How To Claim Flight Cancellation Compensation

 

Flight cancellations are an unavoidable part of air travel and can cause significant disruptions to your plans. There isn’t a single airline with a perfect track record out there. Fortunately, you may be legally entitled to up to €600 flight cancellation compensation if your flight gets cancelled while travelling within the UK or Europe.

The following guide will provide in-depth explanations about your rights under international regulations, how to claim what you’re owed, and what to expect from airlines.

 

  

What Are My Rights If My Flight Is Cancelled?

With cancelled flights, you’re entitled to a full refund of your ticket or replacement flight to your destination.  

Additionally, EU261 protect your passenger rights in case of flight cancellations. You can claim up to €600 in compensation if the following apply to your cancelled flight:

• Your flight was cancelled by the airline less than 14 days before the departure date
• You weren’t provided with an alternative flight, or
• The new flight you were provided with wasn't a suitable alternative

If the airline doesn't provide you with care during your wait, you can claim the money from them afterwards. All you need to do is keep the receipts and fill out how many additional costs you incurred when you’re submitting your claim. 

One tip is to always submit your claim for cancellation compensation. Even if the airline has refunded your cancelled flight, you can still be eligible for additional financial compensation.

You can also claim additional compensation in case you experience disruptions with your alternative flight:

• If you were notified 7–13 days before departure, your replacement flight can leave up to 2 hours earlier and arrive no more than 4 hours than your original
• If you were notified less than 7 days before, it can leave up to 1 hour earlier and arrive no more than 2 hours later than the original flight 

 

How Much Compensation Can I Get for a Cancelled Flight?

You can also claim financial compensation for the flight cancellation if you were notified about the change within 14 days of departure. The amount you may claim for a cancelled flight under EU261 depends on flight distance. Here is a breakdown of the compensation amounts:

-3 hours	3–4 hours	4+ hours	Distance	Example flight
	€250	€250	Under 1,500 km	London → Paris (343 km)
	€400	€400	1,500 – 3,500 km	Edinburg → Berlin (1,730 km)
	€400	€400	Over 3,500 km (in EU)	Lisbon → Stockholm (3,608 km)
	€300	€600	Over 3,500 km (departing EU)	Frankfurt → New York (6,202 km)

 

When it comes to your alternative flight, the amount of compensation is the same, but it depends on the actual arrival time at your final destination, as it's treated like a normal flight delay. 

Legal precedent has confirmed that arrival time means when at least one aircraft door opens, allowing passengers to disembark, not when the wheels touch the ground. 

 

Other Passenger Rights in Case of Cancellation

Flight cancellations don’t just entitle you to compensation. You are also protected by additional rights that ensure your basic needs are met and that you are not left stranded without assistance. Two of the most important protections under EU261 are the Right to Care and the freedom to choose between a refund or an alternative flight.

 

Your Right to Choose Between a Refund or Rerouting

Cancellations entitle you to a refund or rerouting. You can choose to get a full refund of the unused part of your booking and any used portion if the journey no longer serves its purpose. For example, if it resulted in you missing a connecting flight during a business trip, and you no longer need to travel. 

Alternatively, you can choose a rerouting on the next available flight to the same destination under comparable conditions. Airlines may even offer to rebook you on a flight with a different airline, but this option is not always available.

Lastly, you can choose a rerouting at a later date that is more convenient for you. This choice lies with you, not the airline, and should be offered clearly at the time of cancellation.

 

What is the Right to Care?

Airlines are obligated to support passengers during their waiting period after a flight is cancelled at short notice. This is known as the Right to Care, and it applies regardless of whether you are eligible for EU flight cancellation compensation. It includes meals and refreshments, access to communication, and hotel accommodation plus transport for overnight delays. 

In case the airline fails to provide this assistance, you can pay for these services and request reimbursement later, provided that you keep all valid receipts.

 

 

Key Regulations Governing Flight Cancellation Compensation

• European Union : Regulation EC 261/2004 applies to all flights departing from EU airports and flights to the EU operated by EU-based carriers. It is the most robust and widely enforced air passenger protection regulation globally.
• United Kingdom : Following Brexit, the UK adopted a nearly identical version of EC 261. UK261 applies to all flights departing from the UK and flights to the UK operated by UK carriers.
• United States : Although U.S. law does not mandate compensation for cancelled flights, you are entitled to a full refund if the airline cancels the flight. Certain major airlines also offer compensation or other types of reimbursement. Find all available options on this page, curated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. 
• Canada : You are entitled to compensation for cancellations within the airline’s control under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). The amounts range from CAD 400 to 1,000, depending on the notice period and delay length. Find out more about your rights from the Passenger Bill of Rights. 
• Australia : There are no fixed compensation laws for cancelled flights, but a new Airline Passenger Protections Bill was submitted in 2024. The Senate has yet to approve or reject this new law. 

While certain regions offer limited protections, EC 261 stands out as the most comprehensive frameworks for flight cancellation compensation worldwide.

 

What if My Flight Was Part of a Connecting Journey?

You may still be eligible for cancelled flight compensation if your flight was part of a connecting journey under a single booking and only one leg was affected. The main condition is that the cancellation causes you to arrive 3 or more hours late at your final destination. 

Examples #1: You booked a London → Frankfurt → New York journey, and the Frankfurt to New York leg got cancelled, resulting in a late arrival. If both flights were under the same booking, you can claim compensation.

Example #2: Imagine your initial flight got delayed or cancelled, causing you to miss your onward connection. You may be eligible for compensation if the final arrival delay exceeds three hours and the airline is responsible.

However, the airline isn't responsible for missed onward connections if your flights were booked separately, and you may not be entitled to compensation for delays caused beyond that specific leg.

 

  

What if My Flight Was Cancelled Due to Extraordinary Circumstances?

Airlines are not required to pay compensation if the flight was cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances. Such issues include bad weather, bird strikes, security threats and medical emergencies. As in these cases, the issue is outside the carrier's control, the airline isn't obligated to pay compensation.

It’s important to note that technical issues and crew shortages are not typically considered extraordinary, and you may still be eligible for compensation in such cases.

 

While airlines aren't obligated to pay compensation, they will often offer to rebook your flight or give you vouchers for future use. In these cases, we always advise passengers to be proactive. You can look up flights on your own and reach out to the airline representative with a list of suitable flights. This will make their job easier as they will only need to check the availability on the flights. 

 

My Flight was Brought Forward. Does it Count as Cancelled?

Yes, if your flight was brought forward by more than 1 hour within 14 days of departure, it is considered cancelled. A flight which is brought forward with more than 1 hour will disrupt the plans of passengers. As this would essentially make your flight non-operational, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rules that the rules for cancelled flights apply to flights which have been moved forward. 

As your flight would be considered cancelled, the same rules apply: 

• Your flight was brought forward with more than an hour
• You were notified about the change within 14 days of departure
• The flight was operated by an EU-based airline or departed from the EU 
• You had valid booking and checked-in on time
• The flight wasn't moved ahead because of extraordinary circumstances

Similarly, you're also entitled to refund and rerouting, and should receive care at the airport while you're waiting. Have a look at our guide to claiming compensation for advanced flight to learn more about your rights. 

 

How to Claim Compensation for a Cancelled Flight

The process of claiming compensation has never been easier. Here’s a straightforward step-by-step guide to help you take action:

 

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Start by confirming whether your flight qualifies under EU261/2004 or UK261. For this, you must ensure the cancellation occurred less than 14 days before departure. Check if the airline was responsible for the cancellation and did not offer a suitable rerouting.

 

Step 2: Gather Necessary Documents

Keep the following documents to support your claim: boarding pass, booking confirmation email, any messages from the airline regarding the cancellation or rebooking, and any receipts for additional expenses.

 

Step 3: Submit a Claim to SkyRefund

Instead of going through the airline's long, bureaucratic processes, you can submit your claim directly to SkyRefund. Our expert team will take over and pursue your flight cancellation compensation, relieving you of all the stress.

 

Step 4: Sit back and leave the rest to us

Our legal experts will handle the entire process on your behalf. Keep in mind that there are no exact time limits for receiving compensation and the time varies from airline to airline, although cases are usually resolved within several weeks. 

 

 

How Long Do You Have to Claim Your Compensation?

The timeframe to submit a claim depends on the country where the legal claim is filed. These compensation time limits are generally determined by national civil laws.

Limit	Country
under 1 yr	Sweden
1 year	Poland, Belgium, Italy (domestic flights)
2 years	Italy (international flights), Malta, Slovenia, Slovakia, The Netherlands, Croatia, Türkiye
3 years	Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Litva, Norway, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania
4 years	Iceland
5 years	Greece, France, Hungary, Spain, Scotland
6 years	United Kingdom (excl. Scotland), Ireland, Cyprus
10 years	Luxembourg, Switzerland

 

 

How Is Flight Cancellation Compensation Calculated?

Flight cancellation compensation is determined based on two key factors:

1. When the passenger was notified of the cancellation.
2. The arrival time of the replacement flight compared to the original scheduled arrival time.

Compensation may apply for notifications between 7–14 days in advance, unless the rerouted flight departs no more than 2 hours early and arrives less than 4 hours late. Compensation can be claimed for notifications under 7 days before departure, unless the rerouted flight departs no more than 1 hour earlier and arrives less than 2 hours later.

  

How Long Does It Take?

Claim processing times vary by airline and the complexity of the case. While we can help resolve some within weeks, others may take months, especially if the case is contested. Here's a general breakdown based on our experience:

 

Airline Response Time	Typical Scenario
2–4 weeks	Straightforward cases with no disputes
1–2 months	Requires additional documentation or review
2–6 months	Disputed cases, needing negotiation or appeal
6+ months	Legal escalation or uncooperative airline

 

Important: Keep in mind that each case is strictly individual, and the presented response times are averages based on data from thousands of SkyRefund’s cases. 

 

How Can SkyRefund Help?

SkyRefund provides the easiest way to claim flight cancellation compensation, operating on a no-win, no-fee basis. This means you only pay a fee if we successfully win your case. Our expert legal team will handle the whole process on your behalf, and you will never have to deal with uncooperative airlines that would rather pay you nothing.

With decades of experience and 300,000+ successful claims, our international team is here to ensure you get what you are entitled to, stress-free and as soon as possible. Submit your claim for flight cancellation compensation today!