Cancelled flight: what you're owed
When an airline cancels your flight, you always get a choice of a full refund or another flight. You may also be owed compensation, depending on how much notice you were given.
Compensation depends on the notice
- 14 days or more: no compensation.
- 7 to 13 days: compensation, unless the airline offered another flight leaving no more than 2 hours earlier and arriving less than 4 hours later than your original.
- Less than 7 days: compensation, unless the new flight left no more than 1 hour earlier and arrived less than 2 hours later.
The amounts are the same as for delays: see how much compensation you can get. They can be halved if the new flight got you there close to the original time.
Refund or another flight
Whatever the notice, you choose between a full refund within 7 days (including any unused return flight) or the earliest reasonable alternative flight, which can be with another airline. Airlines sometimes offer vouchers: you don't have to accept them.
Care while you wait
If you choose a new flight, the airline must give you meals, refreshments and, if needed, a hotel and transport to it until you fly. Keep receipts for anything you had to pay for yourself.
Questions
Do I get compensation if my flight was cancelled two weeks before?
No. If you were told 14 days or more before departure, no compensation is due, though you still get a refund or another flight.
Can the airline give me a voucher instead of a refund?
Only if you agree in writing. You are entitled to a full cash refund within 7 days if you choose not to travel.
Is a cancellation for extraordinary circumstances compensated?
No compensation is due if the airline proves extraordinary circumstances, but you still get a refund or new flight, and care while you wait.
More guides
- How much compensation can I get for a delayed or cancelled flight?
- What are "extraordinary circumstances"?
- Bumped from an overbooked flight: your rights
- How far back can I claim?
- Airline rejected your claim? What to do next
- Missed your connecting flight? What you're owed
- Delayed or cancelled by a strike: can I claim?
- Meals, hotels and refunds during a delay
- Downgraded to a lower class: what you're owed
Important: DelayOwed is a self-help guidance tool, not a law firm or claims company, and is not affiliated with any airline. Airline names are used only to describe which flights this guide covers.