Flight Cancellation

Flights occasionally face cancellations that can alter your plans. However, under EU regulations, you could be eligible for compensation up to $650, even if the airline provides an alternative flight. This article explores the details of cancelled flight compensation, helping you understand your rights and how to claim your compensation. Learn all you need to know about securing your flight cancellation reimbursement.

Rules for Compensation for Cancelled Flights:

Passengers flying to or from Europe have specific rights under EC 261 regulations regarding flight cancellations, which can provide compensation up to $650. Eligibility for compensation depends on:

The flight was set to depart from the EU (or to the EU in certain cases).
The airline informed you of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure.
If a replacement flight was taken, the arrival time differed significantly from the original.
The cancellation occurred within the last three years.
You had a confirmed reservation, evidenced by a booking confirmation with details like the flight number and passenger names.
The cancellation was due to reasons within the airline's control (e.g. operational issues, technical problems, or airline staff strikes).

Flight Cancellation Compensation: Understanding Flight Cancellations

A flight is officially classified as cancelled if it doesn't leave the ground. According to the EC 261 regulation, a flight cancellation is defined as "The non-operation of a flight which was previously planned and on which at least one seat was reserved."

Airlines cancel flights for various reasons, including adverse weather conditions or security concerns, which can impact safety.

The good news is that if your flight is cancelled, you may be entitled to compensation under EU regulation EC 261. This compensation can reach up to $650 per flight if certain conditions are met. In the sections that follow, we'll discuss how much compensation you may be eligible for based on your specific circumstances.

It's crucial to differentiate between a canceled flight and a delayed flight. However, if your flight is delayed and you arrive at your destination more than three hours late, you could still be eligible for compensation for the inconvenience.

Flight Cancelled? Here’s What You’re Entitled To

If your flight is cancelled, the airline must give you a choice: a replacement flight or a refund. Additionally, if the cancellation occurs within 14 days of the scheduled departure, you might also be eligible for compensation. The following sections will clarify all your entitlements in case of flight cancellations, ensuring you fully understand your rights.

According to EC 261, airlines must offer passengers three options when a flight is cancelled:

Refund:
- Full or partial refund of your ticket.
- If your journey hasn't started, you receive a full refund.
- If you've already begun traveling, you get a refund for the unused part of your ticket.
- If the cancelled flight makes your previous travel ineffective, you can also get a refund for that portion.
- The airline must also provide a return flight to your original departure point when necessary.
- Refunds must be processed within 7 days.
Earliest Possible Alternative:
- The airline must arrange alternative transport to your final destination as soon as possible, with comparable travel conditions.
Alternative on a Convenient Date:
- You can choose to take an alternative flight to your final destination on a different date, subject to availability and comparable conditions.

Final Destination Note:
If the airline offers to fly you to a different airport, they must arrange transport to your original airport or a nearby location if mutually agreed.

How Much Flight Compensation Can You Claim in the EU?

If an airline cancels your flight with less than 14 days' notice before departure, you may be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation EC 261, which can go up to €600 ($650) per passenger. The exact compensation amount depends on:

Travel Distance: How far your intended journey was.
Flight Location: Whether the flight is within the EU or not.
Length of Delay: How much later the new flight reaches your final destination.
To simplify the compensation details, we have prepared a chart that breaks down the compensation amounts in euros (€) for different flight delays:

Delay (Alternate vs. Original Flight) <2 hours 2-3 hours 3-4 hours >4 hours Never Arrived Distance
All flights ≤ 1,500 km €125 €250 €250 €250 €250
Internal EU flights > 1,500 km €200 €200 €400 €400 €400
Non-internal EU flights 1,500-3,500 km €200 €200 €400 €400 €400
Non-internal EU flights > 3,500 km €300 €300 €300 €600 €600
Compensation may be reduced depending on how much your arrival time is delayed compared to your original flight.

Exceptions: If the airline offers to reroute you, they can avoid paying compensation if:

14 Days: No requirements.
7-13 Days: The new flight departs no more than 2 hours before and arrives less than 4 hours after the original flight.
<7 Days: The new flight departs no more than 1 hour before and arrives less than 2 hours after the original flight.

Your Cancellation Rights Under EC 261

Right to Care: When your flight is canceled, airlines must assist you based on your situation. If you're stranded at the airport, the airline must provide meals, refreshments, and access to communication tools, such as two phone calls, faxes, or emails. For overnight stays, they should provide hotel accommodation and transport to and from the airport.

Upgrading and Downgrading: If your alternative flight places you in a higher class, the airline can't charge you extra. However, if the new flight is in a lower class, you can be reimbursed 30-75% of your original ticket price.

Informing Passengers About Compensation: Airlines are obligated to inform passengers about EC 261. They must display passengers’ rights at check-in counters at every airport they serve.

Further Compensation: Your right to compensation under EC 261 doesn’t limit your ability to seek additional compensation, except when you voluntarily give up your reservation. However, the compensation you receive under EC 261 may be deducted from any further compensation awarded.

Do you Qualify for Compensation

Scope of EC 261 Regulations:

Coverage: EC 261 applies to flights and airlines operating in Europe, regardless of the passenger’s nationality. U.S. travelers have the same rights as European passengers.
Geographic Coverage: Most flights departing from Europe are covered, including flights from the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, La Réunion, Saint-Martin, and EEA nations (Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland).
Eligibility: Flights operated by European carriers are covered if the final destination is within Europe, even if the initial departure was outside Europe.

Flight Coverage by Type:

Within EU to Within EU: Covered for both EU and non-EU airlines.
Within EU to Outside EU: Covered for both EU and non-EU airlines.
Outside EU to Within EU: Covered for EU airlines only.
Outside EU to Outside EU: Not covered.

Extraordinary Circumstances:

Airlines are exempt from compensation if they can prove the flight cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond their control (e.g., lightning strikes, medical emergencies, severe weather, terrorism, or sabotage).
Disputed Cases: Technical issues and operational problems don’t qualify as extraordinary, according to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Staff strikes also don’t qualify as extraordinary.

Connecting Flights and Compensation:

Unified Booking: If your entire journey, including connecting flights, is on a single booking and starts or ends in Europe, EC 261 typically applies to the whole itinerary.
Calculating Compensation: The total distance of your journey may be considered for compensation calculations, but interpretations vary across EU courts.
Further Information: For specifics on connecting flights and compensation, refer to the dedicated page on missed connection compensation or use the flight details tool for a quick assessment.

Here are the main things to know about Flight Cancellation Compensation:

Why Flights Get Cancelled: Sometimes flights are cancelled because of different reasons like bad weather, employee strikes, or airplane problems.
What You Deserve: If your flight is cancelled, you have certain rights. These include getting a new flight, your money back, or compensation in certain situations.
When Airlines Are Responsible: If the airline is at fault for the cancellation, like if the plane has technical issues, you might be owed money according to a law called EU Regulation 261/2004.
How Much Money You Might Get: The money you could get depends on how long the flight was and how early you were told about the cancellation. It could be between €250 and €600 for each person.
What to Do: If your flight is cancelled, reach out to the airline as soon as you can. They might also need to help you with things like food, drinks, and a place to stay.
When Airlines Don't Have to Pay: If the cancellation happened because of really unusual things that the airline can't control, like really bad weather or a strike by air traffic controllers, they might not have to pay you.
How Long You Have: You can ask for compensation for up to three years after the cancellation happened, as per the EU Regulation 261/2004.

What should I do if my flight is cancelled?

Make use of the complimentary food and drinks at the airport
Get the airline to confirm the cause of the cancellation in writing
Collect proof, such as receipts of expenses, vouchers and alternative tickets

If the airline reschedules your flight earlier than the original time, it is considered equivalent to a cancellation, and you are entitled to claim compensation. The sooner the airline informs you about the new schedule, the more likely it is that you won't receive compensation for the changes. Importantly, the price you paid for your ticket and whether you booked a package holiday do not impact your right to claim compensation. All passengers, regardless of the ticket cost or holiday package, are eligible to make a claim.

If the airline notifies you of the flight cancellation with short notice, you may be eligible for compensation. According to the EU Regulation Nr. 261/2004, airlines are required to inform passengers about cancellations at least 14 days before the scheduled departure. If the airline fails to do so, you could be entitled to receive compensation ranging from €250 to €600 per passenger, depending on the distance of the flight. The same rule applies if the airline brings forward the flight at short notice.

If your flight meets the notification periods mentioned above, you may be eligible for compensation provided the following conditions are also fulfilled:

For short distances (up to 1500km), passengers are entitled to €250 compensation.

For medium distances (between 1500km and 3500km), passengers are entitled to €400 compensation.

For long distances (over 3500km), passengers are entitled to €600 compensation.

If all these conditions are met, you will qualify for the following compensation:

The airline is responsible for the cancellation.
You checked in for your flight on time.
Your flight was scheduled to depart from or land in an EU airport, and for the latter, the airline must have its headquarters in the EU.
The flight disruption occurred within the last 6 years.

The rights concerning flight cancellations for UK travellers remain in place and have seen minimal alterations. Passengers departing from or arriving in the UK on a UK-based airline have the opportunity to seek compensation of up to £520 for eligible flight cancellations.

Before Brexit: Under EU regulations, passengers were entitled to compensation for flight cancellations if the airline was responsible and the cancellation occurred within 14 days of the scheduled departure. The compensation amounts were fixed, ranging from €250 to €600 depending on the distance of the flight and the length of the delay caused by the cancellation.

After Brexit (as of my last update in September 2021): The UK has retained similar rules for flight cancellation compensation. Passengers departing from or arriving in the UK on a UK-based airline can still claim compensation for eligible flight cancellations. The maximum compensation amount is £520.

However, a key change is that UK law is now separate from EU law. This means that UK courts are not bound by new judgments from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) after December 31, 2020. Over time, this could lead to divergence between UK and EU regulations, potentially impacting the compensation amounts and rules in the long term.

It's important to note that the specifics of flight cancellation compensation can vary based on factors such as the reason for the cancellation, the distance of the flight, and the length of the delay caused by the cancellation.

Cancelled flights: Re-routing

Under EC 261 (and the new "UK 261" law that took its place), almost all canceled flights are included, except if the airline gives you a 14-day notice beforehand. But there's a trick.

If the airline offers you a different route instead, it doesn't have to pay compensation for the cancellation, but only if certain things are true:

Re-routing advance notice 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 7 Days --- Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hours before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight