4 April 2019 | Updated 2 October 20247 min read
Has your flight been cancelled? No matter the reason – whether it’s a natural disaster, international conflict or an air traffic control issue – you are entitled to assistance from your airline.
In cases where the cancellation is your airline’s fault, you may even be eligible for flight cancellation compensation.
Whatever the case, our guide to what happens if your flight is cancelled will help get you on your way again.
If you’re already at the airport when your flight is cancelled, your airline is obliged to provide assistance, which should include vouchers for food and drink.
If they don’t, make sure you keep all receipts and documentation related to your flight and any expenses incurred due to the cancellation. This isn't just essential for potential insurance claims, but also for claiming reimbursement from the airline for reasonable expenses.
If your flight is cancelled days or weeks before your departure date, you’ll be notified by your airline by email or text and given the opportunity to choose another flight or receive a refund.
If your flight is covered by UK or EU law, your airline must let you choose between two options:
Yes, if your flight is cancelled and you're already at the airport, the airline is obliged to provide care and assistance in the form of :
You are entitled to this care until you can get to your destination – regardless of the cause of your flight cancellation.
During major disruptions, airlines may be unable to arrange assistance for all its passengers. If this happens, you have the right to organise it yourself – at a reasonable cost – and claim it back later.
Keep every receipt and keep your spending reasonable if you have to pay your own way – it’s unlikely you’ll get a refund on a luxury hotel or alcohol.
When it comes to claiming compensation for a cancelled flight, timing is everything – if your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before you’re due to fly, you could be eligible to make a claim.
These compensation rules apply to many flights to, from or within the UK. To be covered, your flight must either:
It's worth noting that you won't be entitled to compensation if the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline's control.
These can include severe weather conditions, security risks, political instability, unexpected flight safety shortcomings, air traffic control restrictions or strikes that affect the operation of the airline. However, most technical problems with the aircraft or issues with crew scheduling are not considered extraordinary circumstances.
The amount of compensation you may be entitled to depends on how much notice you were given of the cancellation and the arrangements for your alternative flight.
If your flight was cancelled between 7 and 14 days before departure, you may be eligible for compensation based on the timings of your alternative flight.
When your replacement flight arrives at the final destination more than four hours late, you're entitled to full flight cancellation compensation regardless of when the flight departs. The amount depends solely on the flight distance: £220 for short-haul flights, £350 for medium-haul flights or £520 for long-haul flights.
For flights cancelled with 7 to 14 days' notice, a special compensation rule applies when your replacement flight departs more than two hours before your original scheduled time but still arrives at your destination late. The table below details your compensation amounts according to your arrival time:
Flight distance | Disruption time | Compensation amount |
---|---|---|
Short-haul (under 1,500km) | Less than two hours late | £110 |
Short-haul (under 1,500km) | Two or more hours late | £220 |
Medium-haul (1,500km - 3,500km) | Less than three hours late | £175 |
Medium-haul (1,500km - 3,500km) | Three or more hours late | £350 |
Long-haul (over 3,500km) | Less than four hours late | £260 |
Long-haul (over 3,500km) | Four or more hours late | £520 |
You are not entitled to compensation if your replacement flight departs up to two hours before or any time after your original flight and arrives less than four hours late at your final destination.
For cancellations announced less than seven days before departure, the rules are slightly different. You can only claim compensation if:
AND
If you’re eligible, you’ll be entitled to the following:
Flight distance | Disruption time | Compensation amount |
---|---|---|
Short-haul (under 1,500km) | Two or more hours late | £220 |
Medium-haul (1,500km - 3,500km) | Three or more hours late | £350 |
Long-haul (over 3,500km) | Less than four hours late | £260 |
Long-haul (over 3,500km) | Four or more hours late | £520 |
It's worth noting that you won't be entitled to compensation if the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline's control, such as severe weather or air traffic control strikes.
If you booked a package holiday and your flight is cancelled, your travel company should contact you to offer assistance. As well as the above, you have additional rights to cover your holiday.
If new arrangements cause a significant change to your holiday, or if your flight can't be rearranged and your holiday has to be cancelled, your travel operator must offer an alternative holiday.
If they can’t, they must refund the full package price.
While many basic policies don't offer insurance for cancelled or delayed flights, it's worth checking your policy. If you paid with a credit card, you might also be able to claim through your card provider. Some debit cards also offer protection.
Remember, travel insurance is crucial. It's always wise to ensure you have some type of insurance to protect you in the event of cancelled or delayed flights.
To claim compensation, you'll need to contact the airline directly. Be prepared with all your flight details and booking reference numbers. Keep records of all communication and any responses from the airline.
If you're not satisfied with the airline's response, you can escalate your complaint to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme if the airline is a member of one, or to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Remember, staying informed about your rights and keeping all relevant documentation can make a significant difference when dealing with flight cancellations.
If you're booking with a budget airline, it's worth doing a quick Google search to check for any warning signs. For example, when Flybmi went into administration, some customers reported they'd purchased flights hours before the announcement. However, it was common knowledge the airline was in trouble and a quick Google News search would have given the most carefree traveller cause for concern.
Use your common sense – if it's a short flight with a bargain basement price, you're less likely to be concerned about rumoured financial problems, but if it's a long-haul route, consider paying extra to fly with a more reliable airline.
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