Flight Cancelled? Refund, Re-Routing and Compensation

Your choices when an airline cancels your flight, when compensation may be payable and a ready-made letter.

Short answer: If an airline cancels your flight you can choose a refund or to be re-routed at no extra cost. Compensation of £110 to £520 may also be payable, mainly when you were told 14 days or less before departure.

The Rule

Your choice: a refund for the unused parts of your ticket, or re-routing at no extra cost.
Notice matters. With 7 to 14 days’ notice, fixed compensation may apply depending on how late the replacement flight arrives. With under 7 days’ notice, compensation applies unless the replacement leaves within 1 hour of the original and arrives under 2 hours late.
Extraordinary circumstances (for example extreme weather) remove the right to compensation but not your right to a refund or re-routing.
The CAA page below describes the notice bands; check it for your exact situation.

What to Do

Keep the cancellation message, your booking reference and any receipts for meals, hotels or transport.
Decide whether you want a refund or to be re-routed, and tell the airline in writing.
If you were given short notice, claim compensation using the letter below.
If the airline does not respond, see the escalation steps on the CAA pages below.

Ready-to-Use Letter or Email

Copy this, fill in the square brackets and send it in writing. Keep a copy and proof of sending.

Subject: Cancelled flight [flight number] on [date]: refund or re-routing and compensation

Dear [airline] customer relations,

My flight [flight number] from [departure airport] to [arrival airport] on [date] (booking reference [reference]) was cancelled. I was told on [date I was told].

Please: (1) [refund the unused parts of my ticket / re-route me at no extra cost], and (2) pay any compensation due under UK261 for the [number] passengers on this booking, or explain in writing why none is due.

I also ask you to reimburse the following reasonable costs, receipts attached: [list].

Please reply within 14 days.

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]

Sources

Last checked 4 October 2026. Rules change, so check the official page before you rely on this. This is general information, not legal advice.

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