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Your claim timeline: every deadline in one place

Claiming compensation yourself means keeping track of several dates: when to escalate, how long a dispute scheme accepts your case and when the court deadline runs out – in the UK or in an EU country. Enter your dates and download them to your calendar.

By the EU261 Flight Delay editorial team Last reviewed: Reading time: 5 min How we write our guides

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Your timeline

The steps explained

  1. Claim from the airline in writing. Use its online claim form or our complaint letter generator, and keep a copy. There is no legal deadline for this step other than the court time limit, but the sooner the better – evidence is easier to find.
  2. Wait for the final response – up to 8 weeks. If the airline rejects the claim (a “deadlock letter”) or has not resolved it after 8 weeks, you can escalate.
  3. ADR or the CAA. If the airline belongs to an ADR scheme (AviationADR or CEDR), apply within 12 months of its final response. If it doesn’t, the CAA’s complaints team can review your case for free.
  4. Letter before action. If that fails, send a letter before action giving the airline 14 days to pay.
  5. Court. Issue a claim through Money Claim Online (England and Wales), simple procedure (Scotland) or the small claims procedure (Northern Ireland) – before the time limit runs out: six years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, five in Scotland.

Claims in EU countries

In the EU, EEA and Switzerland the steps are similar: claim from the airline in writing, then complain to the national enforcement body of the country where the incident happened (and, where one exists, an alternative dispute resolution body), then go to court – locally, or across borders through the European Small Claims Procedure. Court time limits are national and often shorter than in the UK; the planner shows the deadline for the countries where we have verified it. Country guides: how to claim in each country · time limits by country.

Frequently asked questions

Why 8 weeks?

Both the UK ADR schemes and the CAA’s Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT) accept a complaint once the airline has given its final response or 8 weeks have passed since you complained in writing without a resolution.

Do I need to send a letter before action?

Before going to court in England and Wales you are expected to follow the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct: write to the airline setting out your claim and give it a reasonable time to reply – 14 days is usual for a simple debt-type claim. Use our letter before action template.

Does the time limit stop when I complain to the airline?

No. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the limitation period keeps running until you issue court proceedings. Complaining to the airline, ADR or the CAA does not pause it. In Scotland, a “relevant claim” or the airline’s acknowledgement of the debt can interrupt prescription – see time limits.

What if my flight was with an EU airline from an EU airport?

You may also be able to sue in the EU country of departure or arrival, where that country’s time limit applies – often shorter than six years. Check the country before relying on six years: time limits by country.

Dates are calculated in your browser and are not stored. Information only, not legal advice; time limits can depend on which court has jurisdiction.

Sources

  1. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for air passengers – UK Civil Aviation Authority
  2. How the CAA can help – Passenger Advice and Complaints Team – UK Civil Aviation Authority
  3. Limitation Act 1980, section 9 – legislation.gov.uk
  4. Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, section 6 – legislation.gov.uk
  5. Practice Direction – Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols – Ministry of Justice

We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.