Your rights if your flight is delayed or cancelled
*PLEASE BE AWARE THIS IS AN OLDER POST AND THERE MAY BE A MORE UP TO DATE POST, OR UPDATED INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ *
A lot of people will be worried after seeing the recent news about flights. If your flight gets delayed or cancelled, it’s important to know what your rights are. Our advice can help you understand what you’re entitled to, plus steps to take if you do experience problems with your flight.
If you’re already at the airport
If you’ve already arrived at the airport when the delay is announced, the airline should give you food and drink and access to phone calls and emails (depending on the length of the delay). You should also get accommodation if you’re delayed overnight (including journeys to and from the airport).
The airline might offer you vouchers to pay for these or advise you to keep receipts to claim back expenses later. However, it’s worth noting airlines will only refund ‘reasonable’ expenses, and this doesn’t include expensive meals or luxury hotels.
How long does the delay need to be
What counts as a long enough delay to get this help depends on how long your flight is. A short flight only needs to be delayed two hours, whereas a flight of more than 3,500km needs to be more than four hours. Full details are on the Citizens Advice website.
It’s worth knowing that if your flight is delayed for more than five hours, you don’t have to take it. The airline legally has to give you a full refund for that flight (and any onward flights and return flights if you’re part-way through a connecting journey). Talk to someone from the airline as soon as you decide you don’t want to fly.
If your flight gets cancelled
If your flight is cancelled altogether, you’ve a legal right to either a full refund or a replacement flight to get you to your destination. The refund includes any onward flights and money for a return flight if you’re part-way through a connecting journey. Ask about this at the airport if you can.
If you need a replacement flight
Don’t just rebook another flight yourself – check with the airline first because it’s their responsibility to sort out your replacement. If you do have to rebook it yourself, keep any receipts and evidence of why the airline couldn’t do this for you, for example screenshots of live chats. If the cancellation ends up delaying you getting to your holiday by two or more hours, you’re entitled to help with costs.
When are you entitled to compensation
Check if you’re entitled to compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight. Again, this will depend on how long the delay was, the distance, and whether it’s the airline’s fault. The Citizens Advice website has details on claiming compensation for delays or cancellations from the airline. You might also be able to claim from your travel insurance – check if your policy covers this.
If you have a problem with an airline and you’re not sure what to do, call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline 0808 223 1133 or talk to an adviser online through the Citizens Advice website.
