Not eligible for compensation? You may still get money back

Compensation is a fixed payment for inconvenience. Even when it is not owed, refunds, expenses and insurance often are.

1. Refunds

United States

If your airline cancelled your flight or significantly changed it, and you did not accept the alternative flight, travel credit or other offer, you are entitled to a refund. It must be paid automatically to your original payment method: within 7 business days for card payments, or 20 days for other payments.

A significant change includes arriving 3 hours or more later on a domestic itinerary, or 6 hours or more on an international one, a different airport, more connections, or a downgrade.

EU and UK

If your flight is cancelled, or delayed by 5 hours or more, you can choose a refund of the unused ticket instead of travelling (Art 8 of Regulation 261/2004; CAA guidance). On a connecting journey, the airline must also return you to your first departure point.

Canada

For cancellations and delays of 3 hours or more, the airline must rebook you, whatever the cause, even when no compensation is owed. If the disruption was within its control (including for safety) and the rebooking does not meet your needs, you can choose a refund of the unused portion instead (APPR s.17). If it was outside its control and the airline cannot rebook you on a flight leaving within 48 hours of the original departure, you can choose a refund instead (s.18(1.1)). Refunds are due within 30 days (s.18.2).

2. Meals, hotels and expenses

Under EU and UK rules, the airline must give you meals and refreshments, and a hotel with transport if you have to stay overnight, whatever caused the disruption (Art 9; C-12/11 McDonagh). For a delay, care starts once your departure is 2 hours or more late on flights of 1,500 km or less, 3 hours or more on intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other flights over 1,500 km up to 3,500 km, and 4 hours or more on longer flights (Art 6(1)). For a cancellation, it applies while you wait for your replacement flight (Art 5(1)(b)). If the airline did not provide it, claim back reasonable costs with receipts.

US airlines publish what they promise for delays and cancellations they caused, such as meal vouchers, hotels and rebooking on partner airlines. Check your airline on the DOT Airline Customer Service Dashboard (يفتح في علامة تبويب جديدة). DOT says it will hold airlines to these commitments; if your airline did not keep them, contact the airline first, then you can file a complaint with DOT.

3. Credit card and travel insurance checklist

Many credit cards and travel policies include trip-delay or trip-cancellation cover. Terms vary widely, so check your own policy wording:

• Did you pay for the flight with the card, or with points from it? Cover often depends on this.
• What delay length triggers cover, and does it count from scheduled departure?
• What does it pay for: meals, hotel, transport, non-refundable bookings you missed?
• Does it need a letter from the airline confirming the delay and reason? Ask for one before you leave the airport if you can.
• What is the claim deadline? Some are short.
• Keep itemised receipts, boarding passes and the airline's disruption messages.

4. Claims agencies

Agencies take a share of any payment. You can claim the same amount yourself for free, and UK ADR schemes are free to use. If you still want to use an agency, compare their fees first. We do not currently refer anyone to an agency.

Think the airline got it wrong?

If your airline blamed "extraordinary circumstances", read how that defence works and whether a strike counts. Then re-run the checker with the reason you were given.