Short answer
When does a cancelled flight pay compensation?
Cancelled flight compensation is due when the airline tells you less than 14 days before departure and does not offer a replacement flight that gets you to your destination close to the original time. The cash amount is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger by distance. A ticket refund is a separate right and never replaces this payment.
When a cancellation qualifies
How late you were told and what the airline offered instead decide whether cash is due.
- The airline told you about the cancellation less than 14 days before departure.
- The replacement flight you were offered fell outside the permitted time window (see the table below).
- The flight departed from the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland — or landed there on an airline based in one of those countries.
- The cancellation was within the airline's control, not caused by a genuinely extraordinary event.
- You had a confirmed reservation for the cancelled flight.
Cancellation compensation by distance
Paid on top of your refund or rebooking. The amount depends on distance, not on what the ticket cost.
- Up to 1,500 km€250e.g. Rome–Munich, Brussels–Copenhagen, Lyon–Porto
- 1,500–3,500 km€400e.g. Stockholm–Rome, Paris–Tel Aviv, Dublin–Athens
- Over 3,500 km€600e.g. Madrid–Buenos Aires, Paris–Montreal, Milan–Tokyo
Compensation comes on top of your refund or replacement flight — accepting one doesn’t cancel your right to the other.
What you're owed — and what airlines push instead
After a cancellation you have several rights at once. Airlines tend to offer the cheapest one and hope you stop there.
You're entitled to
- A full refund within seven days, or a new flight at the earliest opportunity or on a later date of your choice
- Meals, refreshments and a hotel with transfers while you wait for the new flight
- Cash compensation of €250–€600 per passenger for a short-notice cancellation
- A return flight to your first departure point if the trip no longer serves its purpose
What airlines often offer instead
- A voucher instead of a cash refund — you're free to refuse it
- Rebooking only if you pay the fare difference
- “Bad weather” or “air traffic control” with no evidence behind it
- Treating your refund as full settlement — it isn't
Notice timing: when compensation is due
The earlier the airline warned you, the closer the replacement flight has to be to your original times to avoid paying.
| When you were told | Compensation due? |
|---|---|
| 14 days or more before departure | No — but you still get a refund or rebooking |
| 7 to 13 days before departure | Yes, unless the new flight leaves no more than 2 hours earlier and arrives less than 4 hours later than planned |
| Less than 7 days before departure | Yes, unless the new flight leaves no more than 1 hour earlier and arrives less than 2 hours later than planned |
| On the day, at the airport | Yes, unless the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances |
After your flight is cancelled
Keep the cancellation email or text and any rebooking details — then let us deal with the airline.
- 01
Share the booking
Your booking reference and the cancellation notice are all we need to start.
- 02
We check the timing
We compare the notice date and replacement times with the regulation's thresholds.
- 03
We claim the compensation
The airline gets a formal demand. Any refund you've already received doesn't affect it.
- 04
Payout on success
The money goes to your bank account. No win, no fee.
Cancelled flight FAQ
What passengers ask us after a cancellation email.
I got a full refund. Can I still claim compensation?
Yes. A refund returns what you paid for the ticket; compensation is a separate payment for the disruption. If the cancellation was short-notice and no suitable alternative was offered, you're owed both.
They cancelled ten days before departure. Do I qualify?
Probably. With 7 to 13 days' notice, compensation is due unless the replacement flight left no more than 2 hours earlier and arrived less than 4 hours later than your original flight.
I accepted a replacement flight. Have I lost my right to compensation?
No. Accepting a new flight doesn't waive anything. What matters is how far its departure and arrival times were from the original ones.
My flight was cancelled because of a strike. Can I claim?
If the airline's own staff went on strike, usually yes — courts treat that as within the airline's control. Strikes by air traffic control or airport staff usually count as extraordinary circumstances.
The airline only offered me a voucher. Do I have to accept it?
No. You're entitled to a cash refund within seven days, and compensation can only be paid in vouchers if you agree in writing. Declining a voucher never affects your claim.
I booked through a travel site. Who owes me compensation?
The airline that operated — or was due to operate — the flight. The booking site may handle the ticket refund, but compensation is always claimed from the airline.
