Flight claim on hold? Supreme Court reveals update on airlines' challenges

A number of airlines have put claims on hold while two court cases being fought by Thomson and Jet2 are decided (see our Court Cases section for more details on this).

Thomson argues claims older than two years can't be made, while Jet2 says technical problems shouldn't be counted as its fault.

The pair both lost their cases at county court level and then again at the Court of Appeal this summer. But they both then requested permission to appeal the decisions at the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has this month announced an update on both cases. It says the airlines' applications will be considered by a panel of three Supreme Court Justices and that a decision on whether the appeals should proceed to a full hearing is expected to be made by early November.

If permission is granted, there will then be a full hearing at the Supreme Court, which is likely to be during the first half of 2015. The judgment would follow a few weeks after this. MoneySavingExpert.com will update you on any news as soon as it happens.

Don't be put off claiming now

However despite some claims being delayed, it's still worth submitting a complaint as soon as possible rather than waiting for the Supreme Court's decision. You never know… and nothing is lost by trying. 

MoneySavingExpert.com managing editor, Guy Anker, says: "If you're delayed by more than three hours or your flight is cancelled, you're often entitled to £100-£480 per person in compensation if it’s the airline’s fault. This isn't just for recent flights, you can claim as far back as 2005 although in practice it'll be easier for flights since 2008.

"So even if you think your claim might be put on hold due to the Supreme Court's pending decision, don't be put off trying. You've got nothing to lose and at least you're already in the queue for when cases are reopened."

For information on how to claim and to check if you're eligible to do so, see our Flight Delays and Cancellations guide.