Cancelled flight? EU and UK consumer rights and what you’re entitled to

23.02.2024 - 23:41 / euronews.com / Portia Jones / Airlines

Staff at airports and airlines across Europe are planning to strike over the coming months, causing thousands of flights to be delayed or cancelled by industrial action.

With travel plans likely to be disrupted this year, knowing how to deal with flight and train cancellations, long delays, and lost bags is more important than ever.

Industrial action can mean the ground staff or plane crew won’t be working as usual, causing flight delays and cancellations in Europe and beyond.

Not all flights will be affected, but if there is an airline strike and you were informed of it less than 14 days ago, you might be due compensation.

When delays and cancellations happen, airlines should keep passengers informed and provide food and accommodation (if the delay necessitates an overnight stay).

According to the UK’s Citizens Advice website, if your flight is covered under UK law, your airline must let you decide between a refund or an alternative flight to your destination.

If you still want to travel, your airline must find you an alternative flight, even if it's with another airline.

Air passenger rights in the EU mean that if your flight is delayed for two hours or more at departure, the airline must offer you care (meals, refreshments, and, if necessary, accommodation). If this delay means that you arrive at your final destination with a delay of more than 3 hours, you may also be entitled to financial compensation.

You may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late. The amount is based on how far you are flying.

According to the EU website, EU air passenger rights apply:

If your flight is within the EU and is operated either by an EU or a non-EU airline

If your flight arrives in the EU from outside the EU and is operated by an EU airline

If your flight departs from the EU to a non-EU country operated by an EU or a non-EU airline

If you have not already received benefits (compensation, re-routing, assistance from the airline) for flight related problems for this journey under the relevant law of a non-EU count

You should claim compensation directly from the airline rather than use an online flight compensation service. Third parties will take a percentage of your claim amount in exchange for their services, so you'll get less money.

Search your airline's website or call their customer services department to get more information on what compensation you're entitled to.

While you can claim cash compensation in some circumstances, this doesn't apply when cancellations or delays are attributed to 'extraordinary circumstances' – things beyond the airline's control like extreme weather.

When a flight delay necessitates an overnight stay, the airline must arrange and cover the