Was your flight cancelled? Here's what you need to know
If your airline cancelled your flight, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004. This European law protects passengers on all flights departing from EU airports, as well as flights arriving in the EU operated by European airlines.
Flight cancellations affect millions of passengers every year across Europe. According to Eurostat data, over 2% of scheduled flights were cancelled in 2024 alone, impacting hundreds of thousands of travellers. The good news? Most of these passengers are entitled to financial compensation, but relatively few actually claim it.
In this comprehensive guide, we explain everything you need to know: when you're entitled, how much you can get, what to do step by step, and how to handle airline refusals.
When are you entitled to compensation?
The key factor is the notice period how far in advance the airline informed you of the cancellation:
| Notice given | Entitled? | Exception |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 7 days | Yes, almost always | Unless alternative arrives within 2 hours of original |
| 7 to 14 days | Yes, with exceptions | Unless alternative meets specific timing requirements |
| More than 14 days | No | Airline gave sufficient notice |
Less than 7 days' notice (or no notice)
This is the most common scenario and the most favourable for passengers. You're entitled to full compensation unless the airline offers an alternative flight that meets both conditions:
- Departs no more than 1 hour before the original departure time
- Arrives no more than 2 hours after the original arrival time
Practical example: your AmsterdamRome flight was scheduled for 14:00 arriving 16:30. The airline cancels it the day before and offers a flight at 13:15 arriving 18:00. Since the arrival is only 1 hour 30 minutes later (within the 2-hour window), you would not be entitled. But if the arrival were at 19:00, you'd have full right to compensation.
7 to 14 days' notice
You're still entitled to compensation unless the alternative flight:
- Departs no more than 2 hours before the original time AND
- Arrives no more than 4 hours after the original time
More than 14 days' notice
No monetary compensation, but you're still entitled to a full refund or an alternative flight at no extra cost.
How much compensation can you get?
Compensation is based on the great circle distance (straight line) between the departure and arrival airports:
| Tier | Distance | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Short-haul | Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| Medium-haul | 1,500 3,500 km | €400 |
| Long-haul | Over 3,500 km | €600 |
Common route examples
| Route | Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| London LHR Paris CDG | 340 km | €250 |
| Amsterdam AMS Barcelona BCN | 1,240 km | €250 |
| Dublin DUB Berlin BER | 1,290 km | €250 |
| London LHR Athens ATH | 2,390 km | €400 |
| Paris CDG Istanbul IST | 2,240 km | €400 |
| Amsterdam AMS Marrakech RAK | 2,300 km | €400 |
| London LHR New York JFK | 5,570 km | €600 |
| Amsterdam AMS Dubai DXB | 5,150 km | €600 |
| Paris CDG Bangkok BKK | 9,430 km | €600 |
Don't calculate manually! Use our free calculator to find your exact amount in seconds.
Connecting flights
If you have a single booking with a connection, the distance is calculated between the initial departure point and the final destination, not the individual legs. This often works in your favour.
Example: London Amsterdam Bangkok on a single booking = London Bangkok distance (9,530 km) = €600
Your immediate rights at the airport
Beyond monetary compensation, the airline must offer you immediate assistance when your flight is cancelled:
Choice between refund and re-routing
The airline must give you one of these options (your choice, not theirs):
-
Full refund within 7 working days for the unused portion of the ticket. If you've already completed part of your journey and the cancellation makes the trip pointless, you're also entitled to a free return flight to your original departure point.
-
Re-routing to your destination at the earliest opportunity, with any airline even a competitor.
-
Re-booking at a later date of your convenience, subject to seat availability.
Beware of vouchers! Airlines may push vouchers instead of cash refunds. You are never obligated to accept them. A cash refund is your legal right. Vouchers carry risks: the airline could go bankrupt, the voucher could expire, or conditions might change.
Care during the wait
If you opt for re-routing and need to wait at the airport, the airline must provide free of charge:
- Meals and refreshments proportionate to the waiting time
- 2 phone calls, faxes, or emails free of charge
- Hotel accommodation if the next available flight is the following day
- Transport to and from the hotel
If the airline doesn't provide care
It's unfortunately common especially with low-cost carriers for airlines to fail to provide adequate care. If this happens:
- Arrange things yourself at a reasonable cost (airport restaurant, nearby hotel, taxi)
- Keep all receipts restaurant bills, hotel invoices, taxi receipts
- Claim reimbursement from the airline alongside your compensation claim
Step-by-step: how to claim your compensation
Step 1: Document everything at the airport
When you discover your flight is cancelled, act immediately:
- Photograph the departure board showing the cancellation
- Request a written cancellation confirmation from the airline desk (they're legally required to provide this!)
- Ask the airline to state the reason for cancellation in writing
- Keep your booking confirmation (email or screenshot)
- Keep your boarding pass if already issued
- Record actual times: when you were informed, when the alternative departed, when you actually arrived
- Keep all receipts for expenses: meals, hotel, transport, phone calls
Step 2: Calculate your compensation
Use our free calculator to determine exactly how much you're owed. Just enter departure and arrival airports.
Step 3: Generate your claim letter
Our complaint letter generator creates a professional claim letter in seconds, complete with legal references to Regulation 261/2004, the specific amount you're claiming, and your flight details.
Step 4: Submit your claim
- Use the airline's online complaint form (often required as the first step)
- Alternatively, send via email with delivery/read receipt
- As a last resort, send by registered post to the airline's registered office
Step 5: Wait for a response
Airlines typically have around 6 weeks to respond. Possible outcomes:
- Acceptance: the airline agrees and processes payment (bank transfer or cheque)
- Reasoned rejection: the airline cites extraordinary circumstances evaluate whether the reason is legitimate
- No response: treated as an implicit rejection proceed to escalation
Step 6: Escalate if necessary
If the airline refuses or doesn't respond:
- National Enforcement Body (NEB): contact the aviation authority in the country of departure
- UK: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
- Germany: Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA)
- Netherlands: ILT
- France: DGAC
- EU ODR platform: online dispute resolution (ec.europa.eu/odr)
- Small claims court: for amounts up to €5,000, you can typically proceed without a lawyer
- Claim companies: services like AirHelp or Flightright handle claims for 25-35% commission
Extraordinary circumstances: when airlines are exempt
The airline can refuse compensation only if the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances events truly beyond its control that couldn't have been avoided even with all reasonable measures.
Events that ARE extraordinary circumstances:
- Extreme weather: violent storms, volcanic eruptions, heavy snowfall making operations impossible. Note: ordinary bad weather (rain, moderate wind, light fog) is not sufficient
- Security threats: terrorist threats, suspicious objects, airport evacuation
- Political instability: wars, coups, civil unrest at the destination
- Air traffic control strikes: external to the airline
- Bird strikes: confirmed as extraordinary by the CJEU (case C-315/15)
Events that are NOT extraordinary (airline MUST pay):
- Technical problems: mechanical faults, system malfunctions maintenance is the airline's responsibility (Wallentin-Hermann ruling, case C-549/07)
- Airline staff strikes: pilots, cabin crew, ground staff internal disputes
- Staff shortages: crew illness, absence, or exceeding duty time limits
- Operational decisions: aircraft rotation delays, cascading delays
- Commercial reasons: flight cancelled because too few passengers were booked
Key insight: if the airline cites "technical reasons" or "operational issues" as an excuse not to pay, you likely still have a valid claim. European courts have been crystal clear: technical problems are not extraordinary circumstances.
Low-cost airlines: your rights are identical
Whether you fly with Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Vueling, or Volotea, your rights under Regulation 261/2004 are exactly the same as with legacy carriers like British Airways or Lufthansa. The compensation is the same regardless of the ticket price even a €9.99 Ryanair ticket entitles you to €250, €400, or €600.
Special cases
Cancellation of the return flight
If the outbound flight is fine but the return flight is cancelled, you can claim compensation for the return leg. Each flight generates separate rights.
Package holiday flights
If the cancelled flight was part of a package holiday, you can claim both Regulation 261/2004 compensation (from the airline) and remedies under the Package Travel Directive 2015/2302 (from the tour operator).
Code-share flights
If you booked with airline A but the flight was operated by airline B (code-sharing), submit your claim to the operating airline (the one that actually flew the aircraft).
FAQ
Can I claim both compensation and a ticket refund?
Yes. If the flight is cancelled and you choose a full refund (instead of re-routing), you're still entitled to compensation separately. They're different things: the refund returns your ticket cost; the compensation is a flat-rate payment for the inconvenience.
How long do I have to claim?
This varies by country. In the UK, you have 6 years. In Germany, 3 years. In the Netherlands, 2 years. Don't wait fresher evidence means stronger claims.
My airline offered me a voucher. Should I accept?
That's your choice, but you're not obligated to accept a voucher. You have the legal right to compensation in cash. Vouchers carry risks including expiry dates, restrictions, and the possibility of airline insolvency.
Can I claim for my whole family?
Yes. Compensation is per passenger. If a family of 4 has a cancelled London-Paris flight, the total compensation is €250 4 = €1,000.
The airline says "technical reasons" do I still have a claim?
Almost certainly yes. The CJEU has ruled multiple times that technical problems (mechanical faults, system issues) are not extraordinary circumstances. The airline is responsible for maintaining its aircraft.
Conclusion
Don't give up if your flight was cancelled. The data shows that passengers who submit formal claims have a high probability of receiving compensation. The process is simpler than you might think, and your rights are clearly defined by European law.
Get started now:
- Calculate your compensation in seconds
- Generate a professional claim letter
- Send your claim and get what you're owed