Earnly/Passenger rights/Cancelled flight rights: refund, rerouting and compensation
Cancellation guide

Cancelled flight rights: refund, rerouting and compensation

A cancellation does not produce the same remedy everywhere. Separate the immediate travel decision from any later compensation claim.

Reviewed 2026-07-18 · Source-backed overview, not legal advice

The short answer

When an airline cancels a flight, a refund or alternative travel may be available under the rules governing the booking. EU and UK passengers may also have care and fixed compensation in qualifying circumstances. Canadian outcomes depend partly on the cause and rebooking obligations. In the United States, a refund is owed when the airline cancels or significantly changes a flight and the passenger does not accept the alternative offered.

Make the travel decision first

Decide whether you still want to travel. A refund and rerouting are alternatives in many systems: accepting a replacement flight can change whether the unused ticket must be refunded. Ask the airline to put the available choices and the replacement itinerary in writing before selecting one.

A refund is not the same as compensation

A refund returns money for transportation not taken. Fixed compensation, where available, addresses the disruption and depends on separate conditions such as notice, cause and replacement timing. Care covers reasonable needs during the wait. Treat each as a separate question in the claim.

Preserve the cancellation record

Notice and replacement timing can determine whether fixed compensation is available, while the stated cause may determine whether the airline can rely on an exception.

  • Save the first cancellation message and its timestamp.
  • Keep the original itinerary and every replacement offered.
  • Ask the airline to state the reason for cancellation.
  • Keep receipts for reasonable costs and evidence of any refund or voucher offered.

Be deliberate about vouchers

A voucher may be useful, but it is not automatically equivalent to cash. Check whether a monetary refund is owed, whether accepting the voucher changes that right, the expiry date, transferability and any booking restrictions. Keep a copy of the offer and acceptance terms.

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Official sources

  1. Air passenger rightsYour Europe, European Union · Reviewed 2026-07-18
  2. Cancellations: your entitlementsUK Civil Aviation Authority · Reviewed 2026-07-18
  3. Flight delays and cancellations: rebooking, refunds and compensationCanadian Transportation Agency · Reviewed 2026-07-18
  4. RefundsU.S. Department of Transportation · Reviewed 2026-07-18
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