Cancelled flight at Paris CDG: refund and compensation up to €600
Was your flight departing from or arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport cancelled? Depending on your route, when you were informed, the alternative flight offered and the reason for the cancellation, you may be entitled to a refund, rerouting and, in certain cases, compensation of up to €600 per passenger.
A cancellation does not automatically result in compensation. The notice period, route, rerouting offered and actual cause of the cancellation must be assessed individually.
A cancelled flight at Paris CDG may entitle you to €250, €400 or €600
When an airline cancels a flight departing from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, European passenger rights may provide several remedies: ticket reimbursement, rerouting to your destination, assistance during the wait and sometimes fixed compensation.
Compensation depends in particular on when the airline informed you of the cancellation and the schedule of any replacement flight. Compensation may not be payable where the cancellation results from extraordinary circumstances that the airline could not reasonably have avoided.
The 14-day notice period is one of the key factors when determining whether fixed cancellation compensation may be payable.
What should the airline offer after a cancelled flight at CDG?
Ticket reimbursement and fixed compensation are separate rights. Even when compensation of €250, €400 or €600 is not payable, you may still retain rights to reimbursement, rerouting and assistance.
Ticket reimbursement
If you decide not to travel, you may in certain circumstances choose reimbursement of the unused part of your ticket.
Rerouting
You may also choose alternative transport to your final destination under the conditions provided by passenger-rights legislation.
Assistance at Paris CDG
Meals, refreshments, communications, accommodation and transport may be due when the wait becomes prolonged.
Fixed compensation
When the legal conditions are met, compensation of €250, €400 or €600 may be payable in addition to your other rights.
When were you informed that your Paris CDG flight was cancelled?
The date on which the airline informs you about the cancellation is an important factor when determining your right to compensation.
More than 14 days before departure
Fixed cancellation compensation is generally not payable when you were informed sufficiently far in advance.
Between 7 and 14 days before departure
The schedule of your original flight must be compared with the rerouting offered by the airline.
Less than 7 days before departure
The departure and arrival times of the replacement flight become particularly important when assessing compensation.
Cancellation at the airport
If your flight is cancelled while you are already at Paris CDG, immediately request the reason, your rerouting options and any assistance you require.
How much compensation can you claim for a cancelled flight at Paris CDG?
When the requirements of European passenger-rights rules are met, compensation is mainly determined by flight distance rather than the price paid for the ticket.
Reference amount for certain eligible short-distance cancelled flights.
Reference amount for certain medium-distance journeys and certain intra-European flights.
Maximum reference amount for certain eligible long-haul flights cancelled at Paris CDG.
In certain rerouting situations, compensation may be reduced by 50% when the replacement journey reaches the final destination sufficiently close to the originally scheduled arrival time.
When can a cancelled flight at Paris CDG qualify for compensation?
Late cancellation notice
You were generally informed fewer than 14 days before departure, subject to the rules concerning any alternative flight offered.
Flight covered by European rules
A flight departing from Paris CDG is generally covered by European passenger-rights rules regardless of the nationality of the operating airline.
No extraordinary circumstance exemption
The airline must not be able to establish that the cancellation resulted exclusively from extraordinary circumstances that could not reasonably have been avoided.
Confirmed booking
You must hold a valid confirmed reservation for the cancelled flight and comply with the applicable travel requirements.
Did the airline offer you another flight from Paris CDG?
Accepting an alternative flight does not automatically mean that you waive your right to compensation.
To assess your rights, the departure and arrival times of the replacement itinerary must be compared with those of the flight you originally booked.
The later the cancellation was announced and the greater the change to your travel schedule, the more important it becomes to assess the details of the replacement journey.
Read our complete guide to cancelled flights →Why might a cancelled flight at CDG not qualify for compensation?
An airline may be exempt from fixed compensation if it proves that the cancellation resulted from extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
Simply referring to “extraordinary circumstances” may not be enough. The precise cause of the cancellation and the measures taken by the airline should be examined.
Meals, hotel and transport after your flight is cancelled
When your flight is cancelled and rerouting requires you to wait at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, the airline may have to provide appropriate care and assistance.
Meals and refreshments
Reasonable meals and refreshments may be due depending on the length of the wait.
Communications
You may be entitled to make communications while waiting because of the cancellation.
Hotel accommodation
If your new flight departs the following day, accommodation may have to be provided.
Transport
Transport between Paris CDG and your accommodation may also form part of the airline’s duty of care.
Keep itemised receipts for necessary and reasonable expenses you had to pay yourself, including meals, accommodation and transport.
What should you do immediately if your flight is cancelled at Paris CDG?
Charles de Gaulle is a major airport with several terminals. When a cancellation is announced while you are already there, a few simple steps can help protect your rights.
Ask for the exact reason
Ask why the flight was cancelled and keep all emails, text messages and airline notifications.
Request rerouting
Check the new departure time, departure terminal and expected arrival time at your destination.
Keep your evidence
Keep your boarding pass, booking confirmation, screenshots and receipts for expenses caused by the disruption.
Your replacement flight may leave from a different Paris CDG terminal. Confirm the gate, terminal and time required to reach it.
Did a cancellation at CDG cause you to miss a connecting flight?
A cancellation may disrupt your entire journey, particularly when Paris Charles de Gaulle is a connecting airport on an itinerary containing several flights.
When the flights appear on a single booking, the final destination of the itinerary generally plays an important role when assessing passenger rights.
Ask the airline to reroute you to your final destination and retain the information relating to every flight on your itinerary.
See your rights after a missed connection →Which airline operated your cancelled flight at CDG?
Paris Charles de Gaulle is used by many French, European and international airlines. The applicable rules may also depend on the carrier that actually operated your flight.
Which documents should you keep after a cancelled flight at CDG?
The more complete your information about the flight and cancellation, the easier it is to assess your claim accurately.
Booking
- Booking confirmation
- Flight number
- Travel date
- Boarding pass
Cancellation evidence
- Cancellation email
- SMS or notification
- Airline app screenshot
- Airport information-screen photo
Replacement flight
- New booking
- New departure time
- Final arrival time
- New boarding pass
Expenses
- Meals
- Hotel
- Taxi or transport
- Other necessary expenses
How do you claim compensation after a cancellation at Paris CDG?
Enter your flight details
Provide the flight number, date, Paris CDG and your destination.
Describe the cancellation
Tell us when you were informed and the reason stated by the airline.
Provide your documents
Add the documents available concerning your booking and any rerouting offered.
Track your claim
Fly Claim assists you with the steps taken against the airline.
Fly Claim charges a 30% commission including tax only when compensation is successfully recovered.
FAQ about cancelled flights at Paris CDG
How much compensation can I receive if my flight is cancelled at Paris CDG?
When the applicable conditions are satisfied, compensation may amount to €250, €400 or €600 per passenger depending mainly on flight distance.
Can I claim if my flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure?
Potentially, yes. The replacement flight offered and the exact reason for the cancellation must also be taken into account.
Can I request a refund for my cancelled flight?
Yes. In certain circumstances you may choose reimbursement instead of rerouting after your flight is cancelled.
Can I accept another flight and still receive compensation?
Yes, this may be possible. Rerouting and fixed compensation are separate rights, although the timing of the replacement journey must be considered.
Air France cancelled my flight at CDG. Can I claim?
Potentially, yes. The notice date, cancellation reason, route and any alternative flight offered should all be checked.
Does bad weather automatically prevent compensation?
No. Weather that genuinely prevents safe operation may qualify as an extraordinary circumstance, but the actual conditions and their effect on your flight should be verified.
Does the airline have to pay for my hotel after a cancellation?
If rerouting requires an additional overnight stay, the airline may have to provide accommodation and transport between the airport and the hotel.
Which documents should I keep after the cancellation?
Keep your booking confirmation, boarding pass, cancellation messages, replacement itinerary and receipts for necessary expenses.
How much does Fly Claim charge?
There is no upfront fee to start a claim. Fly Claim charges a 30% commission including tax only when compensation is recovered.
Passenger-rights rules and useful information
This page provides general information about cancelled flights at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Eligibility must be assessed according to the individual circumstances of each journey.
Check whether you can claim up to €600 in compensation
Enter your flight number, travel date and details of the cancellation. There is no upfront fee to start the assessment.
30% commission including tax only if your claim succeeds.