How much do you get for a cancelled flight?
Reviewed by José Romero Lara
EU261 aviation lawyer — 5+ years as in-house legal counsel at international airlines
If a flight covered by Regulation (EC) 261/2004 is cancelled, you can get two things: your ticket money back (or an alternative flight) and a fixed amount of compensation for the disruption. This guide sets out how much each one is, when it’s reduced and when nothing is owed.
Was your flight cancelled?
Check for free how much you’re owed. Nothing to pay upfront.
Check my flight1How much the compensation is
Compensation per passenger
Up to 1,500 km
Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–London, Barcelona–Rome
Over 1,500 km within the EU, or 1,500–3,500 km
Madrid–Tenerife, Barcelona–Athens, Madrid–Cairo
Over 3,500 km outside the EU
Madrid–New York, Madrid–Buenos Aires
It’s per passenger, including children with their own ticket: a family of four on a €600 route gets €2,400. Distance is measured in a straight line between the departure airport and the final destination.
Check how much I’m owed2What’s paid on top of the compensation
Other amounts you can claim
Ticket refund
If you decide not to travel: the price of unused legs, within 7 days (Art. 8)
Alternative flight
If you’d rather get there: transport to your destination in comparable conditions
Food, drink and hotel
While you wait, with transfers if you stay overnight (Art. 9)
Downgrade
If you’re rebooked in a lower class (Art. 10(2))
If the airline didn’t provide meals or accommodation and you paid, keep the receipts: those reasonable costs are claimed separately from the compensation.
3When it’s reduced or not paid
You’re rebooked and arrive shortly after
If the replacement flight arrives no more than 2 hours later (up to 1,500 km), 3 hours (1,500–3,500 km) or 4 hours (over 3,500 km), the airline may pay half (Art. 7(2)).
You were told 14 days or more ahead
You keep the refund or alternative flight, but not the compensation.
Proven extraordinary circumstances
Weather that makes flying unsafe, air traffic control decisions or airport closures, if the airline proves it.
Technical fault or own-staff strike
Neither is an extraordinary circumstance, so compensation is owed (CJEU, Wallentin-Hermann C-549/07 and C-28/20).
4How to get paid
- 1
Claim from the airline in writing
Give the flight number and date, when you were told about the cancellation and what you’re claiming: compensation, refund and costs.
- 2
Ask to be paid in money
Compensation can only be paid in vouchers if you agree in writing (Art. 7(3)).
- 3
No reply in a month? Escalate
A free complaint to AESA if the flight departed Spain, or a court claim (no lawyer up to €2,000).
- 4
Or hand it to AviFly
We only charge if you get your money: 15% + VAT out of court and 30% + VAT in court.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I get if my flight is cancelled?
€250 on flights up to 1,500 km, €400 within the EU over 1,500 km or 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 over 3,500 km outside the EU, per passenger, plus the refund or alternative flight.
Do I still get compensation if I accept the alternative flight?
Yes. They are separate rights. It can only be halved if the replacement flight gets you there close to your original arrival time.
Can they pay me in miles or a voucher?
Only if you agree in writing. You can insist on money by bank transfer.
What if I’m put in a lower class?
The airline must refund 30% of the fare on flights up to 1,500 km, 50% between 1,500 and 3,500 km and 75% over 3,500 km (Art. 10(2)), on top of everything else.
How long does payment take?
The ticket refund has a 7-day deadline. There’s no fixed deadline for the compensation; if there’s no reply within a month you can go to AESA or to court.
How long do I have to claim?
In Spain the generally accepted time limit is 5 years from the flight (Art. 1964 of the Spanish Civil Code).