Flight Cancelled? Claim Your Flight Cancellation Compensation Today!
If your flight is cancelled, you have the right to a full ticket refund, a replacement flight, and in some cases financial compensation. At Refundmyflight.co.uk, we've been helping air passengers claim their money back since 2010.
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Flight Cancellation Compensation: What You Need to Know
- Flights can be cancelled for various reasons, including airline staff strikes, technical problems, or bad weather.
- If the airline is responsible for the cancellation, UK and EU regulations allow you to claim up to £520 in compensation per passenger.
- If your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, you could be entitled to up to £520 under British and EU law.
- Didn't accept an alternative flight from the airline? You have the right to request a full cash refund — avoid accepting vouchers!
- In the UK, you have up to 6 years to claim your flight compensation and refund.
Alexander Hawley
Air passenger rights expert
What is Cancelled Flight Compensation?
A flight cancellation happens when an airline decides not to operate a scheduled flight, causing major disruptions for passengers. Cancellations can occur for many reasons, including technical problems, bad weather, air traffic control restrictions, operational issues, strikes, security concerns, low passenger bookings, financial difficulties, or adjustments to the airline's flight schedule.
When a flight is cancelled, passengers have the right to either a full ticket refund or a rebooking. If the airline is responsible for the cancellation, you may also be entitled to claim flight cancellation compensation.
When Can You Claim Compensation for a Cancelled Flight?
The key factor is when the airline informed you about the cancellation. If your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before the scheduled departure, you are likely entitled to compensation.
Two other important conditions apply:
- Reason for cancellation: The cancellation must be due to the airline's responsibility, not due to extraordinary circumstances (explained below).
- Alternative flight details: The conditions of the alternative flight offered determine your eligibility.
Here's a quick overview:
| Cancellation Notice | Alternative Flight Offered | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 7 days in advance | Departs more than 1h earlier or arrives 2h later | Yes |
| 7–14 days in advance | Departs more than 2h earlier or arrives 4h later | Yes |
| Less than 14 days in advance | No alternative flight offered | Yes + refund |
Extraordinary Circumstances Are Not Eligible for Compensation
Airlines can avoid paying flight cancellation compensation if they prove that the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances — events beyond their control. In these cases, airlines argue that the cancellation was unavoidable even if all reasonable steps had been taken.
Examples of extraordinary circumstances include lightning strikes, medical emergencies, severe weather conditions, sabotage, or acts of terrorism.
However, not everything qualifies: The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has confirmed that "technical difficulties" and "operational issues" are not considered extraordinary circumstances. In addition, following a ruling in March 2021, strikes by airline staff are also not classified as extraordinary circumstances — meaning passengers can still claim compensation if a cancellation was due to a staff strike.
Can You Claim Compensation and a Refund When Flying to a Non-EU Country?
British and EU regulations cover most flights to and from the UK and EU. The main exception: if you're flying to the UK or EU with a non-UK/non-EU airline, you are not eligible for compensation. For example, flights from the United States with an American airline like United Airlines would not qualify.
Here's a quick guide:
| Type of Flight | Example | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Flying with a British carrier | Tokyo to London with British Airways | Yes |
| Flying with an EU carrier | Amsterdam to London with KLM | Yes |
| Flying with a non-UK/non-EU carrier from the UK | London to Tokyo with Japan Airlines | Yes |
| Flying with a non-UK/non-EU carrier to the UK | Tokyo to London with Japan Airlines | No |
How Much Compensation Can You Receive for a Cancelled Flight?
The amount of compensation you can claim depends on the flight distance. Here's what you could be entitled to:
Up to 1,500 km
Up to £220
E.g., London - Paris, Madrid - Barcelona
1,500 km to 3,500 km
Up to £350
E.g., London - Istanbul, Paris - Athens
Over 3,500 km
Up to £520
E.g., London - New York, Paris - Dubai
When Can You Claim a Refund for a Cancelled Flight?
If your flight was cancelled, you are entitled to a full ticket refund if you either chose not to accept an alternative flight or if the airline didn't offer you any alternative at all. We can help you secure your refund quickly and easily!
Flight Cancelled? Follow Our Experts' Step-by-Step Guide!
A last-minute flight cancellation is never fun — especially if it happens when you're already at the airport. To help you stay in control, our experts at Refundmyflight have put together this simple step-by-step guide:
1. Gather all the details:
- Find out when the cancellation was announced and the reason behind it.
- Collect important information like your booking reference, flight number, and any explanation given by the airline.
2. Know your rights:
- When your flight is cancelled, you have more rights than just a refund or compensation.
- Airlines must offer "right to care" assistance — this includes meals, hotel accommodation, and transportation if needed. Head to the airline's help desk at the airport to request support.
3. Claim your compensation:
- Depending on the circumstances, you could be entitled to both flight compensation and a full ticket refund.
- Use our free Claim Calculator directly from your phone to check your eligibility and start your claim easily.
- Tip: The sooner you file your claim, the quicker you could receive your compensation!
Can I Get Reimbursed for Unexpected Expenses After a Flight Cancellation?
When a flight is cancelled, passengers often have to cover unexpected costs such as hotel stays, meals, or transportation (taxis, car rentals, etc.). The good news: in many cases, we can help you recover these expenses from the airline. Simply upload your receipts and invoices through our secure online system, and we'll handle the rest!
How Long Do I Have to Claim a Flight Refund and Compensation?
- If you are flying to or from the UK, you have up to 6 years to submit your claim (except in Scotland, where the limit is 5 years).
- If your flight does not involve the UK (e.g., flying between EU countries), the time limit depends on local laws.
Use our free Claim Calculator to quickly check if you're still eligible for compensation and/or a refund.
How to Claim Compensation and a Refund for a Cancelled Flight
Start by checking your eligibility with our free, no-obligation Claim Calculator.
You then have two options:
- You can try to claim your flight compensation and refund on your own, or
- You can let our experts handle everything for you!
With over 10 years of experience and a 98% success rate in court cases against airlines, we know exactly how to manage the legal process. Submitting your claim takes just a few minutes — simply upload your flight details and documents via our secure online system, and we'll take it from there.
Check out our Price List page for full details, or start your claim now!