Skip to content

Flight cancelled less than 14 days before: what you get

If the airline tells you less than 14 days before departure that your flight is cancelled, EU rules give each passenger up to €250, up to €400 or up to €600 by distance, unless extraordinary circumstances caused it or the airline offered a new flight close to your times. You also choose between your money back and another flight.

Checked 9 Oct

Check your flight for free

Enter the flight number and the date. We tell you what you are owed.

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)).

When a new flight removes the compensation

Told between 7 and 14 days before: nothing is owed if the new flight leaves at most 2 hours before your old time and arrives less than 4 hours after it. Told less than 7 days before: nothing if it leaves at most 1 hour earlier and arrives less than 2 hours later (article 5(1)(c)).

When it is half

If the new flight arrives within 2 hours (flights up to 1,500 km), 3 hours (1,500 to 3,500 km) or 4 hours (longer flights) of your old arrival time, the airline may pay half (article 7(2)).

Who has to prove when you were told

The airline. If it says it told you in time, it has to show when and how (article 5(4)). Keep the email or text message with its date.

Your money back or another flight, whatever the reason

Even when no compensation is owed, you choose between a refund of your ticket within 7 days and another flight to your destination, as soon as possible or on a later date you choose (article 8). While you wait for a new flight, the airline owes you meals and, overnight, a hotel (article 9).

Other flight problems

Questions

Are the 14 days counted from the booking or from departure?

From the scheduled departure. If you booked 10 days before the flight and it was cancelled after that, you were told less than 14 days before in any case.

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.

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.

Sources5
All flight guides