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Crafting the Perfect Complaint Letter for Flight Delays

Are you frustrated with your airline's response to fight delays? Airlines are notoriously hard to reach and receiving fair compensation can sometimes be difficult. 


By crafting a clear and concise letter with all relevant information and a well-rounded argument, you can increase your chances of receiving a response from the airline and getting fair compensation. 


Keep reading to learn how to craft the perfect complaint letter, from starting with a sample letter to airline for compensation, to sending off your letter and following up with the airline.


Pre-Writing: Laying the Groundwork for Your Letter

Before putting pen to paper, it's important to lay some groundwork for your complaint letter. To make an effective letter requesting flight delay compensation, you'll need to:

  • Gather relevant documents such as your boarding pass and receipt of ticket purchase.
  • Familiarize yourself with regulations like EC261/2004 to determine if your situation meets the eligibility criteria for European flight delay compensation.
  • Make a list of all the expenses incurred as a result of your flight delays and collect the corresponding receipts.
  • Look for an official statement from the airline explaining the reason for the flight delay.
  • Find an effective template letter for flight delay compensation


After establishing this key information, you'll be able to craft a more complete and compelling complaint letter.


Crafting Your Complaint: A Step-by-Step Guide

After laying out the groundwork, follow these steps to craft a clear, concise and convincing complaint letter.

1. Outline the key information of your flight, such as:

  • Your personal details and contact information
  • Flight number
  • Origin and destination airport
  • Date and time of flights
  • Delay time
  • Rescheduled flight info


Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash


2. Describe the delay

Provide a brief description of the delay, including the stated reason for the delay and the airline’s response to the disruption, as well as any written statements from the airline.


3. Explain why you’re entitled to compensation

Provide a concise description of why you believe you're entitled to compensation, including the regulations that outline your eligibility for delay compensation and the amount of compensation you are entitled to.


4. Attach documents

Include copies of relevant documents necessary for claiming airport delay compensation, such as expense receipts and other travel documents.


Polishing Your Plea: The Final Touches

Keeping it Professional

If you want a professional response from airlines, it's important to write a professional letter. Airlines will be more likely to take your EU flight delay compensation claim more seriously. 


Only highlight information that is necessary for the airline. Be polite in your writing but also make your stance clear and refrain from making emotional statements. You can also provide a deadline for their response and inform them that you will take further action if you don’t hear back from them.


Eliminating Errors

Proofread your letter several times and check for grammatical errors and mistakes in dates, figures and evidence. Before sending your sample letter to the airline for compensation, have someone else proofread your letter for errors. A complaint letter that is free from errors will make it easier for airline staff to make a decision.


Including Your Evidence

Include all the evidence you need to support your flight delay compensation claim, such as expense receipts and statements from the airline. If you're sending your letter by mail, make sure to send only copies of your supporting documents, in case they get lost. 


Sending Your Letter: Delivery Methods and Follow-Up

You can deliver your complaint letter for late flight compensation. either by email or post. Some airlines provide a contact email address, but others offer no such option or have slow response times. Therefore, traditional mail can sometimes be a more effective way to directly reach the complaint department.


You can also provide the airline with a response deadline. If you’re having trouble getting in touch with the airline, you can hire airline delay compensation services like Skycop. The experts at Skycop are professionals in dealing with airlines and will effectively communicate with airline staff on your behalf.


By using services like Skycop, you won’t have to follow up with the airline, but instead can simply wait for your international flight delay compensation.


In conclusion

If you follow the steps outlined in this article, write professionally and include a well-rounded argument with sufficient evidence, you’ll have a very good chance of receiving fair compensation from the airline.


Even with a great template letter for flight delay compensation, communication with airlines can be difficult. Services like Skycop manage your claim and communicate with the airline on your behalf, while you wait for compensation.

Photo by Firmbee.com on Unsplash


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