Claim EU261/UK261 flight delay compensation yourself, with no claims-company fee

Use AI to check whether a delay or missed connection qualifies under EU261 (the EU rule on flight delay and cancellation compensation) or UK261 (the UK version of the EU flight compensation rule) and to draft the claim, instead of paying a claims company a cut.

Part of: How to get a refund for a cancelled or delayed flight

Reported resultAbout £520 wonAs reported by Reddit r/ChatGPT. Results vary.

Cost Free option availableYou can do this for $0. Some tools offer paid upgrades you don't need.

Time (estimate)20–40 min

Difficulty (estimate)MediumSome paperwork, phone calls or comparing options.

1. Copy this prompt

Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Grok (the free versions work), then replace the [highlighted brackets] with your details. Leave out account numbers and SSNs.

My flight [FLIGHT NO.] from [ORIGIN] to [DESTINATION] on [DATE] arrived [X] hours late at my final destination because [reason given]. It was [part of one booking / separate bookings] on [airline]. 1) Does EU261 or UK261 apply, and why? 2) What compensation am I entitled to based on distance? 3) Are 'extraordinary circumstances' likely to apply? 4) Draft a claim letter to the airline citing the regulation. 5) What's the escalation route if they refuse? Cite official sources so I can verify.

2. Follow these steps

Note the flight numbers, scheduled and actual arrival times, route and the reason the airline gave.
Ask AI whether EU261 or UK261 applies and what compensation band fits the distance.
File directly with the airline using the AI-drafted claim.
If refused, use the airline's ADR (alternative dispute resolution, an independent complaints scheme) scheme or national enforcement body.

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What to expect, and what to do if they say no

What to expect

Airlines may first offer vouchers. You can ask for cash compensation instead.
Expect a response in a few weeks. Some airlines reject first-time claims.

If they say no

Escalate to the national enforcement body or an approved ADR scheme (UK: CAA-approved ADR).
Claims services take a cut of what you get; small claims court is another option.

What happened when people tried it

Reported The poster reports winning about £520, more than the £300 originally sought.

What the AI did: After a missed connection, a Reddit user's claim was refused. ChatGPT identified that UK261 (post-Brexit) applied, translated the airline's response and helped draft an escalation letter.

Source: Reddit r/ChatGPT · 2024-12 · Self-reported; not independently verified

Why this works

The problem: Claims companies take a sizable share, and airlines often reject first claims.

How AI helps: AI identifies which regulation applies, calculates the compensation band by distance, translates airline replies and drafts escalation letters.

Tools & what they cost

Tool	Cost
EU passenger rights (official)	Free (No cost at all) Free
UK CAA delays guidance	Free (No cost at all) Free
ChatGPT	Free option available (Paid upgrades exist, but the free version works for this) Free tier; paid plans available

What do these labels mean?

Free No cost at all.
Free option available Paid upgrades exist, but the free version works for this.
Costs money You pay a set price or subscription.
Takes a cut of savings Charges a percentage of what it saves you.
Time · Difficulty Our estimates for a typical first try, not guarantees.
Reported What the linked source says happened, often self-reported. Your results will vary.

Watch out for

Chatbots sometimes apply the wrong rule. Check against the official EU or UK guidance.
Claims companies charge a share of the payout. Filing yourself is free.

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Sources

Last verified 2026-10-19. Not financial, legal, tax or medical advice. Disclaimer.