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.”