How January Flight Delays Can Disrupt Your New Year Savings Goals

New year, new finances? January is when many people have a financial reset, with new budgets and savings goals for the new year after the expense of Christmas; in fact, according to Google trend data, searches for “savings challenge” have risen by 454% in the past month. But for travelers, flight disruption can quietly disrupt your savings goals before you’ve even had a chance to start.

Exclusive data from Confused.com reveals that flight cancellations and delays can cost you more than £700 in additional costs, and how to make it easier to claim the compensation you’re entitled to, to keep your savings goals on track.

COMPENSATION RARELY COVERS THE TRUE COST

Costs can very quickly add up when flights are delayed or cancelled, from finding last-minute replacement flights, to missed non-refundable bookings, and lost income from work. Even if you are successful when claiming compensation, these costs are often not covered; unfortunately, compensation is given to acknowledge the inconvenience you faced, not to reimburse your costs.

According to Confused.com’s survey of 2,000 passengers, passengers were awarded an average up to £365 for cancelled flights, yet almost 37% reported losing more than £700 in additional costs, meaning that many are losing almost double what they’re getting back.

THE FINANCIAL KNOCK-ON EFFECT CAN LAST FOR MONTHS

Losing money due to travel disruptions is a tough blow at any time, but it can feel even worse in January, when your budget is often already a little tight, and the knock-on effect can last for months.

Your new savings goals for the year are often still a little fragile at the start of the year, when you haven’t had time to fully establish your plans, and a sudden financial blow at the start of the year can make it hard to regain momentum, especially if you’re having to dip into emergency funds to pay for the additional costs of a disrupted flight.

CHRISTMAS STRESS RAISES THE FINANCIAL IMPACT

After the stress of Christmas, and the post-holiday fatigue that often follows, travel disruption in January can feel even more stressful than ever.

Confused.com’s data showed that 33% gave up on their claim or chose not to pursue one at all because they didn’t know they had the right to claim, and 1 in 5 (20%) avoided it due to the stress involved in the process.

Of the 18,397 complaints recorded between 2021 to summer 2025, 45% of those were upheld in favor of passengers, while just 16% were resolved in the airline’s favor.

With the majority of these cases ruling in favor of the passenger, it’s interesting to consider how many others could be successful if taking this approach as well.

HOW TO MAKE IT EASIER

“If your flight is delayed or cancelled you may be owed compensation, but many passengers simply don’t know where to start. Understanding what you can claim for and how to approach your airline can make a real difference.”, says Alvaro Iturmendi, Confused.com travel insurance expert.

To help passengers, the team behind Confused.com travel insurance has launched an airline delay compensation calculator for EU/UK flights and airlines that provides everything needed to pursue a claim. Just enter your flight number to see how much you could be owed, along with a clear overview of the airline’s delay and compensation policy. This personalized experience means passengers can understand their rights, avoid unnecessary stress, and take action before it’s too late.

· Claim as soon as possible. Starting early makes your case stronger, so rather than waiting until you get home, submit your claim as soon as you can, while the details are still fresh in your mind.

· Screenshot departure boards and notifications of delays and cancellations so you can use them if your claims are disputed by the airline.

·  Avoid phone conversations, and keep all communication in writing; emails, transcriptions of live-chats, and online claim forms create a paper trail that is much easier to use when escalating a claim.

· Don’t give up if your claim is rejected initially. According to Confused.com’s study, almost 30% cases ended with no clear resolution, often because passengers withdrew, settled directly with the airline, or the case fell short of CAA criteria according to the research.