Cancelled Flight Compensation

What Are the Laws Surrounding Cancelled Flights?

The main law surrounding compensation for cancelled flights is EC Regulation 261 (EC 261), and it is a law that all EU member states must abide by. It states that compensation must be paid to passengers in the event of a flight being cancelled, unless the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances, which are beyond the control of the airline (such as bad weather or terrorism). This law has been in place since 2005, and has proved to be a massive step forwards for those wanting fair treatment from airlines.

It's also important to note that compensation can be received if a flight is scheduled to take off from an EU airport, or if it is scheduled to land at an EU airport and is regulated in the EU. So, for example, a cancelled flight from Gatwick to New York will be covered, regardless of the airline being used, however a cancelled flight from New York to Gatwick will only be covered if the airline is registered in the EU.

How to Claim Compensation for a Cancelled Flight

There are two ways to claim compensation for a cancelled flight, and the first of these is by negotiating with the airline directly. They know that there are rules and regulations surrounding their obligation to provide you with compensation, however they are not always too forthcoming when it comes to sticking to these obligations. The result is often a long and drawn out process, which causes many people to simply abandon their claim – and let the airline win.

There is an easier way though, and it comes in the form of our free service. We’ll help you file your claim, and all you need to do is complete the short form at the top of this page. This will take the hassle out of negotiating with the airline, and should lead to a much easier route to your compensation. We’ve provided this service to hundreds of passengers, earning back thousands and thousands of pounds in cancelled flight compensation.

How Much Compensation Can Be Claimed?

Currently, the maximum amount of compensation that can be claimed for a cancelled flight is £500. Unfortunately, if your flight was more expensive than this – such as business class flights or longer haul flights – you will therefore not be able to recover the full amount you paid.

Of course, not everyone will be entitled to the full £500 though, as not all flights cost this much. What’s more, there limits to the amount of compensation depending on how far you were planning to travel – only flights of 3500km or more are eligible for the full amount. Flights within Europe are limited to around the £200 mark, while those between 1500km and 3500km are limited to around £350. The airline will almost certainly try to haggle with you as well, in an attempt to bring the amount down even further. You won’t need to haggle with them when you use our service though, as we’ll take care of it for you, always aiming to get you the most compensation possible.

Are All Flight Cancellations Eligible for Compensation?

The majority of flight cancellations are eligible for compensation, as the fault for them falls squarely at the feet of the airline. It would be unfair to blame the airlines for all cancellations though, as sometimes there will be reasons that are completely out of their control. The EC Regulation 261 specifically states that these extraordinary events don’t have to be compensated for, which can be frustrating, but is fair.

Extraordinary circumstances come in many different forms, and some of the more commonly seen ones are listed below…

• Adverse weather. This is most commonly heavy rain or wind, however can also include weather such as fog and snow.
• Industrial action. If airline crew, or staff at the airport, walk out in industrial action, the airline cannot be considered responsible – even if some believe they should do more to prevent this occurrence.
• Staff sickness. Staff sickness isn’t seen too often, as airlines usually have staff members on call. Should the pilot get ill, for example, and no cover can be found, they’ll have no choice but to cancel the flight though.
• Political reason. The most commonly seen of these is terrorism, but could also include decisions by the government to ground flights or prevent flights to certain countries.
• Airport problems. If a flight is cancelled due to the fault of the airport, and not the airline, the blame can’t be pinned on the airline in question.

It is important to mention that extraordinary circumstances can only be used as an excuse when they occur at the current airport – should an event on a previous flight cause knock-on effects, the airline is expected to have contingency plans in place. For example, if a flight is delayed in Paris, the airline can’t use the “extraordinary circumstances” excuse when the plane’s next flight fails to take off on time. This doesn’t stop them from doing so though, as they attempt to scare people away from pursuing a compensation claim.

What Should a Passenger Do If a Flight is Cancelled?

If a flight is cancelled, there’s not much you can really do – aside from one absolutely vital piece of action you must take. This piece of action is turning up at the check-in desk, so you can prove that you were prepared to take the flight. This, in turn, shows that you have been inconvenienced by the decision to cancel, and makes your chances of compensation much greater.

Once you have been informed of a cancellation, you must then stay at your departure gate. This is so you can be made aware of any alternative plans the airline might have made for you, such as putting you on a slightly later flight. If you don’t take the airline up on their alternatives, this could affect your chances of getting compensation further down the line.

Other than that, all a passenger needs to do is get the claims process started, which can be done through our convenient service. Just fill out the details at the top of the page, and let us do the rest for you.

Flight Cancellation Q & As

Where to Find More Information

There are many great sites out there, all dedicated to giving you the very best advice on what to do when your flight is cancelled. The ones listed below are completely impartial, and used by huge amounts of people every year…

• Money Saving Expert - This is the UK’s number one source for financial and consumer information, and has a huge section devoted to claiming money back for cancelled flights.
• Citizen’s Advice - Citizen’s Advice is a free legal service and provides information on the best ways to claim money back. It is perhaps the most trusted legal resource in the UK. It’s also possible to speak to someone at one of their many centres around the country.
• Which? - Which? is another well-regarded site, providing impartial information on many different subjects, including cancelled flights.

Get Your Compensation Claim Started Today. If you have been affected by a cancelled flight in the last six years, you can easily start a compensation claim by filling out the form at the top of this page. It’s completely free, and we have a fantastic track record when it comes to getting disgruntled travellers the money they deserve. Why not fill in your details today?