The three rights, separated

Most disputes happen because these get mixed together. They are independent: getting a refund does not cancel a compensation claim, and accepting a rebooking does not cancel your expenses.

  • 1. RefundYour money back for the unused ticket, at the price paid, in cash — not only a voucher. Return to the original point of departure if the cancellation broke a connecting journey.
  • 2. ReroutingA replacement flight at the earliest opportunity, or at a later date at your convenience, at no extra cost.
  • 3. CompensationA fixed statutory amount of €250–€600 depending on distance, payable in addition to the above where the notice and cause conditions are met.

How notice periods change the outcome

This is the single most important factor in a cancellation claim, and the one airlines rely on most often.

Compensation position by notice period, for a cancellation that is not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
When you were toldCompensation
14 days or more before departureGenerally not payable
7–14 days before departurePayable unless rerouting keeps your arrival within 2 hours of the original scheduled time
Less than 7 days before departurePayable unless rerouting keeps your arrival within 1 hour before to 2 hours after the original time
On the day, at the airportPayable, subject to cause

Keep the cancellation message, including its timestamp. If the airline says it notified you by SMS, the delivery time on your phone is your evidence.

Extraordinary circumstances

As with delays, an airline can avoid compensation where the cancellation was caused by circumstances outside its control that could not have been avoided. Severe weather, airspace closure, security threats and political instability are typical examples.

Strikes are not one thing

Industrial action by the airline's own pilots or cabin crew is generally treated as part of the airline's ordinary operations, so compensation usually remains due. Strikes by air traffic control, baggage handlers employed by the airport, or border staff are more often accepted as extraordinary. The distinction turns on who controls the staff.

Even where extraordinary circumstances are established, your rights to a refund, rerouting, meals, communication and accommodation continue to apply.

Recovering the costs of a cancellation

If you had to book your own replacement flight, hotel or meals because the airline failed to provide assistance, you can normally reclaim reasonable, evidenced costs. Keep every receipt and show that the airline did not offer an equivalent.

  • Replacement transport that is comparable and reasonably priced, not a premium upgrade.
  • Hotel nights that were genuinely unavoidable, plus transfers.
  • Meals and refreshments proportionate to the waiting time.

Our evidence checklist lists what to keep. For the letter itself, use the claim letter builder.

What to do, in order

  1. Do not accept the first offer under pressure. You are entitled to choose refund or rerouting. A voucher is only valid if you accept it knowingly.
  2. Record the notice. Screenshot the email or SMS with its timestamp.
  3. Ask for the reason in writing. A one-line "operational reasons" is not an extraordinary circumstance explanation.
  4. Claim compensation separately. State the regulation, the distance band and the amount.
  5. Escalate. The national enforcement body for the departure country, or the CAA in the UK, if the airline refuses without justification.

Frequently asked questions

Is a "schedule change" the same as a cancellation?

Not automatically. A significant schedule change that moves your flight by many hours can be treated similarly in practice, but a formal cancellation is clearer. If the airline moves your flight and you cannot travel, you can generally still claim a refund.

Can I claim if I accepted a voucher?

Accepting a voucher for the ticket value does not automatically waive statutory compensation. Say in writing that you accept the voucher for the fare and reserve your compensation claim.

What about the return leg only?

Each cancelled flight on a single booking is assessed. If your return leg is cancelled, the claim relates to that leg's distance and route.

Official sources