London Gatwick flight delays and cancellations
Gatwick is the second busiest airport in the UK (behind Heathrow) and the eighth busiest airport in Europe. A total of 73,500 flights, provided by numerous airlines, flew from Gatwick in 2016, with easyJet accounting for 40% of their traffic. Gatwick is not the most reliable airport, having suffered a slightly above average ratio of delays and cancellations in 2016.
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:
| Short distance up to 1500 km | Medium distance up to 3500 km | Long distance from 3500 km |
| e.g. London – Edinburgh | e.g. London – Athens | e.g. London – Tokyo |
| 250€ | 400€ | 600€ |
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
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 dayThe 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
43 million passenger passed through Gatwick in 2016, with Barcelona the most popular destination for customers flying out of this airport. There are good transport links to the airport, with an overground train from Victoria and Clapham junction available.
Need to work on their timing
2016 was not a very punctual year for Gatwick. They amassed almost one million minutes worth of delays, some 120,000 more than Heathrow who had over 30 million more people pass through it. You are less likely to have a flight cancelled at Gatwick though. The amount of delays means that Gatwick ranks slightly poorly in punctuality performance when measured next to some of it’s competing 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.
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.
More information about London Gatwick is available here
Your problem flight at…
Your flight from London Gatwick did not go as planned?
Passengers may be entitled to compensation for flight delays, cancellations and overbooking under EU law. Flightright enforces your rights.
We will be happy to help you in case of flight problems with the airline for:
We have already been able to help with problems at the following airports, among others
We have already taken successful action against these and more airlines
Your flight did not go as planned?
In the event of flight delays, cancellations and overbooking, passengers may be entitled to compensation or ticket reimbursement. Flightright enforces your rights.