Flight cancellations happen more often than you think, and it’s been found that over 2.4 million people had their flight called off in the UK in the first half of 2024. Experiencing this can disrupt your travel plans, but rest assured that your rights are protected under the EU Regulation 261/2004, ensuring you get a compensation for a cancelled flight.
This article will guide you on how to know if you’re entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight.
Key Factors That Determine Your Eligibility for Compensation
The following factors will help you determine whether your flight cancellation qualifies for compensation:
1. Notice Period Given by the Airline
- 14 Days or More: If the airline informed you about the flight cancellation at least 14 days in advance, you’re not entitled to compensation.
- 7–14 Days: If you were notified between 7 and 14 days before departure, compensation may apply if the airline fails to rebook you on a flight that departs no more than two hours earlier and arrives no more than four hours later than your original flight.
- Less Than 7 Days: If you were notified less than 7 days in advance and the airline’s alternative flight departs more than one hour earlier or arrives more than two hours later than scheduled, you are entitled to compensation.
2. Reason for Cancellation
Compensation depends on the cause of the cancellation, and whether the airline is responsible:
- Airline’s Responsibility: You are entitled to compensation if the cancellation was caused by reasons within the airline’s control, such as technical issues or crew strikes.
- Extraordinary Circumstances: This includes bad weather conditions, political unrest, and strikes unrelated to the airline. In this case, you aren’t entitled to any compensation.
3. Flight Eligibility
- The flight must depart from an EU airport or arrive in the EU on an EU-based carrier. Post-Brexit, this rule still applies to flights departing from or arriving in the UK.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim?
The compensation amount for a flight cancellation depends on the distance of the flight and the delay at your final destination, which is between £220 – £520. This is broken down further as:
- Short distance up to 1500 km (e.g, London – Edinburgh): £220
- Medium distance up to 3500 km (e.g. London – Athens): £350
- Long distance from 3500 km ((e.g. London – Tokyo): £520
Next Steps to Take After a Flight Cancellation
Once you’re certain that you meet the eligibility criteria for a flight cancellation compensation, follow these next steps:
1. Confirm the Cancellation Details: Check the notice period, the reason for cancellation, and whether the flight falls under the coverage of the EC 261 regulation.
2. Gather Evidence: Save your booking confirmation, boarding passes, and any communication from the airline about the cancellation, specifically in a written format.
3. File a Claim: Start taking steps to submit a claim with the airline, based on their rules. You can ask further questions from the airline’s front desk on what you’re entitled to.
4. Seek Assistance: You can use an attorney or professional legal tech service like Flightright to speed up the process and get your compensation within a shorter time frame.
Bottom Line
The first step to claiming compensation for a cancelled flight is understanding your rights under the law, which this article has addressed. Know the eligibility criteria, what you’re entitled to, and the next steps.
