A well-written claim letter can mean the difference between getting your compensation quickly or facing months of back-and-forth with the airline. Here's how to write one that gets results.
Key Elements of an Effective Claim Letter
Your claim letter should include:
- Your details: Full name, address, email, phone number
- Flight information: Flight number, date, route, booking reference
- What happened: Clear description of the delay/cancellation/denied boarding
- Legal basis: Reference to EU Regulation 261/2004 or UK261
- Compensation amount: The specific amount you're claiming based on flight distance
- Deadline: Request response within 14-28 days
- Escalation warning: Mention you'll escalate to authorities if needed
Tone and Style
Keep your letter:
- Professional and polite (but firm)
- Factual - stick to what happened
- Clear and concise
- Free of emotional language
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being aggressive or rude (this can delay your claim)
- Forgetting to cite the regulation
- Not specifying the exact compensation amount
- Sending to the wrong department
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