Cancelled flight: refund or rerouting?
When an airline cancels your flight, it must offer you a choice between a ticket refund and rerouting to your final destination. You may also be entitled to €250 to €600 per passenger in compensation.
Ticket refunds, rerouting, care and compensation are separate rights and do not depend on exactly the same conditions.
What are your rights when an airline cancels your flight?
You do not have to accept a voucher. When EU air passenger rules apply, you can choose a refund or rerouting. The airline must provide care while you wait. Depending on when you were informed and why the flight was cancelled, cash compensation may be payable in addition to these rights.
Four separate rights
- A refund for the unused ticket.
- Rerouting at the earliest opportunity or on a later date.
- Care while waiting, including meals, a hotel and transport when necessary.
- Compensation of €250, €400 or €600 when the conditions are met.
Choosing a refund usually ends the airline’s obligation to take you to your original destination. Do not select this option too quickly if you still need to travel.
For a broader overview, read our main cancelled flight guide.
Should you ask for a refund or rerouting?
The best option depends on whether your trip still serves a purpose. The airline must let you choose and cannot unilaterally replace your legal options with a travel voucher.
Ticket refund
Choose this if the trip no longer serves a purpose or you decide not to travel. It covers the unused journey and may include parts already travelled when the original travel plan has become pointless.
Rerouting at the earliest opportunity
Choose this if you still need to reach your destination quickly. The airline must look for comparable transport, subject to seat availability, without charging you for a new ticket.
Travel on a later date
Useful if you want to postpone the trip. You can select a later date at your convenience, under comparable transport conditions and subject to seat availability.
A voucher is valid as your chosen solution only if you freely agree to it. Before clicking “accept”, check whether doing so waives your right to a cash refund or rerouting.
What if the outbound flight on a return booking is cancelled?
If both flights are part of one booking and the cancellation makes the trip pointless, ask for a refund of every part that has become useless. If you are stranded during a connection, a return flight to your original departure point may also be due.
How long does a cancelled flight refund take?
If you choose reimbursement under EU rules, the airline should issue the refund within seven days. It should cover the price paid for the relevant parts of the journey, including taxes.
Booked directly
Send your choice to the airline that took your payment.
Booked through an agent
Check who processed the payment and contact the agent as well if it manages the refund.
Paid with points
Ask for the points and taxes linked to the cancelled journey to be returned.
Package holiday
Package travel rules may provide additional rights. Contact the organiser promptly.
Meals, hotel and transport: what must the airline provide?
If you are waiting to be rerouted, the right to care still applies when the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances. The assistance must be reasonable in relation to your waiting time.
Food and drinks
The airline should provide reasonable refreshments and meals while you wait.
Communications
You may request two telephone calls, emails or other communications free of charge.
Accommodation
If an overnight stay becomes necessary, the airline should provide or pay for a hotel.
Local transport
Transport between the airport and the accommodation should also be arranged or reimbursed.
If the airline offers no assistance, first request written instructions. Purchase only what is necessary and reasonable, then keep every itemised receipt.
How much compensation can you claim on top of a refund?
Compensation is not based on the ticket price. It mainly depends on flight distance. It may still be payable after your ticket has been refunded if you were informed late and no extraordinary circumstance releases the airline from liability.
Per passenger when all conditions are met.
Per passenger when all conditions are met.
Per passenger, with a possible reduction following prompt rerouting.
When can compensation be reduced by 50%?
If you accept rerouting and reach your destination with a limited delay compared with the original schedule, the airline may reduce compensation by half. The applicable arrival limits are two, three or four hours, depending on the route category.
What does the 14-day cancellation rule mean?
The date on which you were personally informed matters. A flight cancelled at least 14 days before departure does not normally trigger fixed compensation, but your choice between a refund and rerouting remains.
The airline must prove when it informed you. Keep the cancellation email or text message with its date and time, along with every booking change.
When do extraordinary circumstances exclude compensation?
The airline may avoid paying fixed compensation if it proves the cancellation was caused by an external event that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. This does not remove your refund or rerouting choice, or your right to care.
Unsafe weather conditions
A severe storm, extreme fog or another event that makes the flight unsafe.
Air traffic control restriction
Airspace closure or an urgent decision by a competent aviation authority.
Security risk
An external event creating a serious danger to the flight, passengers or crew.
Exceptional external event
Certain political crises or strikes outside the airline may qualify.
Reasons that are not automatically extraordinary
Learn more in our guide to extraordinary circumstances.
What should you do in common cancellation situations?
Cancelled on the day of travel
Request rerouting and care immediately in writing. Photograph the airport display and record the time of the announcement.
New flight the following day
If you accept it, the airline should normally cover the necessary hotel, meals and transfers.
Unsuitable replacement flight
Ask for another comparable option. Before buying your own ticket, request a written response and document the lack of a suitable alternative.
Connection affected
On a single booking, rerouting should take you to the final destination, not merely the next airport.
Voucher imposed
State in writing that you decline the voucher and clearly choose either a cash refund or rerouting.
Non-EU airline
EU rules apply to flights departing from the EU regardless of the operating airline’s nationality.
How do you claim after a cancelled flight?
Separate your refund or rerouting request, your claim for reasonable care expenses and your fixed compensation claim. This helps prevent a partial response from being treated as a complete settlement.
Confirm your choice
State in writing whether you want a refund or transport to your destination.
Gather your evidence
Keep the booking, cancellation notice, boarding pass and replacement schedule.
List each amount
Separate the ticket price, reasonable expenses and €250 to €600 compensation.
Claim from the operating airline
Provide the flight number, travel date, passenger details and clear supporting documents.
Documents to keep
Check your rights with your airline
Find information for the carrier that was due to operate the cancelled flight.
Frequently asked questions about cancelled flights
Can I receive both a refund and compensation?+
Yes. A ticket refund and fixed compensation are separate rights. You may receive both when the cancellation qualifies for compensation.
Do I have to accept a travel voucher?+
No. A voucher requires your agreement. You can request the monetary refund available under the applicable rules or choose rerouting.
Can the airline refund me without offering another flight?+
The airline must let you choose between a refund and rerouting. If you still need to travel, clearly request rerouting before accepting a refund.
Who pays for the hotel if the new flight leaves tomorrow?+
While you wait for rerouting, the airline should normally provide the necessary accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel.
Does bad weather remove my right to a refund?+
No. Extraordinary circumstances may remove fixed compensation, but not your choice between refund and rerouting or your right to care.
How much notice must an airline give for cancellation?+
The key threshold for fixed compensation is 14 days. With less notice, compensation may be due unless the replacement schedule falls within specific limits or extraordinary circumstances apply.
Can I buy my own replacement ticket?+
First ask the airline to reroute you at the earliest opportunity and keep its response. If no suitable option is offered, document your attempts and choose a reasonable comparable fare.
What is the deadline for a cancelled flight refund?+
Under EU rules, the refund should normally be made within seven days when you select that option.
Find more answers in our frequently asked questions.
Was your flight cancelled?
Check whether you can claim up to €600 in compensation per passenger.
No upfront fee. A 30% fee including VAT applies only if your claim succeeds.