Airport queues, flight delays and cancellations: flight compensation rules and passenger rights

Summer is a hot time not only at resorts but also at airports. The growing demand for flights leads to long queues, cancellations, frequent flight delays and missed connections. These disruptions can be very detrimental to your plans, but no one is immune. Your journey can be interrupted or postponed. However, you can at least be compensated for the inconvenience in many cases. To do this, you need to know your rights if your flight is cancelled or delayed.

There are certain flight compensation rules that airlines and passengers must follow. We recommend you learn these rules when you book a ticket so that you are prepared for any potential mishaps and are familiar with the procedure of claiming compensation for delayed flights. You should also prepare a clear course of action in the summer airport hustle and bustle.

What should you do if you are stuck in a queue at a security check?

Unfortunately, in reality, you will not be able to receive late flight compensation for the queue at the security screening being too long. The inspections are not up to your airline but are done by the airport, so there is no reason for them to reimburse you. Even though it is not under your control, being late for your flight because of the queue at the security check is considered your fault. You will also not be able to request a replacement flight and will be forced to buy a new ticket for another available flight if you do decide to fly.

Flight delay compensation rules are quite strict, so if you have a legitimate concern that you will spend too much time at security, be proactive. Warn your airline that you may miss your flight because of the long queue. Then several possible scenarios can help you. There will likely be enough passengers on that flight for the airline to delay it. Some carriers may offer to rebook you on the next available flight for an additional fee as compensation if the flight is delayed. But check whether you should pay the extra or book a new ticket. For example, Ryanair will charge you £100 to transfer you to the next available flight if you arrive at the check-in desk 40 minutes before or at least an hour after your flight. EasyJet charges £110 but gives up to two hours after departure. Virgin Atlantic, for example, will rebook you for free.

Another way to get late flight compensation for an objective reason is to get a refund from your travel insurance. Check carefully all the scenarios covered by your travel insurance policy to see if it covers you if you miss your flight because of a long security check, a broken down car on the way to the airport, traffic jams or bad weather conditions.

It is almost impossible to get flight compensation from the airport for being late for your flight. Thus, if you have serious concerns about missing your flight, contact the airport staff and make a fuss. You may be moved to the front of the queue if there is truly little time left before your flight.

What should you do if your flight is delayed or cancelled?

Many passengers know about flight delay compensation for more than three hours. However, information on how to claim compensation for cancelled flights is still available on the airline's website. The amount depends on how far you are travelling. For example, if your flight route is up to 1500km, you will receive around £220 compensation. If the distance reaches 3,500km, the refund amount will be around £350.

There are common situations where an airline can refuse flight compensation. These conditions are usually mentioned on the operators' websites, but they generally include emergencies such as staff industrial action, extreme weather conditions or security threats.

Air delay compensation also applies to your stay at the airport. The company is obliged to provide you with the things you need for the duration of the delay. This includes food and drink and, if you have to stay overnight, accommodation and transfers. You must also have access to free telephone and email communication. If you are not provided with this at the airport, keep receipts of your expenses so that you can claim compensation for delayed flights later. Be reasonable in your spending: alcohol, luxury hotels and expensive restaurants are unlikely to be reimbursed.

There are cases when the flight delay can be more than 5 hours. In a situation like that the passenger has certain rights as well. They can refuse the flight altogether and the airline is obliged to refund the full price of the ticket. If you are stranded at the airport halfway through your journey, you must also pay for the flight back to your original point of departure.

If the company has cancelled your flight, you should also claim flight cancellation compensation. This includes a full refund of your ticket and a replacement flight. If you are halfway there, you can also get a return ticket to your airport. If the company offers you a replacement, they must also provide you with food, drinks, telephone and, if necessary, overnight accommodation and transfers to a hotel for the time you are waiting for the replacement. Flight cancellation compensation from the airline, if it is the airline's fault, is payable if you have to wait more than 2 hours for a replacement or if the date of departure is less than 14 days away. It also depends on the time of cancellation and the distance of the flight and ranges from £110 to £520. Don't forget to check the flight cancellation compensation on your insurance.

What should you do if you miss a transfer?

Travelling a long distance is often a flight with several tranfers. "My flight was delayed and i missed my connection." This is a problem that haunts many travellers, especially during peak periods. When there is a long delay at some stage, there is a chance that the entire trip is ruined. If your departure is delayed, you may miss your connecting flight. In this case, the passenger may also be entitled to missed connection flight compensation, but only if all flights on the itinerary were purchased as a single booking.

If you are late for a connection, notify your airline as soon as possible to reschedule your next flight. If your flight was booked separately, it is likely that you will not receive delayed airline compensation. You may not be reimbursed for a delayed connecting flight if the delay is less than 3 hours as well.

A good way to protect yourself in case of flight delays is to book your flight through a travel agency. In this case, even if you have booked the flights separately, this is legally regarded as one contract. You can therefore claim airline compensation.

Your travel insurance can also cover a missed connecting flight, even if the airline has justifiable reasons to refuse flight delay compensation and the subsequent delayed connection.