ClaimSky
Compensation Sample letter Get started

Your delayed flight owes you €600.

Airlines count on you not knowing your rights. We write a legally-cited claim letter in 60 seconds. You send it. You get paid.

Write my claim → See sample letter
HKG LHR 9,632 km

🔍 Check your flight now

Enter your flight number or browse delayed flights at any airport

or

📡 Live delay board

Real-time flight delays from FlightRadar24

✈️ CX250 HKG→LHR Delayed 4h23m → €600 claimed ✈️ SQ861 HKG→SIN Cancelled → €400 claimed ✈️ BA28 HKG→LHR Delayed 5h10m → €600 claimed ✈️ KA736 HKG→TPE Delayed 3h45m → €250 claimed ✈️ NH860 HKG→NRT Denied boarding → €400 claimed ✈️ CX250 HKG→LHR Delayed 4h23m → €600 claimed ✈️ SQ861 HKG→SIN Cancelled → €400 claimed ✈️ BA28 HKG→LHR Delayed 5h10m → €600 claimed ✈️ KA736 HKG→TPE Delayed 3h45m → €250 claimed ✈️ NH860 HKG→NRT Denied boarding → €400 claimed

💰 How much are you owed?

Under EU Regulation 261/2004 — the amount depends on flight distance:

Short haul
€250
HKG → Taipei · <1,500km
Medium haul
€400
HKG → Tokyo · 1,500–3,500km
Long haul
€600
HKG → London · >3,500km

Per passenger. Family of 4 on HKG→LHR = up to €2,400.

📄 Your letter looks like this

Dear Cathay Pacific Claims Department,

I am writing to claim compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004, Article 7 for flight CX250 on 15 April 2026, operating from Hong Kong International (HKG) to London Heathrow (LHR).

The flight arrived 4 hours 23 minutes behind schedule. The scheduled arrival was 06:15; actual arrival was 10:38. Under Article 7(b), for flights exceeding 3,500km with a delay over 4 hours, passengers are entitled to compensation of:

€600.00

This claim is submitted within the applicable limitation period. I request payment within 28 days of this letter.

✈️ 3 steps. 60 seconds.

1

Enter your flight

Flight number + date + what happened

2

We write the letter

Cites EU261 Article 7, calculates exact distance

3

Send & get paid

Download PDF, send to airline, receive compensation

90%+
Success rate for
properly cited claims
€600
Maximum compensation
per passenger
$9.99
Our fee. You keep
100% of the payout

🛡️ Which regulations apply to your flight?

🇪🇺

EU Regulation 261/2004

Up to €600

Covers all flights departing from EU airports, and EU-carrier flights arriving into the EU. Applies to delays over 3 hours, cancellations, and denied boarding.

🇬🇧

UK Regulation UK261

Up to £520

Mirrors EU261 post-Brexit. Covers flights departing UK airports and UK-carrier flights arriving into the UK. Same delay thresholds, same passenger rights.

🌍

Montreal Convention

Up to $6,700

International treaty covering 130+ countries. Claims for damages from flight disruptions — including missed connections, lost luggage, and out-of-pocket expenses.

🇹🇷

Turkish SHY-Passenger

Up to €600

Turkey's passenger rights regulation aligned with EU standards. Covers all flights from Turkish airports and Turkish-carrier flights arriving into Turkey.

📋 Real claim examples

HKG → LHR · Cathay Pacific CX250
Flight delayed 4h 23min
Long-haul route (9,632 km). EU261 Article 7(b) applies — delay exceeds 4-hour threshold on a 3,500km+ flight.
€600 per passenger
TPE → HKG · HK Express UO111
Flight cancelled, no notice
Short-haul route (<1,500 km). Airline cancelled within 14 days of departure and did not offer re-routing. Full compensation applies.
€250 per passenger
SIN → HKG · Singapore Airlines SQ862
Denied boarding (overbooked)
Medium-haul route (~2,600 km). Passenger checked in on time but was denied boarding due to overbooking. EU261 Article 4 applies.
€400 per passenger

⚖️ Airline excuses — debunked

Common excuse #1

"It was an extraordinary circumstance"

Airlines love this phrase, but courts have narrowly defined extraordinary circumstances. A bird strike or ATC strike may qualify — but a crew shortage, staff illness, or operational decision does not. The burden of proof is on the airline.
Common excuse #2

"It was a technical problem — out of our control"

The European Court of Justice ruled in Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia that technical problems are inherent to airline operations and are not extraordinary circumstances. Routine wear and tear, software glitches, and maintenance issues are the airline's responsibility.
Common excuse #3

"We notified you 2 weeks in advance"

Under EU261 Article 5, airlines can avoid compensation only if they notify you at least 14 days before departure AND offer a suitable re-routing. If the alternative flight arrives more than 2 hours late (short-haul) or 4 hours late (long-haul), compensation still applies.
Common excuse #4

"Bad weather caused the delay"

Weather at the origin airport can be extraordinary — but airlines often cite weather when the real cause is a cascading crew or aircraft scheduling issue. If other flights departed on time, the weather excuse may not hold. Request the official METAR data to verify.

✅ Who can claim?

✓
You had a confirmed reservation — your booking was confirmed and you received a ticket number from the airline.
✓
You checked in on time — you checked in at the desk, online, or via the app by the airline's deadline (usually 45 minutes before departure).
✓
Your flight departed from or arrived into the EU/UK — EU261 covers departures from EU airports (any airline) and arrivals into the EU on EU carriers. UK261 mirrors this for UK airports.
✓
The delay exceeded 3 hours — compensation kicks in when you arrive at your final destination 3+ hours behind schedule. Arrival time = when the aircraft doors open.
✓
You're claiming within the time limit — EU261 claims can be filed up to 6 years after the flight in the UK, and 2–3 years in most EU countries. Montreal Convention allows 2 years.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How much compensation can I get?
Under EU261, compensation is €250 for short-haul (<1,500km), €400 for medium-haul (1,500–3,500km), and €600 for long-haul (>3,500km). The amount is per passenger — a family of four on a long-haul flight could claim up to €2,400.
Can I claim for a flight from years ago?
Yes. In the UK you can claim for flights up to 6 years ago. In Germany it's 3 years, in France 5 years. The Montreal Convention allows claims within 2 years. Check your local limitation period — your old flight might still be claimable.
Does ClaimSky take a percentage of my payout?
No. ClaimSky charges a flat $9.99 per letter. You keep 100% of whatever the airline pays you. Traditional claim companies take 25–35% of your compensation — that's up to €210 on a €600 claim.
What if the airline rejects my claim?
Many airlines send automatic rejections hoping you'll give up. If your claim is valid, reply citing the specific article of EU261 and the relevant case law. Our letters include these citations. If they still refuse, you can escalate to the national enforcement body (e.g., CAA in the UK) or Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme.
Do connecting flights count?
Yes. Under the sturgeon ruling (Joined Cases C-402/07 and C-432/07), if you miss a connection and arrive at your final destination 3+ hours late, you're entitled to compensation based on the total distance of your journey.
What's the difference between a refund and compensation?
A refund (duty of care) covers meals, hotels, and transport when you're delayed overnight. Compensation is additional — it's a fixed amount the airline owes you for the inconvenience, regardless of your ticket price. You can claim both. Even a €30 Ryanair ticket can yield €600 in compensation.

Your airline owes you money. Take it.

We'll email you when we launch. One email. That's it.