Flight Disruption Compensation Kit

Overview

Guides air passengers through documenting flight disruptions (delays, cancellations, denied boarding), checking compensation and duty-of-care eligibility under major regulatory frameworks, and preparing structured claim communications with airlines.

This skill belongs to the Travel & Logistics category and has priority P0.

It is an informational self-help tool. It does not provide legal advice, interpret regulations authoritatively, or guarantee compensation outcomes. All regulatory references are provided as user-verification checklists — the user must verify current rules with the relevant regulator or airline. The airline's Contract of Carriage and the applicable regulator's rules always prevail.

When to Use

Use this skill when the user asks to:

• flight delay compensation
• flight cancellation refund
• EU261 compensation
• air passenger rights
• denied boarding compensation
• flight disruption claim
• airline compensation checklist
• travel disruption help
• what am I owed for a delayed flight
• how to claim compensation from an airline
• cancelled flight passenger rights

Trigger keywords: flight delay compensation, flight cancellation refund, EU261 compensation, air passenger rights, denied boarding compensation, flight disruption claim, airline compensation checklist, travel disruption help

Required Inputs

To deliver a useful compensation kit, collect the following from the user:

• Flight details: Airline, flight number, departure airport, arrival airport, scheduled departure time, actual departure time (if known), scheduled arrival time, actual arrival time.
• Disruption type: Delay (how long?), cancellation (when was the user notified?), denied boarding (voluntary or involuntary?), missed connection (on same booking?).
• Notification: When and how the user was informed of the disruption (e.g., email 2 hours before, at the gate, no notification).
• What the airline offered: Re-routing, refund, meals, accommodation, transport — what was actually provided vs. what was needed.
• Booking details: Booking reference, whether booked directly with the airline or through a third party/agent, fare class/ticket type.

The user may provide partial data; the skill will note gaps rather than assume eligibility.

Workflow

Step 1: Document the Disruption

Create a disruption record with all key facts:

Step 2: Identify Applicable Regulatory Frameworks

Guide the user through identifying which rules may apply. This is a self-check — the user must verify with the relevant authority.

EU/EEA Regulation EC261/2004 (and UK equivalent post-Brexit): Checklist (all conditions must be met):

• Flight departed from an EU/EEA airport (any airline) OR arrived at an EU/EEA airport on an EU/EEA carrier.
• The disruption was within the airline's control (not extraordinary circumstances like weather, ATC strikes, security risks — though the airline must prove this).
• User had a confirmed reservation and checked in on time.

US DOT Regulations: Checklist:

• Flight was to/from/within the United States.
• For cancellations/significant delays: was a refund offered if the user chose not to travel?
• Note: US regulations currently focus on refunds rather than fixed compensation amounts. Airlines' individual customer service plans may offer additional compensation.

UK CAA Regulations (post-Brexit): Checklist:

• Flight departed from the UK OR arrived in the UK on a UK or EU carrier.
• Similar compensation framework to EC261 for delays, cancellations, and denied boarding.

Canada APPR (Air Passenger Protection Regulations): Checklist:

• Flight was to/from/within Canada.
• Compensation tiers based on delay length and airline size.

Other Jurisdictions:

• Turkey, Brazil, India, and others may have consumer protection rules — user should check local civil aviation authority website.

Montreal Convention (international baggage and damage claims):

• For delayed/lost/damaged baggage on international flights between signatory countries.

Important reminder: The user must verify current rules with the relevant civil aviation authority or regulator. Regulations change. This checklist is a starting point for research, not a definitive statement of rights.

Step 3: Determine What the User May Be Entitled To

For each potentially applicable regulation, map what the user can check for. Frame these as questions the user should investigate, not guarantees.

For delays (EC261-type frameworks):

• Was the arrival delay ≥ 3 hours? → Check if compensation applies (€250–600 depending on distance).
• Was the delay ≥ 2 hours at departure? → Check if duty of care applies (meals, refreshments, communication, accommodation if overnight).

For cancellations:

• Was the user notified less than 14 days before departure? → Timing affects compensation eligibility.
• Was re-routing offered that arrived close to the original time? → May reduce or eliminate compensation.
• Did the user choose a refund instead of re-routing? → Refund entitlement is separate from compensation.

For denied boarding (involuntary):

• Was the user denied boarding against their will? → Check compensation tiers based on distance and re-routing delay.
• Was it voluntary (user accepted a voucher/offer)? → Different rules apply — voluntary arrangements are governed by what the user agreed to.

Duty of care (during disruption):

• Meals and refreshments proportional to waiting time.
• Hotel accommodation and airport-hotel transport if an overnight stay becomes necessary.
• Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes.

Step 4: Prepare the Claim Documentation Package

Guide the user to assemble before filing a claim:

Essential documents:

• Boarding pass(es) or e-ticket receipt.
• Booking confirmation with booking reference.
• Written confirmation of the disruption from the airline (screenshot, email, or note with time/date).
• Any vouchers, rebooking confirmations, or receipts for out-of-pocket expenses.

Supporting evidence (if applicable):

• Receipts for meals, accommodation, transport the user paid for during disruption.
• Photos of departure boards showing delay/cancellation.
• Flight tracking data (FlightAware, FlightRadar24 screenshots).
• Correspondence with the airline about the disruption.

Step 5: Provide Claim Communication Templates

Offer structured templates the user can adapt. These are communication tools, not legal filings.

Initial Compensation Claim — Airline:

"Dear [Airline Customer Relations],

Booking Reference: [XXXXXX] Flight: [AA1234] on [Date] Route: [Departure] to [Arrival]

My flight was [delayed by X hours / cancelled / I was denied boarding] on the above date. Scheduled arrival was [time] and actual arrival was [time], resulting in a delay at final destination of [X] hours [X] minutes.

I was [notified at the gate / notified by email on (date) / not notified until I arrived at the airport]. The airline [provided / did not provide] meals, accommodation, or re-routing.

I believe I may be entitled to [compensation of €X / reimbursement for expenses / a refund / compensation and expense reimbursement] under [EC261/2004 / UK Regulation / Other applicable rules]. I have attached my boarding pass and booking confirmation.

My out-of-pocket expenses total [X], for which I have attached receipts.

Please process this claim and advise on next steps. I can be reached at [phone/email].

Thank you, [Name]"

Expense Reimbursement Claim:

"Dear [Airline Customer Relations],

Booking Reference: [XXXXXX] Flight: [AA1234] on [Date]

Due to the [delay/cancellation] of the above flight, I incurred necessary expenses for [meals / hotel / transport]. I have attached receipts totaling [amount].

Please reimburse these expenses under the airline's duty of care obligations.

Thank you, [Name]"

Follow-Up / Escalation:

"Dear [Airline Customer Relations],

I submitted a compensation claim on [date of original claim] regarding flight [AA1234] on [date] (booking reference: [XXXXXX]). I have not received a substantive response.

Please provide an update on my claim status. If I do not receive a response within [14 / 28] days, I will escalate to [relevant national enforcement body / aviation authority].

Thank you, [Name]"

Step 6: Escalation Paths

For each jurisdiction, provide the relevant enforcement body the user can contact if the airline does not respond satisfactorily. The user must verify the current contact details:

EU/EEA: National Enforcement Body (NEB) of the country where the disruption occurred or the airline's home country. User should search "[country] EC261 enforcement body."

UK: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) — Passenger complaints and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) schemes.

US: Department of Transportation (DOT) — Aviation Consumer Protection division.

Canada: Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Some airlines participate in ADR schemes. User should check the airline's website for approved ADR bodies.

Remind the user: escalation bodies do not guarantee outcomes and have their own processes and timelines. Some require the user to have first exhausted the airline's internal complaint process.

Output Template

Deliver the complete compensation kit with these sections:

1. Disruption Record

Complete fact table with all available details about the disrupted flight.

2. Applicable Regulatory Frameworks

Checklist of potentially applicable regulations based on the flight route and disruption type. Each item marked as user-must-verify.

3. Compensation and Rights Checklist

What the user may be entitled to, framed as questions to verify with regulator/airline:

• Compensation amount range (if applicable)
• Duty of care (meals, accommodation, communication)
• Refund vs. re-routing options
• Expense reimbursement

4. Document Checklist

List of documents to gather before filing, with checkboxes.

5. Claim Communication Templates

Adapted templates for the user's specific airline and situation:

• Initial compensation claim
• Expense reimbursement
• Follow-up/escalation

6. Escalation Pathway

Relevant enforcement body contacts and ADR options based on jurisdiction.

7. Safety Notes

Explicit boundary statement (see below).

Safety Boundaries

This skill provides informational self-help for flight disruption documentation and claim preparation only. It does not and must not:

• Provide legal advice or legal interpretation of aviation regulations, passenger rights laws, or international treaties.
• Guarantee that any regulation applies to the user's specific situation.
• Determine whether an airline's actions were lawful or unlawful.
• State definitively what compensation the user is entitled to — all references to compensation amounts are framed as "check if" scenarios the user must verify.
• Advise the user on whether to accept or reject an airline's offer.
• Act as a substitute for a consumer rights lawyer, claims management company, or aviation authority.
• Claim that this skill's understanding of any regulation supersedes the actual regulation text or the airline's Contract of Carriage.

The airline's Conditions of Carriage / Contract of Carriage and the applicable regulator's published rules always prevail over any information in this skill. Regulations change — the user must check the current rules with the relevant civil aviation authority or consumer protection body before filing a claim.

The user remains fully responsible for all communication with the airline, the accuracy of their claim, and all decisions about whether and how to pursue compensation.

Examples

Example 1: Basic Use — Single Flight Delay

User says: "My flight from Paris to New York was delayed 5 hours. What am I owed?"

Skill guides:

1. Collect flight details: airline, flight number, scheduled vs. actual departure/arrival times.
2. Determine jurisdiction: departure from Paris (EU) → EC261 may apply.
3. Build disruption record.
4. Check EC261 framework: arrival delay ≥ 3 hours, distance > 3,500 km → user should check if €600 compensation applies.
5. Check duty of care: delay ≥ 2 hours at departure → user should check if meals/refreshments were provided.
6. Prepare document checklist and adapted claim template for the airline.
7. Provide escalation path: French NEB (DGAC) if airline does not respond.
8. Deliver complete kit with safety notes emphasizing user must verify.

Example 2: Detailed Session — Cancellation with Overnight Stay

User says: "My flight from London to Tokyo was cancelled 2 days before departure. The airline rebooked me on a flight 24 hours later. I had to pay for a hotel near the airport. Can I claim compensation and get my hotel reimbursed?"

Skill guides:

1. Collect all flight details, including rebooked flight info.
2. Determine jurisdiction: departure from London (UK) → UK CAA regulations may apply.
3. Check cancellation rules: notified less than 14 days → compensation may apply depending on re-routing arrival time.
4. Calculate delay at final destination: compare original arrival with rebooked arrival.
5. Check duty of care: overnight stay needed → hotel cost should be claimed for reimbursement.
6. Prepare both a compensation claim template and an expense reimbursement template.
7. Document checklist: original booking, rebooking confirmation, hotel receipt.
8. Escalation path: UK CAA and any ADR scheme the airline participates in.
9. Deliver complete kit with safety notes.