EasyJet is one of the UK's busiest airlines and carries over 90 million passengers a year. If your EasyJet flight was delayed or cancelled, here is a step-by-step guide to claiming what you are owed under UK261 and EU261.
Check My EasyJet Claim →EasyJet operates under a UK Air Operator Certificate (easyJet UK Ltd), which means UK261 applies to flights departing UK airports. For flights departing EU airports, EU261/2004 applies directly, as EasyJet also holds an Austrian AOC (easyJet Europe Airline GmbH) for EU-based operations — post-Brexit, EasyJet restructured to maintain EU operating rights.
In practical terms, the compensation tiers and passenger rights are essentially identical under both instruments. For UK departures you claim under UK261 (£220 / £350 / £520); for EU departures you claim under EU261 (€250 / €400 / €600). EasyJet will generally process both types of claims through the same portal.
EasyJet is considered mid-tier among UK airlines for EU261 compliance. They are more responsive than Ryanair and their initial rejection rate is lower than British Airways, but they do reject valid claims, and escalation to CEDR remains a regular occurrence. Their customer service portal is functional but not always well-staffed during peak disruption periods.
EasyJet handles EU261/UK261 compensation claims through their online help centre. Navigate to easyjet.com and go to: Help → Flight disruptions → Compensation claim. Alternatively search the EasyJet Help Centre for "EU261 compensation."
You will need to log in to your EasyJet account (or create one with the email used at booking). The claim form asks for:
EasyJet's help section at easyjet.com/en/help/baggage/delayed-and-lost-baggage covers delayed and lost baggage claims specifically — these are handled under the Montreal Convention, not EU261. Baggage claims and flight disruption compensation claims are separate processes. Do not submit an EU261 claim through the baggage portal — it will be misrouted.
State the regulation clearly. Example: "I am writing to claim statutory compensation under UK Regulation 261/2004 [or EU Regulation 261/2004 for EU departures]. My flight [EZY number] on [date] from [departure] to [destination] arrived at [actual time], which is [X] hours [X] minutes after the scheduled arrival of [scheduled time]. This exceeds the 3-hour threshold set by the ECJ in Sturgeon v Condor. I request payment of [£/€220/350/520] per passenger within 14 days."
EasyJet aims to respond within 28 days, though during peak disruption periods (summer, Christmas, major weather events) this often extends to 6–8 weeks. If you have not received a response after 8 weeks, you can escalate to CEDR without waiting further. Chasing EasyJet by phone does not typically accelerate written claim responses.
EasyJet's network structure means certain types of delays are more common. Understanding the patterns helps you challenge their extraordinary circumstances claims.
EasyJet's high-frequency operation from UK bases means a delay on an early morning departure can cascade across 4–6 sectors that day. If your afternoon flight was late, check the same aircraft's morning history on Flightradar24. Rotation delays are the airline's problem — not extraordinary circumstances.
EasyJet has faced crew shortages — particularly during summer 2022 which led to mass cancellations. Crew shortages and scheduling failures are within the airline's control. EU261 compensation was widely awarded for 2022 cancellations after EasyJet's initial rejections were challenged.
Slot constraints at Heathrow and Gatwick can cause genuine ATC-related delays. However, EasyJet does not primarily operate from Heathrow — Gatwick and Luton are the main bases. NATS (National Air Traffic Services) restrictions are verifiable at nats.aero.
EasyJet sometimes delays flights without giving a specific reason at the airport. This often indicates an operational problem the airline would rather not characterise as non-extraordinary. When no reason is given, Flightradar24 aircraft history is essential to establishing rotation delay.
EasyJet cites technical faults as extraordinary circumstances. Under Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia, routine technical faults are explicitly not extraordinary circumstances. Challenge any technical fault claim and ask EasyJet to specify whether it was a hidden manufacturing defect or a discovered maintenance item — the latter is not extraordinary.
Genuine extraordinary circumstances that EasyJet may legitimately cite. These are rare but real. Verify by checking news reports and the relevant airport's official communications for that date.
EasyJet's approved ADR scheme in the UK is CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) — the same scheme used by British Airways. This is different from Ryanair, which uses AviationADR.
CEDR is an independent, CAA-approved body. Filing with CEDR is free for passengers. CEDR charges EasyJet a fee per case. CEDR's decisions are binding on EasyJet (though you can still go to court if you disagree with the outcome in your favour).
File at cedr.com/aviation. You can also access CEDR via the EasyJet help page, which provides a direct link once you have received a final response from EasyJet.
CEDR requires you to have received a final response from EasyJet, or to have waited 8 weeks from your initial complaint. Save EasyJet's rejection letter or a screenshot of their final response.
Create an account and complete the case submission form. Upload your supporting documents: booking confirmation, boarding passes, Flightradar24 data, EasyJet's rejection, and any expense receipts.
CEDR will notify EasyJet of the complaint and request their response and evidence. EasyJet typically responds within the timeframe CEDR sets. Both parties can submit evidence and respond to the other's submissions.
CEDR aims to resolve complaints within 90 days. They issue a written decision. If they award in your favour, EasyJet must pay within 28 days. The decision is binding on EasyJet.
You are not bound by a CEDR decision that goes against you. You can still pursue through the small claims court (Money Claim Online, moneyclaim.gov.uk). CEDR's reasoning will be useful in preparing your court submission, even if it was decided against you.
Go through these channels in order. Keep written records at every stage.
Submit through the EasyJet help centre. Log in to your account. This creates a case reference number.
easyjet.com/en/helpIf no response after 4 weeks, follow up with a written letter. Address: easyJet Customer Services, Hangar 89, London Luton Airport, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 9PF. Recorded delivery creates a legal record.
After 8 weeks without resolution, file with CEDR. Free for you. Binding on EasyJet.
cedr.com/aviationReport non-compliance to the UK regulator. Does not resolve your individual claim but creates an enforcement record.
caa.co.ukFor claims under £10,000, file online. Court fee from £35. EasyJet typically settles upon receipt of a court claim. Name easyJet Airline Company Limited as defendant.
moneyclaim.gov.ukPublic escalation via social media sometimes accelerates case review. Reference your claim number. Do not share personal booking details publicly — use Direct Message for specifics.
Always include your booking reference, flight number, and departure date in every communication. Use the subject line: "EU261/UK261 Compensation Claim — [Flight Number] — [Date] — [Your Booking Ref]". Keep a log of every call: date, time, duration, name of agent if given, what was said. Written channels (email, online form, post) are always preferable to phone for anything important — phone conversations leave no paper trail.
| Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| EasyJet cancelled your flight less than 14 days before departure | Automatically entitled to compensation (unless extraordinary circumstances proven). Also entitled to full refund OR re-routing. Both — compensation AND refund — can be claimed simultaneously. |
| EasyJet offered a replacement flight but it arrived 4+ hours late | Your compensation amount is calculated on the distance of the originally booked flight. The 50% reduction may apply but only if re-routing brought you within the reduction window. |
| Flight delayed at departure but arrived within 3 hours | No compensation — the ECJ threshold is arrival time, not departure time. You may still be entitled to duty of care (meals/refreshments) during the wait. |
| EasyJet says disruption was due to COVID-related restrictions | Post-2022, this is generally no longer accepted as a blanket extraordinary circumstance. Evaluate each claim on current facts. |
| Multiple passengers on one booking | One complaint can cover all passengers. Compensation is per passenger — a family of four on a £350 route is owed £1,400 total. Confirm all passenger names in your submission. |
| EasyJet provided vouchers during the delay — does this affect your claim? | Accepting food and drink vouchers at the airport does not waive your right to cash compensation. Duty of care and statutory compensation are separate entitlements. |
EasyJet is generally considered more responsive and transparent than Ryanair in the claims process, and their CEDR uptake is lower than British Airways because a larger proportion of valid claims are settled before escalation. If you have a clear-cut case with good evidence, EasyJet often resolves it at first contact. Reserve CEDR for the cases where EasyJet refuses a valid claim.
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