Flight cancellation

Check your rights in the event of a flight cancellation

If your flight was cancelled less than 1 week before the scheduled flight and you have arrived late at the destination airport, you may be entitled to €600 compensation. The amount of compensation is determined by the length of the flight and the length of the delay.

If you have been informed of the flight cancellation more than 1 week before the scheduled flight, the airline must arrange an alternative flight with which you agree. If you agree to the alternative flight, you lose your right to compensation.

Check which conditions must be met in order to be entitled to compensation in case of flight cancellation.

Conditions for entitlement

The European Regulation EU 261/2004 lays down which air passengers are entitled to compensation.

 

This Regulation covers all of the following flights:

  • The departure airport and the destination airport are located in the European Union with an air carrier established in the European Union or with its registered office outside the European Union,
  • The destination airport is in the European Union with an air carrier with its registered office in the European Union,
  • The destination airport is located outside the European Union with an air carrier established in the European Union or with its registered office outside the European Union.

Passenger rights in the event of flight cancellation:

 

If the flight is cancelled, passengers shall have the right to:

  • the first alternative flight to the same destination airport,
  • alternative flights scheduled at a later time at the request of passengers to the same destination airport,
  • refund in the amount of the plane ticket value,
  • in connecting flights, the refund for the entire flight and, at the request of the passenger, an alternative flight to the initial airport.

 

In the event of a flight cancellation, passengers have the right to refreshments and hotel accommodation, which must be provided by the airline. If the airline offers a different mode of transport than air travel, it must pay all the respective costs and, in agreement with the passenger, route the transport to a location near the destination airport.

 

Validity of compensation:

 

The airline must also provide compensation in cases of flight cancellation, except in cases where:

  • the airline informs passengers of the flight cancellation more than 2 weeks before the departure flight,
  • the airline informs passengers of the flight cancellation more than 1 week and less than 2 weeks before the departure flight, if the departure flight is less than 2 hours earlier and arrives at the destination airport less than 4 hours later,
  • the airline informs passengers of the flight cancellation less than 1 week before the departure flight, if the departure flight is less than 1 hour earlier and arrives at the destination airport less than 2 hours later.

Amount of compensation

 

The amount of compensation depends on the length of the flight and amounts to:

  • €250 for flights up to 1,500km,
  • €400 for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km,
  • €600 for flights over 3,500km.

Exceptional circumstances revoking the right to compensation:

 

Passengers whose flights have been delayed due to exceptional circumstances shall not be entitled to compensation. Exception circumstances include:

– Weather (unless other planes have continuously flown)

– Strikes (except for strikes of the staff of the airline in delay)

– Air control decisions

– Political issues

– Safety risks

 

Seeking compensation for old cases

 

You can seek compensation for flights up to a few years old depending on the country where the airline is established.

Claim compensation