How to Claim Compensation for a Delayed Flight
To claim for a delay, document what happened, write to the airline with a clear request, and escalate if it is refused. We could not verify a fixed compensation amount for delays under Pakistani rules, so what you can recover depends on the airline’s policy and any applicable law.
What is realistic
- Refund of the unused ticket if the flight was cancelled or you no longer travel.
- Reimbursement of reasonable expenses, such as meals or a hotel, when the airline caused a long delay, depending on its policy.
- Goodwill gestures, such as vouchers.
- Fixed cash compensation, as in some other regions, is not something we could confirm for Pakistan; see passenger rights.
Steps
- Collect evidence: ticket, boarding pass, the scheduled and actual times, messages from the airline and photos of screens.
- Keep receipts for extra costs.
- Write to the airline within the time limit in the conditions of carriage. State what happened, the amount and why you think it is due.
- Allow a reasonable time for a reply.
- Escalate if needed: see how to file a complaint with the CAA.
- Insurance: see does travel insurance cover delays?.
International flights
If you flew into or out of a country with compensation rules, such as the EU or UK, those rules may apply to that flight. Check the rules of the departure and arrival countries and the airline.
General information, not legal advice.
General information only, not legal or safety advice. Details change; check with your airline and the relevant authority. See our editorial policy.