UK Flight Cancellation Compensation

UK flight cancellation compensation.

Are you eligible to it? How much can you claim? What are the rules?

The United Kingdom left the European Union aourt the end of January 2020. Many travellers feared that it will make them less protected in case of delays and cancellations. But the truth is, nothing much has changed. If before you were protected by the EU law, now you are protected by UK law. In many situations you can still claim flight cancellation compensation.

Often you can get both compensation and flight cancellation refund. 

It applies to flights with UK, EU and also other airlines.

1. UK Flight Cancellation Compensation

Flight compensation rules in the UK are very specific.

They are also very similar to the ones of the EU. In the EU you are protected by EU Regulation 261/2004. Before Brexit the same was true also with the UK flights and UK airlines. Now the UK Government has written Regulation 261 into UK law, and on this site we will refer to it as Regulation UK261. Very little has changed, and the rules are still very simple.

What happens if your flight is cancelled?

Your flight is cancelled 7 – 14 days before the departure date:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

Your flight is cancelled less than 7 days before the departure date:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

As you can see, sometimes even a 2 hour flight delay is enough for you to be entitled to UK flight cancellation compensation. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to these details.

However, there are a few conditions that should be met:

• Your airline is responsible for flight cancellation and delay (that includes technical problems);
• It must be a last-minute flight cancellation (up to 2 weeks).

Other things to note (flight cancellation, UK):

• You don’t have to be a UK citizen to be entitled to UK flight cancellation compensation. Because these rules apply also to tourists from overseas.
• This applies also to UK charter airlines and charter flights.
• In some cases it applies also to non-UK, non-EU airlines.

By Europe and EU here on this website, we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

1.1 Scenarios When You Can Get Flight Cancellation Compensation (UK Law / EU Law)

Here are all the possible scenarios.

As already mentioned, this 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 also some situations when you are protected by both of them. In these situations you can refer both to the UK law and the EU law when making a flight cancellation 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 as a Passenger?

1.2 Extraordinary Circumstances

In some situations, however, you can’t get compensation.

If your flight is cancelled due to extreme weather conditions, global pandemic related restrictions, political instability, security risk or airport strike*, in these situations you can’t get UK flight cancellation compensation. Because these situations are something out of the airline’s control. These situations are considered extraordinary circumstances.

However, if your flight is delayed or cancelled because of that, the airline should still handle this. While you are not entitled to compensation, you may have a right to care.

Learn more on this below. 

* Not all airport strikes are considered the same — in some situations you will be entitled to compensation.

1.3 Flight Cancellation Refunds

Is it possible to get a full refund for cancelled flight?

What if the offered new flight departs too late and you don’t want to take it? Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to change flights, especially if it’s a short trip.

According to Regulation UK261, if your flight is cancelled, the airline should offer you either a new flight or a full refund. This refund is in addition to any compensation that airline must pay under UK / EU flight cancellation law. If you choose the refund, money should be sent to your bank account within 7 days. You can ask for a flight cancellation reimbursement no matter the circumstances. In these situations it doesn’t matter what is the reason of cancellation. 

You don’t have to agree to airline voucher refund.

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?

2. Right to Care

If you have to wait at the airport, you have a right to care.

Same like in the EU, in case of flight cancellation, you are not only entitled to a compensation but also have the right to receive care from the airline, as long as the waiting time at the airport is at least 3 hours. You are entitled to it even if your flight is cancelled because of extraordinary circumstances. You don’t need any flight cancellation insurance for that, and it isn’t affected by any airline flight cancellation policies.

According to the Regulation UK261, you can get:

• free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time,
• free hotel accommodation if a stay of one or more nights is necessary,
• two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes.

3. How to Claim Flight Cancellation Compensation in the UK?

There are two ways to claim UK flight cancellation compensation.

One of the options is to contact the airline directly. Contact the airline’s customer support center via their website, and request flight cancellation compensation (and refund, when it’s due). Since there are no common guidelines, it doesn’t have to be an official flight cancellation compensation letter. Please note, that the process may take months.

The easiest path — legal representation.

In this case everything is handled by air passenger rights professionals. You simply had over your case, and they do all the job. All you mostly have to do is to fill in a claim form. Our partners offer such service.

When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:

And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.

* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.

Read more: Why Seek Legal Representation to Claim UK Flight Compensation?

3.1 How Long Does It Take?

How long does compensation take to come through?

On average it takes between 2 to 3 months from the moment you file a claim until your UK flight cancellation compensation arrives in your bank account. Every time there is a need to take a case to national enforcement body or court, it adds at least a couple of months, sometimes 6 or even more months to the whole process. 

That’s one of the reasons why many choose not to deal with that themselves, and work with flight compensation companies instead. Because it’s a lengthy process.

3.2 Improper Refusal: Extraordinary Circumstances

Trouble with getting compensation from the airline?

The airline is saying that you are not eligible for compensation because your flight was cancelled because of “extraordinary circumstances”? Well, it may be true. Or not, as airlines are not always telling the truth. 

In fact, it’s a tricky thing. Because neither Europe’s Flight Compensation Regulation 261/2004 (EC 261), nor “Regulation UK261” specify what exactly falls under the term extraordinary circumstances. As a result there is a place for interpretation. And as it happens in such situations everyone wants to use it in their favour.

Solution? Ask for the proof, or escalate it further. You can take the case to UK Civil Aviation Authority. And you can also ask a flight compensation company to do an investigation on your behalf. You can also check flight cancellation compensation with them, if you are really entitled to it. To be sure you aren’t being lied to. For example, technical problems with the airplane mostly aren’t considered extraordinary circumstances. 

Fill in the form linked on this page and it will be done on your behalf.

3.3 Why Work With a Flight Compensation Company?

Because it makes things so much easier.

Here are some of the pros to doing so:

1. It saves your time. In most situations all you have to do is to submit your information once and wait for the money. Just a single online form, and it’s done. 
2. It saves your money. Let’s assume that at some point you decide to search for legal advice regarding your flight cancellation compensation claim against the airline. You will have to pay for that. But with most flight compensation you only pay in case of success. No more dealing with improper refusal, and no uncertainty. 
3. It’s zero risk for you. Most of flight compensation firms work under ‘no win, no fee’ agreement. If you don’t get compensation, you don’t pay any fees.

4. How Much Can You Claim?

Airline flight cancellation compensation amounts are fixed.

Just like it is with EU flight cancellation compensation, you know in advance what exactly you will be getting. The amount is based on the distance of your flight and occasionally some other factors. However, it’s not affected by the price of the plane ticket or airline you are flying with.

That means that under the same circumstances easyJet flight cancellation compensation is going to be the same as British Airways flight cancellation compensation. Assuming that the distance is the same and the flights are cancelled because of the same reason. All thanks to the new Regulation UK261.

So, how much can you claim?

When your destination is within the UK / EU:

When your destination is outside the UK / EU:

There is one exception. If the distance of your flight is greater than 3,500 kilometres, and you reach your destination with a delay between 3 to 4 hours, you will be receiving £260 not £520 (50% of the compensation). If the delay is longer than 4 hours, you will get full compensation of £520.

Read more: How Much Compensation Can You Claim?

4.1 Airline Voucher Refund or Cash?

Be prepared, that you might be offered a voucher.

Sometimes airlines offer vouchers or miles instead of compensation. Note that you don’t have to accept a voucher or coupon. Unless, of course, you want a coupon instead of money. According to UK law, airline compensation and refunds have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.

UK Flight Cancellation Compensation: FAQ

Flight Cancellation Rights – Refunds

UK – Third Country Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

Featured photo by Pixabay from Pexels