Airline not responding to compensation claim: next steps

If the airline is not responding to your compensation claim, send a written reminder with a clear deadline and then escalate: in Ireland to the Irish Aviation Authority, and for UK flights to an approved ADR scheme once 8 weeks have passed, which is free and binding on the airline if you accept the decision. The airline's silence does not cancel your right. Here is the step-by-step checklist.

Free 2-minute check · Nothing to pay upfront · You only pay 25% + VAT if you get compensated

Airline not responding to your compensation claim: is that normal?

It happens a lot. Regulation (EC) 261/2004 currently sets no deadline for the airline to answer a compensation claim: it must refund a ticket within 7 days, but for the €250, €400 or €600 there is no written time limit. Under the 2026 EU reform, from 23 October 2027 the airline will have to pay or give reasons for refusing within 30 days, as explained in our guide on the EU air passenger rights reform.

In the meantime, silence is not an answer and it does not make you lose your right. The key is not to let too much time pass: the deadlines for taking action are in our guide on the time limit for a flight delay claim.

First, check the claim you sent

• The right channel: many airlines only respond to claims sent through their online compensation form. A social media post or a chat message is usually not enough.
• Complete details: booking reference, flight number and date, passenger names, what you are asking for and your bank details.
• Proof you sent it: a confirmation email, a case number or a delivery receipt.
• A clear request: compensation under Article 7 of the regulation, not a general "refund".

What to do if the airline does not respond: the checklist

1. Wait 2 to 3 weeks after your claim, and check your spam folder and your account on the airline's website.
2. Send a written reminder referring to your first claim and giving a clear deadline, such as 14 days, to pay or reply.
3. In Ireland, if the airline does not reply or turns you down, complain to the Irish Aviation Authority (which took over from the former Commission for Aviation Regulation) using its online form.
4. For UK flights, after 8 weeks without a final answer, go to the ADR scheme the airline belongs to, or to the CAA if it is not a member. ADR is free and its decision binds the airline if you accept it.
5. If none of this works, consider the small claims procedure; for flights involving another EU country there is also the European Small Claims Procedure.

The bodies for each country are listed in our guide on national enforcement bodies.

If the airline says no

A refusal is still progress: it tells you why the airline does not want to pay. If it blames bad weather, strikes or other extraordinary circumstances, it has to prove them, and often the reason does not hold up. Read our guide on what to do when the airline claims extraordinary circumstances. Typical timings for each stage are in our guide on how long compensation takes.

How much you are owed

If your flight arrived 3 hours or more late, was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice or you were denied boarding, and the cause was not an extraordinary circumstance, you are owed €250 up to 1,500 km (such as Dublin–Paris), €400 from 1,500 to 3,500 km (such as Dublin–Lanzarote) and for flights within the EU over 3,500 km, and €600 over 3,500 km outside the EU. Flights from the UK follow the UK's own version of these rules.

If you would rather not chase the airline yourself, DelayFlight24 lets you check for free in 2 minutes whether you are owed compensation: enter your details on the flight delay compensation page and we handle reminders, complaints and, if needed, court action. Nothing to pay upfront, and you only pay 25% + VAT if you get compensated.

Frequently asked questions about airlines not responding

How long does an airline have to reply to my claim?

The regulation currently sets no deadline for compensation claims. For UK flights you can go to ADR after 8 weeks without a final answer.

If the airline does not reply, do I lose my right?

No. Silence does not cancel your right to compensation, but do not wait too long before chasing and taking action.

Can the Irish Aviation Authority make the airline pay me?

It is the national body responsible for the regulation and handles complaints after you have contacted the airline. If the airline still does not pay, the small claims route remains open.

Does ADR cost anything?

No, it is free for passengers, and the decision binds the airline if you accept it.

Can someone else handle my claim?

Yes. With DelayFlight24 there is nothing to pay upfront and you only pay 25% + VAT if you get compensated.

Find out more

• Air passenger rights
• Delayed flight: when you can claim compensation
• Cancelled flight: refund and compensation
• Overbooking: what you are owed
• What our service costs

Article updated on 12/11/2026 by the DelayFlight24 editorial team.