Explainers

The 14-day cancellation-notice rule

For a cancellation, the notice the airline gave you largely decides whether cash is owed.

Legal referenceEU 261, Art. 5(1)(c)

When a flight is cancelled, whether you get compensation depends largely on how much notice the airline gave — and on whether it offered you a reasonable alternative.

  • 14 days or more before departure: no compensation
  • 7 to 13 days: compensation, unless re-routed to depart no more than 2 hours early and arrive under 4 hours late
  • Under 7 days: compensation, unless re-routed to depart under 1 hour early and arrive under 2 hours late

Reimbursement under Art. 8 and care under Art. 9 can still apply regardless of the notice period. And the airline must prove it informed you in time — a vague "we emailed you" does not discharge that burden.

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