If my flight’s cancelled, what are my rights? Will I be refunded?

Under the terms of airline regulation, your entitlement and compensation varies depending on when you were informed of the cancellation. The airline must provide at least two weeks notice to avoid paying compensation and must then offer either:

An alternative flight at the earliest opportunity or at a later date of your choice subject to the availability of seats; or

A full refund of the ticket. If you have been given between two weeks’ and seven days’ notice, the airline must offer a choice between:

An alternative flight departing no more than two hours before your original departure time and allowing arrival at your final destination within four hours of the original scheduled time of arrival; or

A full refund of the ticket. Less than a week’s notice requires the airline to offer the choice between:

An alternative flight departing no more than one hour before your original departure time and allowing arrival within two hours of the original scheduled time of arrival; or

A full refund of the ticket.

COMPENSATION:

Compensation in the event of a cancellation depends on the distance of the flight and the reason for the cancellation. If an airline can prove that the cancellation was caused by an extraordinary circumstance which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures were taken, no compensation is payable. The distance of a flight determines the amount of compensation due. If the flight distance is 1500km or less, the amount payable is €250 but if the distance is 3500km or more, the amount payable is €600.