Flight Cancelled? Get Up to €600 Compensation

Your Rights When a Flight is Cancelled

Under EU Regulation 261/2004 (also known as EC 261), passengers are protected when their flights are cancelled. This regulation applies to all flights departing from EU/EEA/UK airports, and flights arriving at EU/EEA/UK airports if operated by an EU/EEA airline.

When your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to two separate things: a refund or rebooking (getting to your destination), and financial compensation for the inconvenience. These are two different rights — you can claim both.

How Much Compensation for a Cancelled Flight?

The compensation amount depends on the distance of your flight:

These amounts are per passenger. A family of 4 on a cancelled long-haul flight could receive up to €2,400 in total.

When Are You Eligible?

You're entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight if all of the following apply:

• The airline notified you of the cancellation less than 14 days before the scheduled departure
• The cancellation was not caused by extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, security threats, political instability)
• The flight departed from an EU/UK/EEA airport, or arrived at one and was operated by an EU airline
• The flight was within the last 3-6 years (depending on the country)

What Counts as "Extraordinary Circumstances"?

Airlines frequently claim extraordinary circumstances to avoid paying. However, many of these claims are invalid. Here's what IS and ISN'T considered extraordinary:

NOT Extraordinary (You CAN Claim):

• Technical/mechanical issues with the aircraft
• Staff shortages or crew scheduling problems
• Airline operational issues
• Most airline staff strikes
• Bird strikes (in many court rulings)

Extraordinary (You Cannot Claim):

• Severe weather conditions (hurricanes, volcanic ash, heavy snow)
• Airport closures by authorities
• Political instability or security threats
• Air traffic control strikes
• Medical emergencies

What If the Airline Offered a Replacement Flight?

Even if the airline rebooked you on another flight, you may still be entitled to compensation. The key factor is the difference in arrival time compared to your original booking:

• If you arrived at your final destination 2+ hours late (for short-haul flights) — full compensation
• If you arrived at your final destination 3+ hours late (for medium-haul) — full compensation
• If you arrived at your final destination 4+ hours late (for long-haul) — full compensation

How to Claim Compensation for a Cancelled Flight

Claiming is simple with Flight-Cancelled.com:

1. Enter your flight details — airline, flight number, date, and what happened
2. We check eligibility instantly — our system cross-references your flight data
3. We handle everything — negotiations, paperwork, and legal proceedings if needed
4. You receive your money — directly to your bank account

What to Do in the First Hour After a Cancellation

How you spend the first hour after the "Cancelled" message decides how easy the claim is later. The airline is required to offer you a choice — refund or re-routing — and to look after you while you wait, but at a busy airport it rarely volunteers either.

1. Get the cancellation and the reason in writing. A screenshot of the app notification or the SMS with its timestamp is ideal. If a gate agent gives you a verbal reason, ask for it on paper; airlines must provide a written notice of your rights (Article 14).
2. Decide: refund or re-routing. If you still need to travel, ask for the earliest available flight — on any airline, not only the one that cancelled. Airlines often offer their own next flight two days later; you can decline and insist on a same-day seat with a competitor if one exists, or book it yourself and claim the difference back.
3. Ask for meal vouchers and, if needed, a hotel. Care is owed regardless of the reason for the cancellation. If the desk cannot help, keep every receipt for reasonable expenses.
4. Do not sign anything that mentions "full and final settlement" or accept vouchers in place of cash. Vouchers only replace your cash claim if you agree in writing, and airline vouchers routinely come with expiry dates and blackout periods.

Worked Examples: How Much a Cancelled Flight Pays

Situation	Compensation	Why
Berlin–Rome cancelled the evening before, rebooked next morning	€250 per passenger	Under 1,500 km; notice under 7 days; arrival more than 2 hours after original
Manchester–Antalya cancelled at the gate, family of four	£1,400 (4 × £350)	UK departure, 1,500–3,500 km; each passenger claims individually
Dublin–New York cancelled 10 days before, alternative arrives 5 hours later than planned	€600 per passenger	Over 3,500 km; notice 7–14 days but re-routing outside the −2 h / +4 h window
Paris–Lisbon cancelled 20 days before departure	€0, but full refund or re-routing	14-day notice rule
Amsterdam–Madrid cancelled because of a Schiphol runway closure after a storm	€0, but meals, hotel and re-routing	Extraordinary circumstance; care rights still apply
Frankfurt–Vienna cancelled because the crew exceeded duty hours after an earlier delay	€250 per passenger	Crew scheduling is within the airline's control

The Airline's Most Common Answers — and What They Mean

• "The cancellation was due to operational reasons." This is not a defence. "Operational" means within the airline's operation — exactly the cases the regulation compensates. Ask for the specific cause.
• "We informed you more than 14 days in advance." Check the date on the message you actually received. Notice sent to a travel agent that did not reach you, or a schedule change that was never labelled a cancellation, does not start the clock (Krijgsman, C-302/16).
• "You accepted the alternative flight." Accepting re-routing is a separate right and does not waive compensation.
• "The flight was not cancelled, it was rescheduled." A flight moved by more than a few hours, given a new number or operated the next day is a cancellation in law, whatever the airline calls it (Sousa Rodríguez, C-83/10).
• "Please claim from the tour operator." For the flight compensation, the operating airline is liable; the tour operator is liable for package-holiday remedies. You can pursue both.

Timeline of a Typical Cancelled-Flight Claim

Day 0: you submit the flight; we check the operational record within one business day. Week 1: you sign the authorisation; the written claim goes to the airline. Weeks 2–8: the airline accepts, rejects or ignores. Weeks 8–16: if rejected, we escalate to the enforcement body or ADR scheme with the operational evidence. Months 4–9: if still unpaid, court proceedings in the departure country or the airline's home country; most airlines settle before the hearing. Payment is transferred to you within 14 days of the airline paying, in every case less the 35% service fee and never anything out of pocket.

Ticket Price Doesn't Matter

Whether you paid €20 or €2,000 for your ticket, the compensation amount is the same. It's based purely on the flight distance, not the ticket price. Even if you booked through a travel agency or received the ticket as a gift, you — as the passenger — are entitled to claim.