Holiday Extras Travel Help
Your rights if your flight is cancelled
Flight cancelled? Here's what you're entitled to
If your flight's been cancelled, UK law offers you clear rights — wherever you're flying and wherever in the world you are.
You're protected if:
- You're departing from a UK airport, regardless of airline.
- You're arriving in the UK on an EU or UK airline.
- You're arriving in the EU on a UK airline.
If your flight is cancelled, the airline has a legal duty to look after you.
That means:
- Getting you to your destination on the next available flight, even if that flight is operated by a different airline
- or, if you prefer, a refund for the cancelled flight
- Providing meals and refreshments—usually in the form of vouchers.
- Giving you access to communication, such as reimbursing phone calls.
- Covering overnight accommodation if you're rebooked to fly the next day.
- Arranging transport between the airport and your accommodation or home.
It doesn't matter why the flight was cancelled or how long the delay — these rights apply until the airline gets you to your destination, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
You are also sometimes entitled to compensation if your flight is cancelled with less than 14 days' notive, but since most circumstances that would cause a last-minute cancellation - including extreme weather, strikes and other "extraordinary circumstances" - are excluded, this often turns out not to apply.
Links and sources
The Civil Aviation Authority on your rights if your flight is cancelledBBC on flight cancellation rights (2025)
Simon Calder on flight cancellation rights (2023)