Martin Lewis has brought attention to a lesser-known regulation that could entitle you to compensation without your awareness. During a segment on This Morning, the expert delved into flight compensation, emphasizing that passengers may not realize they have a right to financial compensation under EU law, which the UK has adopted post-Brexit.
Lewis mentioned a significant rule that allows passengers to claim compensation for flight delays or cancellations dating back six years in most of the UK, except in Scotland where it is five years. The compensation amount can reach £520 per person, potentially totaling over a thousand pounds for a family of four, depending on various factors such as the flight duration and the length of the delay.
It is advisable to review flights taken as far back as 2019 to determine if any delays qualify for compensation. Tools like AirHelp can assist in checking if you are owed any money without any charge.
Furthermore, Lewis explained the eligibility criteria for compensation, stating that the flight must be UK or EU regulated and the delay should result in a three-hour late arrival. He also highlighted that flights canceled less than 14 days before departure may entitle passengers to compensation based on specific circumstances.
However, certain situations exempt airlines from compensating passengers for delays or cancellations, such as weather-related issues or air traffic control problems that are beyond the airline’s control.
Lewis advised passengers to consider the circumstances before making a claim, suggesting that severe delays warrant pursuing compensation while minor inconveniences may not be worth the effort.