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A cancelled flight can completely disrupt a trip. Shortened stay, missed appointments, unexpected expenses, stress at the airport… A last-minute cancellation often leads to much more than just inconvenience. What many passengers don’t realize is that compensation for a cancelled flight can reach up to €600 per passenger, in addition to the refund or re-routing offered by the airline.
Every year, millions of euros in compensation go unclaimed. Some travellers believe that a ticket refund is sufficient. Others believe they are not eligible.
However, in many cases, European regulations strongly protect passengers. If your flight has been cancelled, you may be entitled to compensation. And checking your situation only takes a few seconds.
Check in seconds what the company owes you with our form.
Before getting into the legal details, the simplest thing to do is to immediately check if you are entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight.
To do this, simply indicate:
- The departure airport
- The arrival airport
In just a few moments, you will know:
- If you are eligible for compensation
- The exact amount you can claim (€250, €400 or €600)
- The steps to follow to obtain your compensation
In the event of a cancellation, several parameters come into play: notice period, reason given by the company, offer of an alternative flight… Rather than trying to interpret the rules yourself, a quick check will give you a clear and personalized answer.
In what cases can the company refuse compensation?
Not all cancellations automatically entitle you to compensation for a cancelled flight .
The airline may refuse to pay compensation if:
- You were informed of the cancellation more than 14 days before departure
- An equivalent rerouting solution was offered to you within a very short timeframe.
- The cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances.
These circumstances may include:
- Extreme weather conditions
- Security risks
- Political instability
- Airspace closure
- Air traffic controllers’ strike
In these exceptional situations, the company is generally not required to pay financial compensation.
However, some causes are often questionable:
- Internal technical problems
- Staff shortage
- Internal organization failing
These reasons are not always considered extraordinary under the regulations. Even if the airline told you that you were only entitled to a refund, it is essential to check your eligibility. Many passengers discover that they can receive compensation for a cancelled flight, in addition to a refund of their ticket.
How long do you have to claim compensation?
As with delays, you have a legal time limit to claim compensation for a cancelled flight.
This timeframe varies depending on the country in which the application is submitted, but it can be up to five years in some cases.
This means that even if your flight was several months — or even several years ago — you could still be entitled to compensation.
Many travellers believe that a claim must be filed immediately and give up after a few weeks. In reality, as long as the legal deadline hasn’t passed, your right remains valid. It can therefore be helpful to also check your previous cancelled flights.
Conclusion: a cancellation does not only mean a refund
When a flight is cancelled, most passengers focus on getting a refund or being re-routed. However, in many cases, compensation for a cancelled flight can be added to these options.
Knowing your rights allows you to avoid missing out on compensation for cancelled flights of up to €600 per passenger.
In a context where cancellations remain frequent, taking a few seconds to check your eligibility can make all the difference. Before accepting a simple alternative offered by the airline, make sure you know exactly what you are entitled to.