Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 kmUp to €600 per person

Table shows values in € as specified in EC 261

In some circumstances the compensation amount may differ from the standard amounts shown above. The easiest way to find out what you’re owed is to use our Compensation Calculator.


What to Do if Your Flight is Delayed or Canceled

If you experience a flight delay or cancellation, here's what you should do:

  • Hold onto your boarding pass and other travel documents.

  • Ask why the flight was delayed or canceled.

  • Request food, drinks, and if necessary, free transport and hotel accommodation.

  • If you had a canceled flight, ask for an alternative flight or a refund.

  • Keep all receipts of any extra expenses you may have had, including necessary food, clothing, etc.

  • Be careful not to sign any waivers or accept vouchers that will require you to waive your right to compensation.

Have AirHelp claim your compensation

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Recent delays and cancellations

Airline (e.g. Lufthansa)

Departure airport (e.g. Frankfurt or FRA)

Date

Flight number

Airline

Route

Status

02/17/2025

2:45 PM

VRH5820

Varesh Airlines

Tehran (THR)

Kish Island (KIH)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/17/2025

2:45 PM

U6192

Ural Airlines

Saint Petersburg (LED)

Moscow (DME)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/17/2025

2:30 PM

SP907

SATA Air Acores

Corvo Island (CVU)

Flores Island (FLW)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/17/2025

2:25 PM

PB961

Pal Airlines

Hopedale (YHO)

Natuashish (YNP)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/17/2025

2:15 PM

NIS142

Unknown

Bluefields (BEF)

Corn Island (RNI)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/17/2025

2:00 PM

SK4237

Sas Norway

Turku (TKU)

Stockholm (ARN)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/17/2025

2:00 PM

KNW205

Kenai Aviation Operations

Anchorage (ANC)

Kenai (ENA)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/17/2025

2:00 PM

EZR580

Unknown

Bonaire (BON)

Curacao (CUR)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/17/2025

2:00 PM

S6805

Sunrise Airways

Saint Kitts (SKB)

Dominica (DOM)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/17/2025

1:55 PM

RA718

Nepal Airlines Corporation

Jumla (JUM)

Nepalganj (KEP)

CanceledCheck Compensation
Your flight isn't here? Use our full compensation check and we'll look into it. Check your flight
  • VRH5820

    Varesh Airlines

    Canceled

    Tehran

    Kish Island

    THR

    KIH

    02/17/2025

    2:45 PM

    Check Compensation
  • U6192

    Ural Airlines

    Canceled

    Saint Petersburg

    Moscow

    LED

    DME

    02/17/2025

    2:45 PM

    Check Compensation
  • SP907

    SATA Air Acores

    Canceled

    Corvo Island

    Flores Island

    CVU

    FLW

    02/17/2025

    2:30 PM

    Check Compensation
  • PB961

    Pal Airlines

    Canceled

    Hopedale

    Natuashish

    YHO

    YNP

    02/17/2025

    2:25 PM

    Check Compensation
  • NIS142

    Unknown

    Canceled

    Bluefields

    Corn Island

    BEF

    RNI

    02/17/2025

    2:15 PM

    Check Compensation
  • SK4237

    Sas Norway

    Canceled

    Turku

    Stockholm

    TKU

    ARN

    02/17/2025

    2:00 PM

    Check Compensation
  • KNW205

    Kenai Aviation Operations

    Canceled

    Anchorage

    Kenai

    ANC

    ENA

    02/17/2025

    2:00 PM

    Check Compensation
  • EZR580

    Unknown

    Canceled

    Bonaire

    Curacao

    BON

    CUR

    02/17/2025

    2:00 PM

    Check Compensation
  • S6805

    Sunrise Airways

    Canceled

    Saint Kitts

    Dominica

    SKB

    DOM

    02/17/2025

    2:00 PM

    Check Compensation
  • RA718

    Nepal Airlines Corporation

    Canceled

    Jumla

    Nepalganj

    JUM

    KEP

    02/17/2025

    1:55 PM

    Check Compensation
Your flight isn't here? Use our full compensation check and we'll look into it. Check your flight

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AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers’ rights.

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