If you are travelling on a European Union (EU) airline your rights apply on all flights departing or returning to a EU airport. 

If you are not travelling on a EU airline your rights will only apply to flights departing from a EU airport.

Be careful when you book a code share to check who is operating the flight. Read our information about airline alliances and codeshares.

If your flight is cancelled between 7 and 14 days before you were due to fly, you are entitled to:

• a refund of the parts of the ticket not used if you decide not to travel, or
• you can choose an alternative flight (airlines call this re-routing) with the same airline to your final destination as soon as possible, or at a later date which suits you. This includes a transfer to the original airport, or another close by place of your choice.
• you can choose an alternative flight at a later date which suits you. This includes a transfer to the original airport, or another close by destination of your choice.
• If the new flight offered departs less than two hours before the original scheduled time and arrives less than four hours after the original scheduled time, you are entitled to less compensation as laid out below.

Extraordinary circumstances

Flight cancellations occur for a variety of reasons, some of which are outside the control of the airline. The right to financial compensation does not apply if the airline can demonstrate that the reason for the cancellation was an extraordinary event and was outside their control. Extraordinary circumstances vary from case to case but could include problems like extreme weather conditions or strikes.

If the entire airport is closed, it is likely to be extraordinary circumstances. The airline should tell you the reason the flight was cancelled and if you are unhappy with the explanation you can contact the CAA. Even if there are extraordinary circumstances leading to a cancellation, you are still entitled to care and assistance including food, drinks and hotel accommodation where appropriate.

Where you have these rights

The above information applies to all flights from European Union (EU) airports. It also applies to all flights to EU airports, from outside of the European Union, on an EU airline. (EU in this sense includes all EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.) We also have information on delays and cancellations outside of the European Union.