When travelling from Manchester Airport, your journey is protected by UK law, which ensures you are treated fairly by airlines in cases of disruption. This framework, largely retained from EU Regulation 261, gives you the right to compensation, care, and assistance if your flight is significantly delayed, cancelled, or if you are denied boarding.
Want to know what a specific flight is actually worth? Rather than working through the rules yourself, AirHelp checks your flight for free and tells you exactly how much you could claim, then handles the paperwork if you go ahead.
Flight Delays
If your flight is significantly delayed, your airline has a duty of care and you may be entitled to financial compensation. The delay is measured by your arrival time at your final destination.
Right to Care
The airline must provide you with:
- Food and drink vouchers
- Access to communication (e.g., phone calls, emails)
- Overnight accommodation and transport if the delay is overnight
Financial Compensation
You are entitled to compensation if you arrive at your destination more than 3 hours late and the delay was the airline's fault.
Flight Cancellations
If your flight is cancelled, your airline must offer you the choice of a full refund or an alternative flight. You may also be entitled to compensation, unless the cancellation was due to "extraordinary circumstances" or you were given more than 14 days' notice.
Denied Boarding
If you are involuntarily denied boarding (e.g., due to an overbooked flight), you have the same rights to compensation and care as you do for a cancellation. The airline must first seek volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for benefits.
Reading the rules is one thing, getting paid is another. If a flight of yours was disrupted in the last few years, AirHelp can check it for free and pursue the claim on your behalf.
Baggage Issues
For issues with lost, delayed, or damaged checked luggage, your rights are covered by the Montreal Convention. You must report any problems to your airline's baggage desk in the arrivals hall before leaving the airport to file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR).
What To Do When Disrupted
- Keep all travel documents, receipts, and boarding passes.
- Note down the reason given for the delay or cancellation.
- Do not accept vouchers that waive your right to compensation.
- Submit your claim to the airline as soon as possible.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Airlines are not obliged to pay compensation if the disruption was caused by events outside their control, such as extreme weather, air traffic control strikes, or political unrest. However, they must still provide you with care and assistance.