1. August 2026
Cancelled flight compensation rights
What EU261 says about cancelled flights — refunds, rerouting, care and when you can claim €250–€600.
A cancelled flight is disruptive — but EU air passenger rights give you clear options. Under EU Regulation 261/2004 you may be entitled to a refund or rerouting, care during the wait, and in many cases fixed compensation of €250–€600.
Refund or rerouting
When your flight is cancelled, the airline must offer you a choice between:
- A full refund of the unused ticket (and a return flight to the first point of departure when relevant), or
- Rerouting to your final destination at the earliest opportunity, or at a later date at your convenience (subject to availability)
Care during disruption
Depending on waiting time, you may be entitled to:
- Meals and refreshments
- Two free communications (calls, emails)
- Hotel accommodation and transfers when an overnight stay is necessary
These care rights can apply even when extraordinary circumstances mean compensation is not payable.
When compensation is due
You may claim fixed compensation for a cancellation unless the airline offered you a suitable alternative that gets you to your destination with limited delay, or gave you enough advance notice under the regulation’s rules. Amounts follow the usual distance bands:
- €250 — up to 1,500 km
- €400 — 1,500–3,500 km
- €600 — over 3,500 km
Denied boarding (overbooking)
If you are denied boarding against your will on an overbooked flight, similar compensation and care rules often apply — ask for written confirmation at the gate.
How TicketRefund helps
Gather your booking and cancellation notice, then file via our claims portal. We assess EU261 eligibility and handle the airline process. Sister brands cover other modes: FerryRefund and TrainRefund.