Flight Cancellation Compensation Guide 2026
Your flight was cancelled. Under EU Regulation 261/2004 or UK261 you may be owed up to €600 in cash compensation — on top of a full refund or a replacement flight. This guide explains exactly when, how much, and how to claim it.
Quick answer
You are entitled to €250, €400 or €600 if your flight was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice and the airline cannot prove extraordinary circumstances. You also have the right to choose a full refund or a replacement flight — regardless of the reason for cancellation.
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When Does EU261 Apply to a Cancelled Flight?
EU Regulation 261/2004 applies to:
- All flights departing from an EU airport — regardless of which airline operates them (Ryanair, easyJet, Turkish Airlines, Emirates — all covered on EU departures).
- Flights arriving in the EU from outside, if operated by an EU/EEA carrier such as Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, or Wizz Air.
UK261 mirrors EU261 for flights departing from UK airports, and for flights arriving in the UK operated by UK carriers.
In both cases, compensation is triggered only if you received less than 14 days' notice before your scheduled departure. Notice of 14 or more days eliminates the right to monetary compensation, but never removes your right to a refund or alternative flight.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim?
The amount is fixed by law based on the route distance, measured as the great-circle distance to the final destination on the booking.
| Route distance | Compensation | Example routes |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 | London–Amsterdam, Paris–Madrid |
| 1,500 km – 3,500 km | €400 | London–Cairo, Paris–Marrakech |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 | London–New York, Paris–Dubai |
Reduction to 50%: For flights over 3,500 km between the EU and a non-EU country, compensation may be halved to €300 if the airline re-routes you and you arrive within 4 hours of the original scheduled arrival time.
Extraordinary Circumstances: What Airlines Can and Cannot Claim
Airlines are not required to pay compensation if the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances — events outside their control that could not have been avoided even if every reasonable measure had been taken.
Genuine extraordinary circumstances include:
- Severe weather making it genuinely unsafe to fly (not mere inconvenience)
- Air traffic control strikes or restrictions not caused by the airline
- Security incidents forcing airport or airspace closure
- Political instability, civil unrest or military action
These are NOT extraordinary circumstances:
- Technical faults — consistently ruled by the Court of Justice of the EU to fall within the airline's normal operational responsibilities
- Staff strikes — strikes by the airline's own employees are not extraordinary (CJEU: TUIfly, C-195/17, 2017)
- Overbooking or commercial decisions
- Bird strikes in most cases
The burden of proof lies with the airline. They must show both that an extraordinary circumstance existed and that they took all reasonable measures to avoid it. Vague or formulaic rejections can be challenged.
Your Right to a Refund or Re-routing
Regardless of whether extraordinary circumstances apply, you always have the right to choose between:
- Full ticket refund — paid within 7 days, including the return leg if you are stranded mid-journey
- Re-routing at the earliest opportunity on comparable transport conditions
- Re-routing at a later date of your choosing (subject to seat availability)
While waiting for re-routing, the airline must provide meals and refreshments proportionate to the wait, hotel accommodation and transfers if an overnight stay is necessary, and two free communications (phone calls, emails or faxes).
If the airline fails to provide care and you arrange it yourself, keep all receipts — you can claim reasonable expenses back.
How to Claim Cancellation Compensation: Step by Step
- Gather your documents — booking confirmation, payment receipt, cancellation notification, any expenses receipts
- Note the scheduled and actual details — original departure time, actual departure of any replacement flight, arrival time at final destination
- Write to the airline with a formal compensation claim citing EU Regulation 261/2004 (or UK261), specifying the amount (€250/€400/€600) and your bank details
- Allow 6–8 weeks for the airline to respond
- If rejected or ignored — escalate to your national enforcement body: CAA (UK), DGAC (France), LBA/SÖP (Germany), ILT (Netherlands), or use a no-win-no-fee claims company like ClaimWinger
How Long Do You Have to Claim?
| Country / jurisdiction | Claim deadline |
|---|---|
| England & Wales | 6 years |
| Scotland | 5 years |
| France | 5 years |
| Germany | 3 years (end of calendar year) |
| Netherlands | 2 years |
| Spain | 5 years |
| Poland | 1 year |
| Greece | 2 years |
Don't wait. Evidence such as airline internal logs is deleted after a few years, and some deadlines are strict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a cancelled flight always entitle me to compensation?
No. Compensation is owed only if you received less than 14 days' notice of the cancellation AND the airline cannot prove extraordinary circumstances caused it. If you were notified 14 or more days in advance, you are entitled to a refund or re-routing but not monetary compensation.
Can I claim both compensation and a full refund?
Yes — they are separate rights. EU261 compensation (€250–€600) relates to the disruption itself. The refund right relates to your ticket contract. You can receive both a cash compensation payment and a full refund of your ticket price, or choose re-routing instead of a refund.
Does EU261 apply to charter flights?
Yes. EU261 applies to all flights — scheduled and charter — departing from EU airports, regardless of whether you booked direct or as part of a package holiday. Package holiday passengers may also have additional rights under the Package Travel Directive.
What if I already accepted a voucher instead of cash?
Accepting a travel voucher does not automatically waive your right to cash compensation under EU261. Cash compensation (€250–€600) must be paid in cash, bank transfer or cheque, unless you voluntarily agreed in writing to a voucher of at least equivalent value. If you were pressured into a voucher, you can still pursue the cash amount.
Do I need my boarding pass to make a claim?
No. For a cancelled flight you typically never received a boarding pass. Booking confirmations, e-tickets and bank payment records are all accepted as proof of travel. Courts and enforcement bodies do not require a boarding pass for cancellation claims.
How long does it take to receive compensation?
Airlines that pay voluntarily typically respond within 6–8 weeks. If you need to escalate to an ADR body (CEDR, SÖP, MTV) expect 3–6 months. Court claims in small claims track can resolve in 3–9 months. A specialist claims company can handle the full process on your behalf.
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