Flight cancellation compensation in the UK

When do you get compensation?

You can generally claim compensation if you were told about the cancellation less than 14 days before departure, unless the airline offered a suitable alternative flight with timings close to your original one, or the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances.

The amounts are the same as for delays: £220, £350 or £520 per passenger, depending on distance.

Refund or re-routing

Whatever the reason for the cancellation, you are generally entitled to choose between a refund of the unused ticket and re-routing to your destination as soon as possible, or at a later date of your choice.

Care while you wait

The airline generally has to provide meals and refreshments in proportion to the waiting time and, if needed, hotel accommodation and transport to it.

What if I was told 3 weeks before?

If you were told at least 14 days before departure, fixed compensation is generally not due, but you keep the right to a refund or re-routing.

Is a strike an extraordinary circumstance?

It depends on whose strike. Strikes by the airline's own staff are generally not treated as extraordinary, while air traffic control strikes generally are.

Can I claim for a cancelled connecting flight?

Yes, if the connection was on a single booking, the compensation is generally calculated on the distance from your first departure airport to your final destination.