Cancelled flight compensation: refunds, new flights and what you're owed
If your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, you could be owed up to £520 per passenger on top of a refund or a new flight. Here's how the rules work and how to claim it yourself, for free.
Last checked against official sources: 9 October 2026.
Your first choice: a refund or a new flight
When an airline cancels a flight covered by UK law (known as UK261), it must offer you a choice. This applies whatever caused the cancellation, including bad weather or strikes.
- A refund of the full ticket price for the parts of the journey you haven't used, paid within 7 days. If you were partway through a journey and it no longer serves any purpose, this includes the cost of the parts you've already flown and a flight back to where you started.
- An alternative flight to your destination as soon as possible.
- An alternative flight at a later date that suits you, subject to seats being available.
The Civil Aviation Authority says it's up to you whether to fly as soon as possible or at a later date. Taking a refund or a new flight doesn't stop you also claiming compensation if you qualify.
When you're also owed compensation
Compensation depends on how much notice you were given. The closer to departure the airline cancelled, the more likely you are to be owed it.
| When you were told | Compensation is due unless the new flight you were offered... |
|---|---|
| 14 days or more before departure | No compensation is due |
| 7 to 14 days before departure | left no more than 2 hours before your original flight and arrived less than 4 hours after it |
| Less than 7 days before departure | left no more than 1 hour before your original flight and arrived less than 2 hours after it |
In other words, if the airline gave you short notice and its replacement flight got you there much later, or made you leave much earlier, you're likely to be owed compensation.
How much compensation for a cancelled flight?
The amount depends on the distance of the flight and is per passenger, so a family of four can claim four times over.
| Flight distance | Compensation | Can be halved to |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500km | £220 | £110 if your new flight arrived no more than 2 hours late |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | £350 | £175 if your new flight arrived no more than 3 hours late |
| Over 3,500km | £520 | £260 if your new flight arrived no more than 4 hours late |
The law says compensation must be paid in cash, by bank transfer or by cheque. An airline can only pay you in vouchers if you sign to agree to that.
When the airline doesn't have to pay compensation
No compensation is due if the airline can prove the cancellation was caused by "extraordinary circumstances" that couldn't have been avoided even if it had taken all reasonable measures. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, these mainly include unsafe weather, strikes by people who don't work for the airline (such as air traffic control), security risks, and political unrest.
Technical problems with the aircraft are not extraordinary circumstances. The Court of Appeal confirmed this in Jet2 v Huzar. It's up to the airline to show that the circumstances really were extraordinary, so if it refuses, ask it to explain what happened.
Even when no compensation is due, you're still entitled to a refund or a new flight, and to care while you wait.
Meals and hotels while you wait for a new flight
If you choose to fly as soon as possible, the airline has to look after you until your new flight (known as the "right to care"). This covers food and drink in proportion to the wait, two phone calls or emails, and a hotel and transport to it if you have to stay overnight. If it didn't provide these and you paid yourself, keep your receipts and claim the reasonable costs back. This applies even when the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances.
How to claim, step by step
- Gather your details: booking reference, flight numbers, when and how you were told about the cancellation, and the times of any replacement flight.
- Claim directly with the airline that operated the flight, using its own claim form. It's free.
- Claim for every passenger on the booking, and add receipts for anything you paid for while you waited.
- If the airline says no or doesn't reply, escalate to its alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme, if it's a member of one. These are free. We explain the scheme for each airline in our guides to Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, Jet2, TUI, Wizz Air and Virgin Atlantic.
You don't need a claims company. If you claim directly, you keep 100% of the compensation.
Is your flight covered?
- Flights departing a UK airport are covered, whichever airline you fly with.
- Flights arriving at a UK airport are covered when the airline is licensed in the UK or the EU.
- Flights departing an EU airport are covered by the EU's version of the rules (EU261). Compensation for those is set in euros: €250, €400 or €600.
Cancelled flight questions
Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
Delayed rather than cancelled? Read our guides to Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways delays.
Can I get a refund and compensation for a cancelled flight?
Yes. The refund (or a new flight) and compensation are separate rights. You're always entitled to choose a refund or a new flight, and you can also claim compensation if you were told less than 14 days before departure and the cancellation wasn't caused by extraordinary circumstances.
How long does an airline have to refund a cancelled flight?
Under UK261, refunds must be paid within 7 days, in money unless you agree to vouchers in writing.
Do I get compensation if my flight was cancelled more than 14 days before?
No. If the airline told you at least two weeks before your scheduled departure, no compensation is due, but you're still entitled to a refund or an alternative flight.
Do I have to accept a voucher for a cancelled flight?
No. Under UK261, refunds and compensation are paid in cash, by bank transfer or by cheque. An airline can only pay you in vouchers if you sign to agree to that.
How far back can I claim for a cancelled flight?
Up to 6 years after the flight in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and up to 5 years in Scotland.
Don't let a "no" be the final word.
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