Cancelled Flight Rights UK 2025 — Refund, Rerouting and Compensation Explained

Key rule

When does a cancellation entitle you to compensation?

You are entitled to cash compensation if the airline notified you of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure. If notified 14 or more days in advance, no compensation is owed — but you are still entitled to a full refund or rerouting. The 14-day rule is clear-cut: the date of notification, not the date of cancellation, is what matters.

<14 days notice → compensation owed✓ Always: refund or rerouting✓ Always: right to care

Your three legal rights

Every cancelled flight triggers three distinct rights

Right to compensation (if notified under 14 days)

Fixed UK261 rates: £220 (under 1,500km), £350 (1,500–3,500km), £520 (over 3,500km) per passenger. The airline may reduce these amounts if they offer a re-routing that minimises the delay. Compensation is owed even if the cancellation was for operational reasons within the airline’s control.

Right to choose: full refund or rerouting

This right applies regardless of how much notice you received. You can choose between: (a) a full refund of your ticket price within 7 days; or (b) rerouting to your destination at the earliest opportunity, or at a later date of your choice subject to availability. The airline cannot make this choice for you — you decide.

Right to care while you wait

While waiting for a rerouting or departure, the airline must provide: meals and refreshments proportionate to the wait; two free communications (phone or email); hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary; and transport between the airport and hotel. Keep all receipts if the airline fails to provide these directly.

Compensation amounts

How much you can claim for a cancelled flight

Flight distanceExample routesPer passenger

Under 1,500 kmUK domestic, most European routes£220

1,500 – 3,500 kmCanary Islands, Morocco, Egypt£350

Over 3,500 kmUSA, Caribbean, Middle East, Asia£520

The airline may reduce the long-haul rate by 50% if they offer rerouting arriving within a specific time window of the original. All other rates must be paid in full.

Extraordinary circumstances

When airlines don’t have to pay compensation for cancellations

Airlines are exempt from compensation (but not from the refund/rerouting or right to care obligations) if the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures. These include genuine ATC strikes, volcanic ash clouds, security threats, and severe and unusual weather. Routine technical faults, crew shortages, and standard weather conditions do not qualify. See our full extraordinary circumstances guide for details on how to challenge a rejection.

FAQs

Cancelled flight rights — questions answered

My flight was cancelled at the airport — am I entitled to compensation?+

Yes. A same-day cancellation at the airport is clearly within the 14-day window, so full compensation applies. The airline is also obliged to provide meals, accommodation (if overnight), and transport immediately. If they fail to, keep all receipts and claim the costs back alongside your UK261 compensation.

The airline cancelled and rebooked me on an earlier flight — can I still claim?+

Possibly. If the earlier flight departs significantly before your original and you didn’t agree to the change, this may still give rise to a compensation claim. The key test is whether you were offered a choice of rerouting or a full refund. Unilaterally moving you to an earlier flight without your consent does not extinguish your rights under UK261.

Can I get both a full refund and compensation?+

Yes — these are separate rights. The full refund of your ticket price and the fixed UK261 cash compensation are distinct. You do not have to choose between them. If you take a refund rather than rerouting, you are still entitled to the compensation payment for the cancellation itself.

The airline offered a voucher instead of cash — do I have to accept it?+

No. Under UK261, you are entitled to cash compensation. You may voluntarily choose to accept a voucher, but the airline cannot force you to. Declining a voucher and requesting the statutory cash payment is entirely within your rights. If the airline insists on a voucher, escalate to their ADR scheme.

Related guides

Disclaimer: Not legal advice. UK261 rights apply automatically but airlines sometimes dispute them. Always consult a specialist for complex cases.