Delays and Cancellations

Guidance on your rights and what you should do if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

You have important rights if your flight is delayed or cancelled, however, those rights will vary depending on your circumstances and whether you are travelling with an EU carrier or a non-EU carrier.

Regulation EC 261/2004 prescribes what airlines must provide their passengers in the event that a flight is delayed or cancelled. This information is usually found in the airlines small print and so it might be useful to print out this section from your airlines terms and conditions and take it with you along with your travel documents. Some airlines don't include it in their terms and conditions at all, but this does not mean that they are not obliged to provide you with what you are entitled to.

Inside the European UnionOutside the European Union
DelayedCancelledFurther information about your rights when travelling outside the European Union on a non-EU airline.

Flight distance is up to 1500km.
(e.g.London to Paris)

More than 14 days before departure
Flight distance is
1500 - 3500km
(e.g. London to Algiers
Plus intra-community flights of more than 1,500 km)		Between 7 and 14 days prior to departure
Flight distance is more than 3500km
(e.g. London to New York)		Less than 7 days prior to departure

The CAA has produced a leaflet on your rights which is now available at some airports. The text from the leaflet is available to explain your rights during times of major travel disruption. In case your flight gets cancelled or delayed, it might be useful to print this advice out and take it with you along with your travel documents.

In addition to knowing your rights, there are a number of things to bear in mind before you travel:

  • Your rights are prescribed in the UK via EU law, so even if your airlines terms and conditions do not tell you about your rights, you are still entitled to them.

  • If you have been advised in advance of the departure date that your flight is going to be delayed or cancelled, and the alternatives offered by the airline are not acceptable, you may be entitled to a refund.

  • Check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport. If it is delayed or cancelled, you can contact the airline to find out more information, as the airline might advise you to stay in the comfort of your own home, particularly if you have children or you are a passenger who may require special assistance.

  • Print out our Know Your Rights Leaflet and take it with you. It might be useful to keep this with your travel documents.

  • Do you have travel insurance? If your flight is delayed or cancelled and you opt for a refund (where you are entitled to this right), your insurance may cover you for any consequential losses you may incur, for instance for cancelling your hotel booking, where you may have purchased these separately. This will depend on the type of policy you have taken out.