Flightrefundr: frequently asked questions

Under EU261, if you reach your final destination 3 hours or more late: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500-3,500 km (and all intra-EU flights over 1,500 km), and €600 over 3,500 km - halved to €300 if a long-haul flight was 3-4 hours late. UK261 pays £220, £350 and £520 (£260 for 3-4 hours on long-haul). The amount is per passenger, including children with a ticket. The calculator on this page works it out for your route.

Claims companies take a share of what you get: AirHelp's published service fee is 35%, plus 15% if legal action is needed. On €600 each for two people, that's €420 or more. Here you pay ₹399 / $6 once for up to three letters (claim, reply to rejection, escalation) and keep 100%. The trade-off: you send the letters yourself and handle the follow-up. If you want someone else to do everything, a claims company is the right choice.

Usually yes. The EU Court of Justice has held that technical faults found during maintenance or caused by failing to maintain the aircraft are part of an airline's normal activity, not 'extraordinary circumstances' (Wallentin-Hermann C-549/07, van der Lans C-257/14). Rare exceptions are hidden manufacturing defects declared by the manufacturer, sabotage or terrorism. The rejection reply mode quotes these rulings for you.

Flights departing an EU airport are covered on any airline, so Munich-Delhi on Lufthansa or Air India is covered. Flights from India to Europe are covered only if the operating airline is European (e.g. Lufthansa, Air France, KLM). Delhi-Frankfurt on Air India is not covered by EU261. The same logic applies to UK261 for flights to and from the UK.

EU261 and UK261 don't set a time limit, so national court limits apply: 6 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 5 in Scotland, 6 in Ireland, 5 in France and Spain, 3 in Germany (from the end of the year of the flight), and 2 in the Netherlands. In India a consumer complaint must be filed within 2 years. Claim as soon as you can: evidence is easier to get.

Under DGCA rules, if an Indian airline cancels with less than 24 hours' notice (or less than 2 weeks without offering an alternative within 2 hours of your original time), you get a full refund plus compensation of up to ₹5,000, ₹7,500 or ₹10,000 depending on flight time, capped at your basic fare plus fuel charge. Involuntary denied boarding pays up to ₹10,000 or ₹20,000. Delays don't carry fixed cash compensation, but you're owed meals, an alternate flight or refund after 6 hours on domestic flights, and a hotel in long delays.

Reply once with the rulings that answer their reason (choose 'Reply to the airline's rejection'). If that fails: in the UK, go to the airline's ADR scheme (AviationADR or CEDR) after 8 weeks - it's free for you and binding on the airline if you accept the decision; in the EU, complain to the national enforcement body or use the European Small Claims Procedure; in India, file on AirSewa and then with the District Consumer Commission.

Under EU261 and UK261, compensation must be paid in money (bank transfer, cheque or cash). Vouchers are allowed only if you agree in writing. Don't accept vouchers unless you really want them; the letters ask for bank transfer.

No. Flightrefundr writes the letters and complaint texts and tells you where to send them. You send them and keep control of your claim. For a disputed or high-value case, speak to a lawyer or a consumer advice service.

Flights departing from India on a non-EU/UK airline aren't covered by EU261 or UK261. The return flight London → Delhi is covered by UK261 whatever the airline, because it departs from the UK.

Yes, for cancellations. Compensation (€250-600) is separate from the refund or re-routing and from meals and hotel ('care').