Martin Lewis issues £520 compensation warning if you’ve flown in the last six years

Martin Lewis has returned with the latest episode of his BBC Sounds podcast and with it, a break down and warning when it comes to flying at any point in the last six years.

Lewis, who runs the Money Saving Expert (MSE) website, has become a champion of finance for the ordinary man and woman across the United Kingdom.

Whether that's through his podcast, website, or live ITV programme The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, he is a constant in the British psyche when it comes to saving a bit of cash here or there - and sometimes in ways you might not even think.

The latest episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast over on BBC Sounds focus primarily on changes to National Insurance. But towards the end of the episode, his attention turns to flying and when compensation rules might kick in.

Timing of the advice couldn't be better, given the summer holidays rush will soon be upon millions of Brits heading overseas, with Spain likely to be the number one destination for most UK sun-seekers.

When does compensation kick in?

Chatting to his co-presenter Nihal Arthanayake, Lewis creates a hypothetical issue when it comes to flying so as to paint a picture that thousands out there can probably expect to face over the coming months.

"Nihal's plane arrived at the airport two hours and 45 minutes late," Lewis says painting the picture. "But due to the scheduled change of arrival, there was no landing spot.

"So they were sat on the plane for another half an hour. Now the rule under the fixed compensation for all EU flights - including British flights - is if it's delayed over three hours, provided it's the airline's fault which we'll assume it is here, do you get the compensation?"

Martin Lewis. (ITV)

Lewis then gave three options to pick from. He said: "Yes [you're due compensation] as you got off the plane after three hours.

"No, as it landed two hours and 45 minutes late, and the delay was the airport's, not the airline's fault.

"Yes, but only if you took off three hours late, as well as landing two hours and 45 minutes late. So you see, the question is all, what is the three hours? Is it yes, the three hours is when you got off the plane?"

With a rather confused Nihal doing his best to answer (don't worry Nihal, it's given a few our head's a wobble here) Lewis quickly answered correctly for the listener.

"A [the first option] is the simple answer, yeah. You got off the plane after three hours late," Lewis said.

No one likes a delayed flight. (Getty Stock Images)

What happens if the airline says it is not their fault?

Lewis says: "Now there is a little bit of wriggle room in, in what portion is the airline's fault. I think that the most important criteria here is the timing is how late the doors of the plane open.

"So as you got off the plane over three hours late, you are entitled to the fixed compensation. Now the airline's fault argument is pretty plain that because the two hours 45 was late, it is very easy to argue.

"That's why it's the airline's fault that they arrived two hours 45 late and then the airport wasn't prepared for them to land. That's still the airline's fault because if the airline hadn't been late, the airport would have been prepared for them to late and the doors open late.

"But there could be, the airline could try and argue it wasn't its fault because of the remaining 15 minutes, but I think they'd generally be given short shift by all the courts."

A full plane. (Getty Stock Images)

Compensation rules and how much you can claim

Compensation rules apply to any EU flight which is leaving from / arriving at an EU or UK airport. The rule with return flights here is that the airline you're flying with also has to be an EU or UK airline to get compensation.

"So American Airlines going to the States from London counts. American Airlines returning to London from the States does not count because it's not an EU airline," Lewis says.

Any appropriate delay in the last six years can be claimed for, with the time limit five years in Scotland.

There is four levels of compensation available. It starts at £220 if you've been delayed by more than three hours and your flight was less than 1,500km.

It's £260 if your delay was less than four hours and you've flown more than 3,500km.

You could claim £350 if your delay is more than three hours and between 1,500km and 3,500km.

The top claim is for £520, which is when your flight is delayed by more than four hours and you're flying more than 3,500km.