Flight Cancelled or Delayed? Know Your UK Passenger Rights!

Flight delays, cancellations, and disruptions are becoming increasingly common due to issues ranging from cyber-attacks to IT outages. Fortunately, UK law provides passengers with a clear set of rights covering everything from assistance to compensation.

What Must the Airline Provide?

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline has a duty of care, which includes:

• Getting you to your destination: They must book you on an alternative flight at no extra cost.
• Care and Assistance: For significant delays or overnight stays, the airline must provide food, drink, communication, accommodation, and transport to and from the lodging. If the airline fails to arrange this, you can organize it yourself and claim the reasonable costs back (keep all receipts!).

Refund vs. Re-routing

If your flight is covered by UK law and is cancelled, you have the right to choose:

1. A Full Refund: You can get a refund for the entire unused portion of your ticket (e.g., if the outbound flight of a return journey is cancelled, you get the full return cost back).
2. Alternative Flight: The airline must find you a replacement flight. If another airline or suitable transport (like a train) gets you to your destination significantly sooner, you can demand to be booked onto that alternative.

Claiming Extra Compensation

You may be entitled to extra financial compensation if the disruption is considered the airline’s fault (not “extraordinary circumstances” like bad weather or airport strikes).

The right to compensation applies if you are flying:

• From a UK airport (any airline).
• Arriving at a UK airport (EU or UK airline).
• Arriving at an EU airport (UK airline).

If your flight is cancelled with less than two weeks’ notice, you can claim up to:

• £220 per person (flights under 1,500km)
• £350 per person (flights 1,500km to 3,500km)
• £520 per person (flights over 3,500km)

Note on Package Holidays: If booked through an ABTA member, you are entitled to a suitable alternative flight or a full refund from the holiday company.

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