Martin Lewis advice could see you get up to £500 for every delayed flight you've had in the last six years

Martin Lewis has issued advice that could see you refunded thousands when it comes to delayed flights you might have endured over the years.

Every week, Lewis sends out his Money Saving Expert newsletter full of his latest tips and tricks when it comes to saving a few quid here and a tenner there.

Often, you can save a whole lot more than that too. And that's certainly the case in the latest edition from Lewis himself where all things concerning flight compensation are being discussed.

Can I claim money for cancelled or delayed flights?

The long and short of this is, yes. But when we get more nuanced, it obviously isn't that simple.

Summer holidays are now behind us. But that doesn't mean you can't claim back a few pennies when it comes to delays you might have suffered when flying to and from your destination of choice.

If that is you, you could be owed hundreds. In fact, you might even be owed as much as £520 per ticket. Hardly loose change.

And the best thing is, even if your trip went as planned this summer - or maybe you didn't even take one - it doesn't matter. You can claim for delays that happened up to six years ago.

One MSE reader called Celia emailed Lewis in early September, saying: "My Heathrow to Barcelona flight was cancelled at 9pm the day before due to 'operational constraints'. We were put on the next flight.

"I used your tool, and have received an email today confirming a successful claim totalling £440 for me and my son. Thank you very much, I am delighted."

Listen to Martin Lewis (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Does my flight qualify for compensation?

To be entitled to compensation in the first place, the flight must be regulated by either the United Kingdom or European Union, which use the same rules.

Therefore any flight leaving a UK or EU airport fits the bill, as well as any UK or EU airline arriving at a UK or EU airport. In the latter instance here, if you're travelling back to the UK from the USA and it is delayed, your flight is qualified if it is, say, British Airways or Aer Lingus. If it was American Airlines, it wouldn't be covered.

The flight has to be from the last six years. This is five years for those in Scotland. And critically, the reason for the delay has to be the airline's fault. Bad weather would not qualify but a shortage of staff would.

Delayed flights could see you pocket hundreds in compensation (Getty Stock Images)

How much could I be owed for a delayed or cancelled flight?

Lewis writes that a lot of people are unaware of their legal right to up to £520 per person compensation. That is 'if the airline is at fault', he stresses.

Any compensation is on top of any refund, alternative flight or food reimbursement that you are offered or given.

To be entitled to compensation, you must arrive at your destination more than three hours after you were scheduled to. If you set off four hours late but make up time in the air so you land less than three hours after the estimated time, you cannot claim.

For flights up to 1,500km that are delayed by three hours, you can claim £220 per ticket.

For flights £1,500km to 3,500km that are delayed by three hours, you can claim £350 per ticket.

And for flights travelling more than 3,500km, you can claim £260 for a delay between three and four hours. This will be £520 per ticket if the delay goes over the four hour mark.