Sample Complaint Letter Airline Bad Service

Reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Last Updated: March 21, 2024

Flight diversion is an upsetting experience for any traveler. It usually means arriving late for the resort or business meeting. AirAdvisor knows how to turn this stressful situation into something that can raise your mood. 

When flight disruption is due to the bad service of the airline, you may complain about delayed flight and ask for compensation of €600 ($700). Can I claim for a diverted flight if I reside in the EU and neither have an EU citizenship. The answer is yes. 

Any air passenger may have the right to write a sample complaint letter to airline and request compensation. AirAdvisor can help you. Our team prepared the flight delay template but we did not stop there. We can manage the entire claiming process: from filling in sample complaint letter airline bad service to protecting your rights in court. Everything we do is provided free of charge so there is no risk for you.  

Flight disruption usually results in dissatisfaction with the airline’s service. It is understandable since any changes in the plane itinerary immediately affect your holiday or business plans. 

The good news is that you may use a sample complaint letter requesting compensation of up to €600 ($700). It will act as a complaint about delayed flights or other bad experiences you had with the airline. 

You can always use an online sample complaint letter to the airline tool designed by our team. This is the easiest way to get your cash compensation. It takes less than 3 minutes. 

Find out if you are owed compensation for a disrupted flightCheck Your Flight 

Sample complaint letter airline bad service

If your flight is disrupted on your arrival or departure from the European Union, you may be entitled to compensation. You can use the following template letter as a reference in your litigation with the airline. 

This sample of complaint letter to the airline company can be used when you are not satisfied with the operation and service provided by the airline.

If you like to save your time and nerves, pass your claim to the AirAdvisor’s professionals. We have defended air passengers’ rights for more than 5 years. Our online sample complaint letter to the airline for a refund tool has helped more than 20,000 travelers getting the money they are rightfully owed. 

We strongly recommend proceeding with us. Writing a complaint letter to an airline sample by yourself seems like an easy task to do. But doing it in the right way might be tricky. It must be flawless since any mistake may lead to the delay and even the denial of your request.

Moreover, the letter must contain well-reasoned arguments for the airline to react. Thus, the air carriers usually ignore compensation letters unless sent by a legal authority. 

If your flight was delayed, canceled or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to €600 ($700) in compensationCheck Your Flight

Submit a sample complaint letter to the airline for a refund

Your citizenship or residency do not affect your rights for compensation. You may make a compensation claim if your flight disruption qualifies.

Based on your situation, here are eligibility criteria for sending a sample complaint letter to an airline for delayed flight and other disturbances:

1. The flight was cancelled: if the airline notifies you about flight cancellation less than 14 days before the flight, you may get money for the disruption.
2. Denied boarding: if the airline does not let you board the plane, your case may be entitled to compensation.
3. Flight delay: you may receive IATA delayed flight compensation if your flight arrives at the final destination with a delay of at least 3 hours. Also, check our flight delay template compensation calculator. 
4. Missed connection: when you have missed the connecting flight due to flight diversion, delay or cancellation, the airline may be obligated to compensate you for it.

Can I claim for a diverted flight? Qualified flights

Your flight is diverted when it lands in the airport different from the originally scheduled one. Such changes in the route are decided by the pilot or air traffic controllers for precautionary reasons. 

Note that the diversion landing is not the same as an emergency landing. The latter happens when the cabin safety is at risk. The decision of landing is left to the full discretion of the pilots. 

Flight diversion means that you will arrive with a significant delay to your desired destination. For this reason, Regulation EC 261 considers diverted flights as cancelled. The responsibility of any airline is to bring you to the initially planned destination. Thus, it shall provide you with a rerouting option once the flight lands in a diversion airport. 

Remember that the best airport for diversion might not be the closest one. The pilot will divert the plane to the most appropriate airport instead. 

If you are asking yourself, can I claim for a diverted flight? Here is the answer. You are protected by Regulation EC 261 and can get compensation if:

• you arrive at the final destination with a delay of more than 3 hours
• the diversion was not caused by extraordinary circumstances such as medical emergency, unruly passengers, severe weather conditions, etc.)
• EU airline operated your flight, or your flight departed from the EU regardless of arrival airport or airline in charge

Check your flight eligibility with the following chart:

AirAdvisor offers the best way to learn if the airline is obliged to pay compensation for your disrupted flight. Go to our website and fill in your flight details into our sample complaint letter to the airline delay tool. It will instantly check your eligibility.  

Find out if you are owed compensation for a disrupted flightCheck Your Flight

A sample complaint letter to the airline: steps to take

If you ever experience flight diversion, delay or other flight disruption, here is the guideline on how you should behave:

1. Inquire crew members about the reason for flight disruption (obtain a written proof).
2. Take a photo of the timetable that indicates the disruption.
3. Do not throw away your travel documents and receipts (if you had to make purchases due to the disruption, ex. personal hygiene items, clothing, etc.).
4. Request crew members to offer complimentary refreshments and meals for flight delays of more than 2 hours. The airline shall provide you with free accommodation and transport for flight delays over 5 hours or cancellations. 
5. Reject travel vouchers or other similar offers when provided by the airline (they usually have a clause that waives your right to compensation)
6. Get in touch with our team by filling your flight information in our online sample complaint letter airline bad service.

Claim with AirAdvisor and get up to €600 ($700) compensation. Find out how much you’re owed today.Check Your Flight