Martin Lewis says airline passengers owed £202 each 'even if THEY cancelled flight'

The BBC Sounds and ITV star has issued the flight compensation warning with fans via the Money Saving Expert newsletter this week.

Martin Lewis has warned flight passengers they could be owed hundreds - even if they CHOSE to cancel a flight. The BBC Sounds and ITV star has issued the flight compensation warning with fans via the Money Saving Expert newsletter this week.

Speaking out on Twitter, now X, Mr Lewis said: "Flight delayed or cancelled this summer (or years ago)? You could be due money back even if you CHOSE to cancel, or you missed a flight." A fan replied: "We’ve made a claim to BA for this (after our July flight was cancelled). Still waiting for a response from them and was told yesterday the complaints department has a 90 DAY turnaround (we were previously advised 3 days). Over £1.5k due back to us!"

"had TUI cancel a holiday with less than 24 hours notice. State I’m not entitled to anything because the whole holiday was refunded. I questioned why they didn’t offer a different flight, apparently they didn’t have to, just charged me extra to rebook," a second said.

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If a flight was delayed by three or more hours or the airline cancelled it, you could be due £500+. Many are unaware of their legal right to up to £520 per person compensation if the airline is at fault, ON TOP of any refund, alternative flight or food reimbursement, MSE said.

And if you ever cancelled or missed a flight taking off from the UK, you may be due £100s back in airport tax, even from years ago (for example, during Covid). If you take a flight from a UK airport to anywhere worldwide, it includes air passenger duty (APD) tax of up to £202 per person, yet this isn't paid by the airline to HM Revenue & Customs till you fly.

So if you don't fly, it's not paid. This applies even if you're cancelling, or miss a non-refundable flight, MSE said.