Travel question of the day: Simon Calder on the statute of limitations for flight compensation claims

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Spanair went out of business in 2012 (Shutterstock)

Q I travelled from Banjul to London Gatwick via Barcelona in 2009 with my two young sons. When we arrived at Gatwick to return to Gambia, our flight was initially delayed, then cancelled. We were told we would be put on the next flight the following morning. We got seats on a flight going to Barcelona. On arrival, we were passed around until I went to the Spanair desk to be met by a very rude woman who told me that we would have to buy new tickets. I did this because I did not know what else to do. I want to claim for the delays from Gatwick resulting in me having to buy three single tickets to get us from Spain to Banjul.

Donna Rodney

A Sorry – it's too late. I infer that you were putting together two separate flights: one from Gatwick to Barcelona, and another (on Spanair) from Barcelona to Banjul. In that case, Spanair would probably be correct in insisting you bought another ticket (I can't ask, because the carrier has gone out of business).

You could have made a claim against the Gatwick-Barcelona airline for EC-stipulated compensation of €250 (£195) per person, but that entitlement expired last year under the English statute of limitations.

All I can do is suggest that if you experience travel disruption in future, you act promptly to secure any compensation that is due to you.

Every day, our travel correspondent Simon Calder tackles a reader's question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder