Holiday firms cheat passengers out of millions in delay compensation while paying out to others who were on the same plane

HOL firms cheat fliers out of millions in delay compo while paying others on the same plane, a Sun probe shows.

Passengers held up for more than three hours can get up to £520 under EU laws.

But firms use loopholes to snub some claims — by blaming lateness on factors such as bad weather.

Andy Hughes, 38, got £1,068 after he, wife Karen, 33, and son Jack, five, had a 24-hour delay on a TUI Luton-Lanzarote trip.

Yet TUI snubbed his claim for in-laws Janet and Terrence Warburton — on the same flight — citing poor weather.

Armed forces worker Andy, of Maidenhead, Berks, said: “Did TUI think they could fob them off as they’re in their 60s?

"I went to a claims dispute service and won.”
Thomson Airways denied Margaret Gibb, 65, of Aberdeenshire, compo after her Mexico-Gatwick jet was seven hours late.

Yet law firm Bott & Co told her it got payouts for 11 fellow travellers.

TUI said: “We continually review how we handle claims.”

Thomas Cook said: “If fliers are entitled to payments, we ensure they can easily submit claims.”