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Cancelled flight: compensation and your rights

If the airline cancels less than 14 days before departure, EU and UK rules give each passenger up to €250, €400 or €600 (EU) or up to £220, £350 or £520 (UK), unless extraordinary circumstances caused it. You also choose between a refund and another flight.

Checked 9 Oct

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What you can get under EU Regulation 261/2004
Flight distanceCompensation per person
Up to 1,500 kmup to €250
Between 1,500 and 3,500 kmup to €400
Over 3,500 kmup to €600

A flight over 3,500 km between two EU airports falls in the middle band: up to €400. If you are offered a new flight that arrives close to the original time, the amount can be halved (article 7(2)).

What you can get under the UK rules (UK 261)
Flight distanceCompensation per person
Up to 1,500 kmup to £220
Between 1,500 and 3,500 kmup to £350
Over 3,500 kmup to £520

For flights leaving the UK, and UK airlines flying there, in the same cases as in the EU.

With 14 days' notice or more there is no compensation. With less, an early enough replacement flight can reduce or remove it. The refund or new flight is owed whatever the reason.

Details

EU Regulation 261/2004: Fixed compensation of €250-€600 plus care, re-routing and refunds for flights from the EU, or into it on EU airlines.

UK Regulation 261: The UK's retained version of EU261, with compensation of £220-£520 in pounds sterling.

Air Passenger Protection Regulations: Compensation of up to CA$2,400 and standards of treatment for any flight to, from or within Canada.

SHY-YOLCU Passenger Regulation: Compensation of €100-€600 for cancellations and denied boarding on flights from Türkiye.

DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements: Up to ₹10,000 when a flight to, from or within India is cancelled at short notice, up to ₹20,000 for denied boarding, and meals and a hotel while you wait.

US DOT Consumer Protections: Automatic cash refunds for cancellations and significant changes, and compensation for involuntary denied boarding.

Montreal Convention 1999: Airline liability for baggage and proven losses on international flights, capped in Special Drawing Rights.

Vouchers instead of money

Compensation must be paid in money: in cash, by bank transfer or by cheque. The airline can pay it in travel vouchers only if you agree in writing (Regulation 261/2004, article 7(3)). You can refuse a voucher and still claim the money.

Compensation, refund and expenses are different

Compensation is a fixed amount for the delay or cancellation itself. A refund gives you back the price of your ticket when you don't fly, or you choose a new flight instead. Expenses are what you paid for meals, a hotel or transport the airline should have provided; keep the receipts. You can be owed more than one of these for the same flight.

What to keep

Keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation; the time you actually arrived, which counts from when the aircraft doors open (C-452/13); a photo of the departures board; the reason for the disruption, asked for in writing; receipts for meals, hotel and transport; and every email or message from the airline.

Claiming on your own, for free

You can claim for free without us: write to the airline first. If it refuses or doesn't answer, you can complain to the national enforcement body (in Romania, ANPC) or ask the European Consumer Centre in your country for help (in Romania, ECC Romania), also for free. It makes sense to come to us when the airline has refused or ignored your claim, or when you would rather not deal with it yourself.

By airline

By Romanian airport

Other flight problems

Questions people ask

Questions

How much do I get for a delayed or cancelled flight?

Under the EU rules, per person: up to €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, up to €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km and up to €600 for longer flights. Under the UK rules: up to £220, up to £350 or up to £520.

Can I ask for money instead of a voucher?

Yes. Compensation is paid in money. You get a voucher only if you agree in writing (Regulation 261/2004, article 7(3)).

What are extraordinary circumstances?

Events outside the airline's control, such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or security risks. Technical problems with the aircraft usually don't count. The airline has to show the event caused the delay.

Does the airline owe me food or a hotel?

Under EU and UK rules, yes, while you wait for a delayed or cancelled flight: meals and drinks in proportion to the wait, and a hotel with transport if you are stuck overnight. That is separate from compensation.

How far back can I claim?

It depends on the country whose courts would hear the claim. On many EU routes it is several years. The check tells you for your flight.

What does FlyHandled cost?

Checking your flight is free. If we handle the claim, the fee is 25% of what the airline pays, VAT included, plus 15% only if it goes to court, and nothing if it pays nothing.

Sources19
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