SWISS delay compensation: how to claim it yourself
If your SWISS flight arrived 3 or more hours late, was cancelled at short notice or you were bumped, you may be owed up to £520 or €600 per passenger. Check for free, then claim directly and keep all of it.
Check my SWISS flightWhich SWISS flights are covered?
SWISS is licensed in Switzerland, so it counts as an EEA/Swiss airline under EU261.
- All SWISS flights departing the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland are covered by EU261, and flights departing the UK by UK261.
- Flights into the EU from outside, including from the UK, are covered by EU261, because SWISS is an EEA/Swiss airline.
- Flights into the UK from outside the UK and EU are not covered by UK261.
How much you can claim
| Flight distance | UK261 | EU261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km (and intra-EU over 1,500 km) | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km, 3–4 hours late | £260 | €300 |
| Over 3,500 km, 4+ hours late | £520 | €600 |
Per passenger, for arrival delays of 3 hours or more, cancellations with less than 14 days' notice, and involuntary denied boarding. Not payable if SWISS proves extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control restrictions. Technical faults and the airline's own staff strikes usually don't count.
How to claim from SWISS
- Check your flight with our free checker to confirm which law applies and how much you're owed.
- Send a claim to SWISS through its claim or complaint form at swiss.com, quoting the Regulation and the amount. Our letter pack writes it for you.
- Follow up if you haven't been paid after about 4 weeks.
- Escalate after 8 weeks: for UK261 claims to Schlichtung Reise & Verkehr (söp), the ADR scheme SWISS belongs to. For EU261 claims, go to the national enforcement body.
Questions
How much compensation can I get from SWISS?
Under UK261, £220 (up to 1,500 km), £350 (1,500–3,500 km) or £520 (over 3,500 km; £260 if 3–4 hours late). Under EU261, €250, €400 or €600 (€300 if a long-haul flight is 3–4 hours late). Amounts are per passenger.
Which SWISS flights are covered?
All SWISS flights departing the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland are covered by EU261, and flights departing the UK by UK261. Flights into the EU from outside, including from the UK, are covered by EU261, because SWISS is an EEA/Swiss airline. Flights into the UK from outside the UK and EU are not covered by UK261.
What if SWISS rejects my claim?
For UK261 claims, escalate to Schlichtung Reise & Verkehr (söp) after 8 weeks or after a final rejection. For EU261 claims, complain to the national enforcement body in the country where the disruption happened. You can also go to the small claims court.
Do I need a claims company to claim from SWISS?
No. You can claim directly from SWISS for free and keep all the compensation. Claims companies typically keep 35% or more.
Important: DelayOwed is a self-help guidance tool, not a law firm or claims company, and is not affiliated with any airline. Airline names are used only to describe which flights this guide covers.