Having your flight cancelled, especially at the last minute, can seriously disrupt your travel plans. Both EU261 and UK261 are there to protect passengers when this happens.
As well as having the right to choose between a replacement flight or a refund, you may also be entitled to claim compensation for your flight. We explain how much compensation you may receive if your flight has been cancelled.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Cancelled Flight?
You may be able to claim between £110 and £520 in compensation per passenger if your flight has been cancelled.
How much you can claim will depend on when you were told about the cancellation, the distance of your flight, and the departure and arrival times of any replacement flight offered by the airline.
For flights under 1,500km, compensation can be £110 or £220 per passenger. For flights between 1,500km and 3,500km, you could receive £175 or £350, while for flights over 3,500km, compensation can be £260 or £520 per passenger.
When Do I Know If I Can Claim Compensation For A Cancelled Flight?
For your cancelled flight to qualify for compensation, it must meet the criteria under EU261 or UK261.
You may be able to claim if:
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How Is Compensation For Cancelled Flights Calculated?
How much compensation you can claim for a cancelled flight will depend on a few different factors.
First, the amount you may be entitled to claim will depend on whether you were told about the cancellation between 7 and 14 days before departure, or less than 7 days before departure.
Second, the amount will depend on how much earlier the replacement flight departs or how much later it arrives at your final destination compared with your original flight.
Our tables below show how much you can claim in each circumstance.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Cancelled Flight Less Than 7 Days Before Departure?
If the airline cancels your flight less than 7 days before you were due to depart, you may be able to claim between £110 and £520 per passenger.
The table below shows how much you may be able to claim based on your flight distance and the departure and arrival times of your replacement flight.
Flight Cancellation Compensation Amounts For Flights Cancelled Less Than 7 Days Before Departure
| Flight Distance | Replacement Flight Compared With Original Flight | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500km | Departs more than 1 hour earlier | £110 |
| Up to 1,500km | Arrives more than 2 hours later | £220 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Departs more than 1 hour earlier | £175 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Arrives 2–3 hours later | £175 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Arrives more than 3 hours later | £350 |
| Over 3,500km | Departs more than 1 hour earlier | £260 |
| Over 3,500km | Arrives 2–4 hours later | £260 |
| Over 3,500km | Arrives more than 4 hours later | £520 |
How Much Compensation For A Cancelled Flight Between 7 And 14 Days Before Departure?
The amount of compensation you may be able to claim if the airline cancels your flight between 7 and 14 days before you were due to fly will be between £110 and £520.
The exact amount will depend on the distance of your flight and how the departure and arrival times of the replacement flight compare with your original booking.
Flight Cancellation Compensation Amounts For Flights Cancelled 7 To 14 Days Before Departure
| Flight Distance | Times Of Alternative Flight vs Original | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500km | Replacement flight departs more than 2 hours early | £110 |
| Up to 1,500km | Replacement flight arrives more than 4 hours late | £220 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Replacement flight departs more than 2 hours early | £175 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Replacement flight arrives more than 4 hours late | £350 |
| Over 3,500km | Replacement flight departs more than 2 hours early | £260 |
| Over 3,500km | Replacement flight arrives more than 4 hours late | £520 |
How Much Compensation Do I Get For A Cancelled Flight At Least 14 Days Before Departure?
Unfortunately, you would not be able to claim compensation if the airline has informed you that your flight has been cancelled at least 14 days before you are due to fly.
However, you do still have the right to choose between a refund or a replacement flight. If you still want to travel, you can ask the airline to reroute you to your final destination, or you can choose to travel at a later date.
Can I Claim For My Expenses When My Flight Is Cancelled?
If your flight is cancelled and you have to wait for a replacement flight, the airline is responsible for looking after you while you wait. Under EU261 and UK261, this is known as your right to care and assistance.
Depending on how long you have to wait, the airline should provide reasonable food and refreshments, two phone calls or emails and, if you have to stay overnight, hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and your hotel.
If the airline does not provide these and you have to pay for them yourself, keep your receipts. You can ask the airline to reimburse you for reasonable expenses you have had to pay while waiting for your replacement flight.
How Is Compensation For A Cancelled Flight Paid?
Compensation for cancelled flights is paid per passenger, and the amount you receive does not depend on the price or class of the ticket you bought.
This means that if you are travelling as a family of four and each passenger is entitled to £520, the total compensation for the booking could be £2,080.
The amount each passenger can claim is based on the distance of the flight and the timings of the replacement flight. This can also include passengers whose flights were booked using air miles or other reward schemes.
EU261 was put in place to compensate passengers for the inconvenience and disruption caused to their travel plans, which is why the amount you may receive isn’t based on the price you paid for your ticket.
Compensation for flight cancellations is paid to the passenger who travelled, not the person or company that paid for the ticket.
For example, if your employer paid for your flight as part of a work trip, any compensation due under EU261 or UK261 would still be paid to you as the passenger.
The same applies where someone else paid for your ticket, or your flight was booked using air miles or another reward scheme. The right to compensation always belongs to the passenger named on the booking.
Recent Successful Flight Compensation Claims
Bott and Co help couple receive £350 each in compensation after arriving on holiday to Corfu late.
We secured compensation for family of 3 who missed a day of their holiday due to flight cancellation.
Family receive £350 compensation each after Jet2 flight to Manchester from Antalya was delayed for 22.5 hours.
Family instruct Bott and Co after missing connecting flight to London due to BA departure delay at JFK Airport.
We helped family of 4 flying from Lithuania to London receive £350 each for flight cancellation.
Family of 4 returning from their holiday in Turkey arrive home 2 days late following flight cancellation.
Passengers receive £350 each after their flight to Tunisia was cancelled and rescheduled for 24 hours later.
Family going to Miami with American Airlines were rerouted to New York AND Dallas before arriving in California.
Family of 4's delay at Birmingham Airport led to missed connection in Dubai and new flight given 3 days later.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim If My Cancelled Flight Affected My Holiday?
The amount of compensation you can claim under EU261 or UK261 does not increase because the cancellation caused you to lose money elsewhere on your holiday.
For example, you may have missed a night at your hotel, lost a car hire booking or been unable to use tickets for an attraction or excursion you had already paid for.
If you booked your flight and holiday separately, these additional costs would not usually form part of your flight cancellation compensation claim. However, you may be able to recover some of your losses through your travel insurance, credit card or by contacting the hotel, car hire company or other provider you booked with.
If your flight was booked as part of a package holiday, you may also have additional rights under package travel regulations.
If the cancellation significantly affects your holiday, your package provider may need to make alternative arrangements or, depending on the circumstances, offer you a refund.
These rights are separate from flight cancellation compensation. This means you may still be able to claim compensation from the airline under EU261 or UK261 while also exercising any rights you have through your package holiday provider.