An unexpected flight cancellation can be incredibly stressful and frustrating. Cancelled flights can disrupt travel plans and lead to financial losses, making it crucial for travelers to understand their compensation rights. Luckily, the European Union has Regulation 261/2004 to protect passengers in such cases. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, passengers are entitled to compensation of up to €600, as well as assistance from the airline.
In this article, we will consider your rights as a passenger and how to claim compensation from the airline.
Canceled Flight? You may be entitled to as much as €600 in canceled flight compensation (EU)
Passenger Rights in Case of Flight Cancellation
In this stressful situation, it is very important to understand your rights as a passenger under EU Regulation 261/2004. The Regulation includes basic safety measures, such as:
- Refund: A passenger has a right to a full refund of the ticket’s price, including extra expenses and service fee;
- Alternative flight: The airline company must offer you an alternative flight (re-routing) to your point of final destination.
- Compensation: Passengers may be entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight of up to €600 if the flight is cancelled at short notice due to the airline’s fault;
- Right to care: The airline must provide meals, refreshments, means of communication (phone calls or e-mail), and hotel accommodation if necessary. Care must be provided based on the waiting time at the airport;
- Denied boarding: Passengers who are involuntarily denied boarding, for example due to overbooking, are also legally entitled to compensation under EU261.
Compensation rights also apply if your flight is delayed, if you miss a connecting flight, or if the scheduled departure time or scheduled flight is changed. The airline operating the flight is responsible for providing compensation and care, and your air passenger rights are protected under both EU and UK law. Compensation eligibility is determined by the actual time the flight arrives at the final destination compared to the scheduled arrival time.
When Are You Entitled to Flight Cancellation Compensation?
Understanding the requirements for compensation claims is key to a successful solution to a frustrating situation. Sure, the entire process is quite intricate, and you have to know diverse conditions to win your flight compensation reimbursement. Here are the major factors to consider:
- Your flight should have taken off in the European Union; in some cases, the flights that are heading to the EU also qualify;
- You received the notification from the airline company less than 14 days before the flight departure. Note that if the airline company fails to notify you on time, you can expect a reimbursement ranging from €250 to €600;
- If you decided to take advantage of the alternative flight, however, your arrival time was substantially different from the original time. Compensation eligibility is based on the scheduled arrival time and the actual arrival time, and delays of three hours or more at the final destination qualify for compensation;
- If your outbound flight is cancelled or delayed by more than five hours, you are entitled to a full refund and compensation;
- You had proof of the confirmed flight reservation — a booking confirmation that also indicates the flight number and the passengers’ name. A booking reference or other flight details are required to make a claim;
- The reason for the flight cancellation is within the control of the airline, such as strikes by airline personnel, operational circumstances, or technical difficulties. The airline’s responsibility and control over the cause of cancellation or delay is a key factor in determining compensation eligibility. Airlines must take reasonable measures to avoid or mitigate disruptions, and compensation may not be due if all reasonable measures were taken.
If your flight was delayed, cancelled or brought forward by the airline, you may still be eligible for compensation depending on the circumstances. The ticket price does not affect your right to compensation. Delays of two hours, four hours, more than four hours, or more than five hours can trigger additional rights to care and assistance.
Just in case, keep in mind this useful tip: before claiming flight cancellation compensation, check your email inbox’s “spam” or “clutter” folders, since airline notices (e.g., cancellation ones) may get up there mistakenly.
Flight Cancellation Compensation
According to EU Regulation 261/2004, passengers are entitled to compensation of up to €600 for a canceled flight if the airline did not notify them at least 14 days before the scheduled departure. However, the airline may be exempt from paying compensation if it offers an alternative flight to the final destination.
Check out the conditions that an alternative flight must meet in the table below:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
Nonetheless, in case you agree on the alternative or replacement flight, even if it is operated by the same airline, you may still be eligible for compensation if the flight arrives more than three hours late at your final point of destination compared to the original scheduled arrival time. The amount of compensation depends on the flight’s distance and the time of delay.
In the table, you can see more details:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
| €125 | €250 | €250 | €250 | €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| €300 | €300 | €300 | €600 | €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
The key factor for compensation is the number of hours by which the flight arrives late at the final destination compared to the scheduled arrival time. If your flight arrives later than scheduled, you may be entitled to compensation under EU261.
Which Flights Are Covered by EU261?
The EU Regulation 261/2004 applies to any scheduled flight departing from an airport in the European Union, as well as to scheduled flights arriving at an EU airport if they are operated by an EU airline. Air passenger rights are protected under this regulation, ensuring compensation and assistance in cases such as denied boarding, delays, or cancellations. In addition, these rules also apply to airlines from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
See the table below to learn more:
| Itinerary | EU Air Carrier | Non-EU Air Carrier |
| From inside the EU to inside the EU | ✅ Covered | ✅ Covered |
| From inside the EU to outside the EU | ✅ Covered | ✅ Covered |
| From outside the EU to inside the EU | ✅ Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
| From outside the EU to outside the EU | ❌ Not Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
Extraordinary Circumstances Are Not Covered
Importantly, according to Regulation 261/2004, a passenger cannot claim delay compensation if any extraordinary circumstances occur. Whether the cause of the disruption was within the airline’s control is a key factor in determining compensation eligibility. These circumstances cover the conditions/events outside the airline company’s control. Check out the examples in the list below:
- Bad weather;
- Airport or union strikes;
- Air traffic control strikes;
- Bird strikes;
- Restrictions set by air traffic controllers (e.g., runway closure) and other air traffic control restrictions;
- Political and civil unrest;
- Security risks/threats at the airport.
In such cases, airlines must demonstrate that they took all reasonable measures to avoid or mitigate the disruption, such as rebooking or offering alternative transportation, before they can be exempt from paying compensation.
How to Claim Flight Cancellation Compensation
Although the procedure for claiming compensation looks simple, it can actually be quite complicated due to the numerous requirements and the need for proper documentation. We will help you avoid mistakes and accompany you at every stage. Here’s what you need to do to start the process:
- Fill in the form: Our compensation claim form is very easy and convenient, yet it will ask you to provide all the critical information. You will need to share such details as flight number, date, specific details about your issue, and also contact information.
- Get help from our specialists: Right after you fill out the form, our expert employee will work on your case. Our team of professionals is keen on the EU laws and flight passenger rights. And if your case is more complicated and requires legal action, we cooperate with lawyers who will take care of all airline claims procedures, including necessary follow-ups and appeals, on your behalf. Besides, we apply the No-win, no-fee approach in our work, meaning that you do not have to pay anything until we successfully solve your case.
FAQ
In most cases, flight cancellations due to bad weather are considered an extraordinary circumstance beyond the airline’s control. However, if the bad weather was foreseeable and other airlines canceled their flights in advance, you may be entitled to compensation if the airline did not take reasonable measures to avoid the cancellation.
To answer this question, it is important to know from what country you are making your claim. People mostly have up to 3 years starting from the date of the cancellation and up to flight claim compensation. Yet, some countries give passengers only 2 months to claim, while others generously give you up to 10 years. Therefore, it is important to act fast, when cancellations happen.
This fully depends on a few factors: the country of departure (you may get as much as $650 in the EU, while in Brazil, it can be up to $1,300); the flight distance, delay length, and whether you received notification about cancellation or not.
Yes, you can! One of the airline’s options in case of a flight cancellation is to offer you an alternative ticket. You can either accept it or ask for a refund instead. Additionally, in some cases, you can also get a reimbursement but your flight must be eligible for that. If the airline does not provide a suitable alternative, they are required to compensate passengers.
So, you must know that you have a right to get a refund in case of a flight cancellation. Vouchers are considered to be an alternative to a refund, however, the airline company must be sure that you are okay with getting a voucher instead of a refund. For that reason, read the fine print first before accepting a voucher. The compensation or refund offered should have a reasonable relation to the inconvenience caused. And if they continue ignoring your emails, don’t get upset as they may have hundreds of requests and their processing takes time. Just keep messaging them.
Yes, you are eligible for compensation! The thing is that after Brexit, the United Kingdom decided to adopt the European Union law. By doing so, passengers now have the same protection under the United Kingdom regulations.
To get compensation, you need to check if your flight qualifies under EU Regulation 261/2004: it must be cancelled less than 14 days before departure and the airline must be at fault. Then, fill out the airline’s complaint form or use a professional compensation service. Provide all necessary documents, such as booking confirmation, flight details, and delay/cancellation notices.
In the United States, airlines are not legally required to provide compensation for flight cancellations. However, if the airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full refund if you choose not to travel – regardless of the reason. Compensation may only apply in specific cases such as being bumped due to overbooking.
It depends on the timing and cause of cancellation. If your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure and the airline is responsible, you are entitled to compensation and a refund or re-routing. If the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances, only a refund or alternative flight may be offered.
You will need:
- Booking confirmation (with passenger name and flight number);
- Proof of cancellation (email/SMS from the airline);
- Boarding pass (if available);
- Any receipts for additional expenses (for care reimbursement);
- ID or passport for identification.
After Brexit, the UK adopted its own version of EU261. You are entitled to compensation of up to £520 for eligible flights cancelled at short notice. The same rules apply: the airline must be at fault and the flight must either depart from a UK airport or arrive in the UK on a UK airline.