Flight cancelled on the day of departure: what you can claim

Your immediate choices

When the cancellation is announced, the airline must offer you a choice:

• Re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity — on its own flights or, if that is much later, on another airline or by train where reasonable (the Commission’s guidelines and case law require comparable transport conditions).
• Re-routing at a later date of your choice.
• A full refund within 7 days, plus a return flight to your departure point if the trip has become pointless.

Do not accept a voucher unless you prefer one; cash refunds are your right.

Care while you wait

Meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time, two phone calls or emails, and a hotel with transport if the re-routing departs the next day. If the airline’s desk hands you nothing, buy what you need, keep every receipt and claim reimbursement.

Compensation

Because you were told less than 7 days before departure, compensation (€250 / €400 / €600; £220 / £350 / £520) is due unless:

• the replacement flight departed no more than 1 hour before the original and arrived less than 2 hours after the original scheduled arrival; or
• the airline proves extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided.

When the replacement got you there within 2 hours (short haul), 3 hours (medium haul) or 4 hours (long haul) of the original arrival, the airline may halve the amount.

Evidence to gather at the airport

• the cancellation notification with its timestamp (screenshot);
• the reason given on the board or by staff — ask for it in writing;
• the replacement flight offered, with its times;
• receipts for food, hotel and transport.

Typical airline defences and how to answer

• “Operational reasons” → ask for the specific cause; it is not a legal category.
• “Air traffic control” → ask for the ATC regulation reference and whether other flights operated.
• “Technical problem” → not extraordinary; compensation is due.
• “Crew unavailable” → not extraordinary.