In July 2024, thousands of UK passengers faced significant flight disruptions after a faulty Microsoft Windows update caused widespread chaos. Flights were delayed or cancelled, stranding holidaymakers and professionals alike.
If your flight has been delayed, you may be eligible for compensation, not just because of the Microsoft outage, but also due to EU and UK regulations that protect all passengers against delays of over three hours.
The impact of the Microsoft IT outage
The IT outage had a far-reaching effect on air travel:
- Massive disruptions across airlines: The faulty update led to a cascade of delays and cancellations, affecting connecting flights and leaving passengers stranded.
- Families’ summer holiday plans in disarray: Many travellers heading for their long-awaited summer vacations found themselves stuck at airports for hours, sometimes overnight, with little information on when their journeys would resume.
- Professionals facing critical delays: Many missed important meetings or events, potentially causing financial and reputational damage to businesses.
- Stress and uncertainty for passengers: Stranded travellers were left scrambling to rearrange accommodation, miss planned events, and incur additional costs, often unsure whether they would be reimbursed.
Can you claim compensation?
Under UK and EU law, if your flight was delayed by more than three hours or cancelled without sufficient notice, you may be entitled to compensation. This includes ANY flight delay of three or more hours, whether it was due to the Microsoft outage or other factors.
As long as the airline cannot prove that the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances (e.g. severe weather or terrorism), you could be due compensation.
- If your flight was delayed for three or more hours or cancelled between Friday, July 19, and Sunday, July 21, due to the Microsoft outage, you may be due compensation.
- If your flight delay or cancellation occurred outside of this window, or for a different reason, you still likely qualify for compensation, provided your delay exceeded three hours.
Check your eligibility today!
Use our easy-to-use eligibility checker to see if you qualify for a NO-WIN, NO-FEE compensation claim. If eligible, we will connect you with a UK law firm handling claims related to flight delays and cancellations.
Don’t let airlines get away with denying your rights as a passenger! Take the first step today to get the compensation you deserve.
