Emirates compensation: how to claim
Emirates is registered in United Arab Emirates — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Registered in
- United Arab Emirates (non-EU/UK carrier)
- Main bases
- Dubai (DXB)
- Typical first response
- About 40 days
- Time limit where it is based
- Depends where you claim
Emirates is registered in United Arab Emirates — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Flying into the UK or EU from United Arab Emirates or elsewhere: not covered by either, because Emirates is not a UK or EU carrier.
- That means a return trip is usually half-protected: the outbound from Europe counts, the flight home does not.
How Emirates handles claims
Emirates is not an EU or UK carrier. London or Paris to Dubai is covered because it departs the UK or EU; Dubai to London or Paris is NOT covered. This asymmetry catches out more passengers than any other single point in the Regulation.
On the covered outbound, a Dubai connection onto Asia or Australia sold as one booking is measured at the final destination, which makes for large €600 and £520 claims.
They generally respond within about six weeks and in a specific rather than generic way.
For the uncovered return leg, the Montreal Convention may still give a remedy for provable financial loss — but that is damages you have to evidence, not a fixed sum.
What a delay on Emirates is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (LHR) → Dubai (DXB) | 5,498 km | UK261 | £520 |
| Dubai (DXB) → London (LHR) | 5,498 km | — | Not covered |
| Paris (CDG) → Dubai (DXB) | 5,239 km | EU261 | €600 |
| Dubai (DXB) → Paris (CDG) | 5,239 km | — | Not covered |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from Emirates, by what happened
- Emirates: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Emirates: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Emirates: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Emirates: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your Emirates flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Emirates yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Emirates: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Emirates?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. Emirates is registered in United Arab Emirates — outside the EU and UK — so only flights leaving Europe are covered.
Does Emirates have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against Emirates?
The limit is set by the country where you bring the claim, which is usually where your flight departed or arrived. In England and Wales it is six years; in most EU countries between two and five.
Where do I send a claim to Emirates?
Emirates takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Emirates, Group Customer Affairs, PO Box 686, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Emirates flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.