Delayed traveling in or out of Europe? You may be owed hundreds in compensation

There's a lot of misinformation that gets passed around regarding flight cancellations and delays — especially surrounding what the flier is entitled to — which is leading to a lot of unclaimed reward money. According to Kevin Clarke, flight delay compensation lawyer from Bott & Co, there are about 900,000 passengers each year in the United Kingdom alone who have been delayed more than three hours, but aren't claiming the compensation they may be entitled to.

Despite that six digit number of delayed fliers, research shows that just four in 10 people file a compensation claim. When they do file, compensation averages at €430 ($469) — which means that around €232 million ($256 million) per year is left unclaimed. Imagine all of the far flung islands you could sail to with that!

An EU law mandates that if you're flying in or out of Europe on a European airline, you may be entitled to up to €600 ($650) in compensation to make up for your loss of time. And, no,  you don't need to be an EU citizen to claim. Clarke writes:

"It doesn’t matter how much your plane ticket cost or whether you used Air Miles, the law entitles you to a fixed amount of compensation. The amounts are based on the length of the delay and distance of the journey, meaning that passengers flying to and from the States could be entitled to €600 ($650) if they have a valid claim. You can try writing to the airline yourself but claims are often rejected or ignored. If that happens you may have to take your claim to court. Flight delay law is complicated and airlines can afford the best lawyers around, so it’s a good idea to get specialist legal representation if you do."

To figure out whether you're entitled to a claim and how much you might be owed, you can use Bott & Co Solicitors Flight Delay Compensation Calculator, which lets you fill out a short form for an instant owed-compensation quote, cross-checking data from a variety of sources. There's also AirHelp, which assists you in seeking your compensation, and keeps 25% of your reimbursement if the claim is successful. (While that may seem like a lot, it's also a no loss deal as if you don't collect, neither do they.) And don't forget credit cards often offer the best compensation benefits. For instance, a Chase Sapphire Preferred card provides up to $500 per person (including you and immediate family members) if the delay or cancellation leads to an overnight stay or 12+ hour wait.

Note that the amount of time you're able to wait before claiming varies by EU country. Flights into or out of England or Wales, for example, allow you to claim for delays as far back as six years. But good luck trying to remember the specifics of that one time you were stuck in Heathrow in 2010.

Jessica Festa is the founder on the solo and offbeat travel blog, Jessie on a Journey, and the online responsible tourism and culture magazine, Epicure & Culture. She's constantly searching for local experiences beyond the guidebook. You can follow her travels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.