Flight Cancelled? Compensation, Refund and Rights (EU261)

Your three rights when a flight is cancelled

Refund or rerouting: you choose between a full refund of the unused ticket (within 7 days), a new flight at the earliest opportunity, or a new flight on a later date that suits you.
Care: meals and refreshments, two free calls or messages, and a hotel and transport if you must stay overnight.
Compensation: EUR 250, 400 or 600 depending on distance, unless an exception below applies.

When you get compensation for a cancellation

Flight distance	Compensation
1,500 km or less	EUR 250
Within the EU over 1,500 km, and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km	EUR 400
Over 3,500 km	EUR 600

No compensation is due if:

The airline told you more than 14 days before departure.
You were told 7 to 14 days before and offered a new flight that leaves no more than 2 hours earlier and arrives no more than 4 hours later.
You were told less than 7 days before and offered a new flight that leaves no more than 1 hour earlier and arrives no more than 2 hours later.
Extraordinary circumstances caused the cancellation and the airline could not have avoided them.

If you accept rerouting and arrive only a little later than planned, the airline may reduce the amount by 50 percent.

Problems and fixes

Problem	What to do
The airline says it was weather or air traffic control	Ask for the reason in writing. You still keep your right to care and a refund or rerouting. Compensation may be lost, but airlines sometimes use the label too widely, so challenge it if the details do not fit.
The airline says it was a technical fault	Courts in the EU have generally held that technical faults found during normal maintenance are not extraordinary. Ask what exactly failed.
The airline offers only a voucher	You can insist on a cash refund. Vouchers are valid only if you agree in writing.
No one at the airport helps you	Buy reasonable meals and a hotel, keep every receipt and claim the costs back in writing.
The airline kept part of your money	See money deducted after a cancelled flight.
You were told of the cancellation through a travel agent	The operating airline is still responsible for compensation. Send the claim to the airline, not the agent.

How to claim step by step

Save the cancellation message, your booking and your boarding pass.
Choose refund or rerouting in writing, and say which you chose.
Keep receipts for meals, hotel and transport.
Send the compensation claim to the operating airline using its complaint form, or write it with the free complaint letter generator.
No reply within about 2 months? Escalate to the national enforcement body of the country where the flight started or the airline is based, or use dispute resolution or a court.
Use the compensation calculator first to check your distance band.

Cancelled flights from Pakistan or the Gulf

EU compensation rules apply to a cancelled flight from Pakistan to Europe only if an EU airline operated it. For other airlines you still have contract rights to a refund, and you can complain to the airline and to the aviation regulator of the country where the problem happened. Start by keeping the cancellation notice and every receipt.

General information only

This guide is information, not legal advice. Rules change and every case is different, so confirm with the airline, the national enforcement body or a qualified lawyer before you act. ArrivalCardGuide does not file claims and takes no share of any money you recover.

Questions and answers

Can I get compensation and a refund together?

Compensation is separate from the refund or rerouting. If you took the refund you cannot also keep the ticket, but you can still claim compensation if you qualify.

What if my flight was cancelled because of a strike?

It depends on who was on strike. Courts have often treated a strike by the airline's own staff as within the airline's control, while a strike by airport or air traffic control staff may count as extraordinary. Ask the airline to explain in writing.

How long do I have to claim?

The deadline depends on the country where you bring the claim. Claim as soon as possible and keep your documents.

Do I need a lawyer?

Not usually for a first claim. Send it yourself, then escalate if the airline refuses.

Sources

This guide summarises EU Regulation 261/2004, the Montreal Convention and public airline notices. Baggage figures were checked against airline liability notices on 2026-10-19. Rules can change, so always confirm the latest version with the official sources above before you claim.

Flight cancelled: your compensation, refund and what to do now