Are you eligible to refund for flight cancellation?
Your flight has been cancelled. What now?
Have you been given a voucher instead of cash? Is it possible to change it to cash? If the flight is from or to the UK or EU, it doesn’t even depend on your airline’s refund policy, but Regulation UK261 / EC261 which it has to follow. To put it simply, these regulation tell what exactly airlines operating in the UK and EU has to do when they cancel any of their flights, and also what are passenger rights when flight is cancelled.
UK Airline Refund For Cancellation
There are two possible scenarios, depending on when your flight was cancelled.
So, let’s start with a question — when was your flight cancelled?
Scenario 1: Flight Is Cancelled Less Than 2 Weeks Before the Trip
You can get: Refund or new flight + compensation.
You can get compensation when the cancellation is fault of the airline.
If your flight is cancelled no more than 14 days before the trip, this is what you are eligible for. In this case your airline must offer you a choice between a new flight to your destination and a full refund. You have a right to choose either option — whichever works best for you.
If your flight is cancelled due to airline’s fault, you are also eligible to receive UK flight cancellation compensation (up to £520 per passenger).
All of this must be paid to your bank account.
Check your compensation online!
Scenario 2: Flight Is Cancelled More Than 2 Weeks Before the Trip
You can get: Refund or new flight to your destination.
If it isn’t a last-minute cancellation, and your flight is cancelled more than 14 days before your trip, you can’t apply for compensation. However, you still have the right to a full refund, if that’s what you want (instead of a new, alternative flight to your destination). Your airline must give you such a choice, and you have a right to choose the option that suits you the best.
Your refund should be paid within 7 days.
Contact the airline to check your refund request status.
Read more:
- How to Get a Refund From British Airways?
- How to Get a Refund From easyJet?
- How To Get a Refund From Wizz Air UK?
- How to Get a Refund From Jet2?
- How to Get a Refund From Loganair?
- How to Get a Refund From BA EuroFlyer?
- How to Get a Refund From Eastern Airways?
Situations When You’re Protected (UK Law / EU Law)
Here are all the possible scenarios.
This UK law, often referred to as Regulation UK261, is based on the EU flight compensation regulation 261/2004 (EC 261). While that makes them almost identical, there are situations when you are also protected by both of them. So, in these situations you can refer both to the UK law and the EU law when making a claim.
You’re flying with a UK airline:
Regulation UK261 | Regulation EC261/2004 | |
| EU – EU | ✓ | ✓ |
| EU – UK | ✓ | ✓ |
| EU – Third Country | ✓ | ✓ |
| UK – EU | ✓ | – |
| UK – UK | ✓ | – |
| UK – Third Country | ✓ | – |
| Third Country – EU | ✓ | – |
| Third Country – UK | ✓ | – |
You’re flying with a EU airline:
| Regulation UK261 | Regulation EC261/2004 | |
| EU – EU | – | ✓ |
| EU – UK | ✓ | ✓ |
| EU – Third Country | – | ✓ |
| UK – EU | ✓ | ✓ |
| UK – UK | ✓ | – |
| UK – Third Country | ✓ | – |
| Third Country – EU | – | ✓ |
| Third Country – UK | ✓ | – |
You’re flying with other airlines (non-EU, non-UK):
| Regulation UK261 | Regulation EC261/2004 | |
| EU – EU | – | ✓ |
| EU – UK | – | ✓ |
| EU – Third Country | – | ✓ |
| UK – EU | ✓ | – |
| UK – UK | ✓ | – |
| UK – Third Country | ✓ | – |
Read more:
- You Are Flying With a UK Airline: Which Laws Protect You as a Passenger?
- You Are Flying With a EU Airline: Which Laws Protect You as a Passenger?
- You Are Flying With a Non-EU, Non-UK Airline: Which Laws Protect You?
What If You Cancel a Flight, Can You Get a Flight Refund?
If you cancel a flight, your eligibility for a refund depends on the specific terms and conditions of your airline ticket. While some airlines will offer a full refund if you cancel your ticket within 24 hours of booking, others won’t do the same. This vary based on the type of ticket you purchased and the airline’s cancellation policy.
For example, if you purchased a non-refundable ticket, you may not be entitled to a refund if you cancel your flight. Some airlines may offer vouchers or credit for future flights instead of a refund. It’s important to read the fine print when purchasing your ticket to understand what your options are in case you need to cancel.
UK Cancelled Flight Refund: FAQ
If my flight is cancelled, do I get a refund?
If it’s a flight from or to the UK or EU, then yes.
In this case you can choose between a full refund and a new flight. But you can’t get both. You can, however, get both a refund or new flight and compensation — if your flight is cancelled less than 2 weeks before the day of departure and it’s due to the fault of your airline.
Voucher refund or cash, can I get money?
What if your airline is offering you a voucher for cancellation?
Most airlines around the world were offering coupons during COVID crisis, but many do that regularly. Do you have to accept a compensation voucher, or can you say no? You can definitely say no. In the UK and the EU flight cancellation refunds have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer. No matter why the airline has cancelled a flight. That’s the rules in the UK (Regulation UK261) and the EU (Regulation EU261).
Have you already been given a voucher?
Ask your airline to exchange the voucher to cash.
Airline refusing refund for cancellation?
First of all, don’t give up.
Remind them that it’s their obligation, and refer to Regulation UK261, Articles 5 and 8. If nothing helps, send a complaint to UK Civil Aviation Authority. In the EU you can also contact national enforcement body of the country your flight is from.
Can you get both compensation and refund?
There are situations when you can get both.
If your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before the trip, by fault of the airline, you may choose to have a full refund and you will also get compensation the airline owes you in such situations.
The best part is that, if you choose, both your flight cancellation refund and compensation will be paid to your bank account — you don’t have to accept any coupons or vouchers. In case you have already been issued one, ask the airline for cash refund instead of voucher, they will do an exchange.
Do you still have questions about flight cancellation refunds in the UK? About air passenger rights in the UK? Ask in the comments.