Flight cancelled less than 14 days before departure (EU)
Applies under: eu-261-2004
If your covered flight was cancelled with under 14 days' notice, you are usually owed EUR 250-600 plus a refund or re-routing.
Your rights
You can choose a full refund or re-routing, you are entitled to care while you wait, and you are owed fixed compensation unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances.
When this applies
Flight departs the EU/EEA, or arrives there on an EU-licensed carrier.
Step by step
- Keep your booking and cancellation noticeSave the confirmation, the cancellation message, and any boarding pass.
- Claim compensation from the operating carrierWrite to the airline citing Article 5 and Article 7 of EU 261.
Common airline pushback
“The cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances.”
Ask for the specific cause in writing; routine technical and staffing issues are not extraordinary (Wallentin-Hermann, Krüsemann).
If the airline refuses
- The airline directly
- National regulator
- Small-claims court
Typical outcomes
| Compensation range | 250–600 EUR |
|---|---|
| Success rate | 72% |
| Time to resolution | median 30 days · 90th pct 120 days |