London Gatwick - Ticket refund and compensation in case of flight delays and cancellations

Gatwick is the second busiest airport in the UK (behind Heathrow) and the eighth busiest airport in Europe. According to Flightright Data, in 2023, London Gatwick Airport had a total of 120,870 scheduled flights. Out of these, 1,624 flights were cancelled, representing 1.34% of all scheduled flights. In addition, 1,017 flights were delayed, making up 0.84% of the total. There were 2,641 incidents, which constituted 2.18% of all departing flights.

If you were subjected to long delays at this airport, we’ll fight for your right to compensation with whichever airline you flew with. Our free online calculator is a quick and easy way to find out if you’re eligible.

Your rights when delayed at Gatwick Airport

• As much as €600 compensation according to EU law
• No matter what the ticket price was
• When the flight arrived at least 3 hours behind schedule, was cancelled or overbooked
• Flights up to 6 years old

Tips and Tricks when delayed at Gatwick Airport

• Confirm the reason for the delay with the airline
• Collect proof: photos, receipts of expenses, vouchers etc
• Exchange contact information with other travellers
• Make sure you claim your basic benefits and services at the airport

Here is some further information regarding your passenger rights and the EU legislation

In which case is your flight delay eligible for compensation?

The level of compensation depends on the length of the flight. Essentially your flight has to arrive at its destination with a delay of 3 or more hours and qualify under the current EU legislation. You are able to make a claim up to 6 years retrospectively. We’ve gathered all the information about which compensation you’ll be entitled to below:

Delay, cancellation, overbooking or missed connection flight? You are entitled to:

Additional services at London Gatwick

In cases of heavily delayed departure, you become eligible for some services at the airport. Eligibility depends on the distance of your flight and the amount of hours it’s been delayed. Here, you’ll find an overview of what you’re entitled to:

• Short distance, below 1500 km: after 2 hours waiting time – 2 telephone calls, emails or faxes, as well as free food and drinks
• Medium distance, between 1500-3500 km: after 3 hours waiting time – 2 telephone calls, emails or faxes, as well as free food and drinks
• Long-haul, from 3500 km: after 4 hours waiting time – 2 telephone calls, emails or faxes, as well as free food and drinks

Delays of over 5 hours

You are entitled to withdraw from your flight if the wait time exceeds 5 hours. The airline must either find you alternative transportation or, if you prefer, you can elect to be reimbursed. Departure not until the next day

The airline has a responsibility to see that you are accommodated in a hotel should your flight be delayed till the next day. They must also cover the costs of getting you to the hotel and back to the airport. It is best to get this in writing directly from the airline.

Our Flightright Promise

Thanks to our expertise, we have a very high success rate when enforcing compensation. This allows us to promise a completely free service if your case is unsuccessful!

• up to €600 compensation per person
• over 11,000,000 happy customers
• 99% success rate in court

Useful advice & information about London Gatwick

Need to work on their timing

London Gatwick experienced a significant volume of traffic. The most active carrier was easyJet, operating a total of 61,467 flights with 1,020 cancellations and 529 delays, reflecting a dynamic operational environment. Following close behind, Vueling managed 8,482 flights, with 27 cancellations and 74 delays, indicating robust activity. Overall, the operational data from London Gatwick in 2023 showcases a busy and challenging environment for airlines.

Using wifi at London Gatwick

Gatwick offers passengers 90 minutes of free wifi, which can be accessed by joining their network. Should you need additional time, Gatwick have partnered with ‘Boingo’ which requires a monthly subscription and can be used in 580,000 hotspots worldwide.

More information about London Gatwick is available here

Recently cancelled or delayed flights at Gatwick Airport

Here you’ll find delays and cancellations at Gatwick Airport that could entitle you to financial compensation. Use our online calculator to check your entitlement to compensation and let Flightright do the rest of the work.

Strikes at Gatwick Airport

If there is strike action at Gatwick airport that affects your flight, you’ll be eligible for services and benefits at the airport, depending on how badly you’ve been affected. The airlines deem this cause for delay as an ‘exceptional circumstance’ so passengers are unable to claim compensation on delayed or cancelled flights.

What rights do I have as a passenger if my flight is canceled due to a strike at London (Gatwick) Airport?

If your flight is planned to depart from London (Gatwick) and there is a strike at the airport, first check if your flight is affected by the cancellations due to the strike. According to the EU Passenger Rights Regulation, you are entitled to alternative transportation or a refund of the ticket price. In addition, you may be entitled to compensation if there are no extraordinary circumstances, and it is an internal airline strike. Contact your airline for further information regarding substitute transportation, rebooking, or ticket refund as well as on-site services such as meals and, if necessary, accommodation and transportation to the hotel.

Can I get compensation if my flight is delayed or canceled at London (Gatwick) due to a strike?

A flight cancellation or significant delay of more than three hours due to a strike is often considered an extraordinary circumstance, provided the strike is not within the control of the airline or its personnel. There is no entitlement to compensation in case of extraordinary circumstances. However, passengers should be aware of their rights to basic care and catering services at London (Gatwick) Airport. This includes meals, refreshments, and, if necessary, accommodation, depending on the duration of the delay and the flight distance. Also, important to know: If your flight is canceled because the airline staff is on strike, you are entitled to a refund of your ticket price, alternative transportation, on-site catering, and additional compensation.