Problems & fixes · Airlines and flights

What to do when a flight is delayed or cancelled

Last updated 25 October 2026 · 2 sources listed · Reading time about 3 minutes

Short answer

Your rights depend on where the flight departs from or lands and who operates it. Many regions require airlines to offer a refund or rerouting for cancellations and some provide care and compensation for long delays. Act quickly: record the reason given, keep receipts, choose between refund and rerouting knowingly, and use the airline's claim process before going to the regulator.

Who this is for: Passengers whose flight has been delayed, cancelled or overbooked who want to understand their options and how to claim.

What to evaluate

Jurisdiction and route
The European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and other regions each have different rules, and which one applies depends on the departure point, the destination and the airline's home base.
How to check: Identify the regulator for your route and read its passenger guidance page.
Reason for disruption
Some rules differentiate between causes within the airline's control and extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or security events.
How to check: Ask for the stated reason in writing and keep any notification message.
Refund versus rerouting
Accepting a replacement flight can end your right to a refund, while taking a refund means the airline no longer has to get you to your destination.
How to check: Ask what alternatives exist, including other airlines, before deciding.
Care while you wait
Many regimes require meals, communication and accommodation for long delays, but they depend on the length and local rules.
How to check: Ask staff what they will provide, and keep receipts for reasonable expenses.
Evidence and deadlines
Claims are time-limited and need documentation such as boarding passes, itinerary and delay times.
How to check: Photograph departure boards, save emails and note the actual arrival time at the final destination.

Comparison

Common disruption situations and typical first steps
Situation	Typical first step	Watch out for
Long delay at departure	Ask staff about care and keep receipts	Vouchers that waive further claims
Airline cancels the flight	Choose refund or rerouting in writing	Accepting an offer that downgrades your cabin without compensation
Denied boarding due to overbooking	Ask for compensation and alternatives immediately	Volunteering without clarity on terms
Missed connection due to delay	Go to the transfer desk, not out of the airport	Separate tickets that void protection

Decision worksheet

Rate up to three options against this guide’s own criteria. It runs in your browser and saves only on this device. It is a thinking aid, not a recommendation.

1. Have you checked each criterion?

Jurisdiction and route — Identify the regulator for your route and read its passenger guidance page.
Reason for disruption — Ask for the stated reason in writing and keep any notification message.
Refund versus rerouting — Ask what alternatives exist, including other airlines, before deciding.
Care while you wait — Ask staff what they will provide, and keep receipts for reasonable expenses.
Evidence and deadlines — Photograph departure boards, save emails and note the actual arrival time at the final destination.

0 of 5 criteria checked.

2. Compare options (0 = fails or unknown, 3 = meets it well)

Criterion	Option 1 name	Option 2 name	Option 3 name
Jurisdiction and route	Jurisdiction and route score for Option A	Jurisdiction and route score for Option B	Jurisdiction and route score for Option C
Reason for disruption	Reason for disruption score for Option A	Reason for disruption score for Option B	Reason for disruption score for Option C
Refund versus rerouting	Refund versus rerouting score for Option A	Refund versus rerouting score for Option B	Refund versus rerouting score for Option C
Care while you wait	Care while you wait score for Option A	Care while you wait score for Option B	Care while you wait score for Option C
Evidence and deadlines	Evidence and deadlines score for Option A	Evidence and deadlines score for Option B	Evidence and deadlines score for Option C
Total (max 15)	0	0	0

Questions to ask before you commit

What is the official reason for the delay or cancellation?
Can I have rerouting on another airline if it is faster?
Am I entitled to meals, communication or accommodation?
If I accept a voucher, does it waive other claims?
How do I claim a refund, and how long will it take?
Will my checked bags be transferred with me?

Typical trade-offs

Accept a refund versus accept rerouting

Upside: A refund lets you rebook independently, perhaps on a better route.
Downside: Last-minute fares can be expensive and the airline is no longer obliged to move you.

Claim directly versus use a claims agency

Upside: Agencies handle paperwork and can pursue difficult cases.
Downside: They take a share of any award and the airline process is often free.

Wait for the airline's alternative versus self-book

Upside: Waiting preserves your rights and avoids upfront cost.
Downside: Self-booking can get you home sooner but you may not recover the expense.

Common mistakes

Leaving the airport before speaking to staff. Resolve rebooking at the transfer desk where possible.
Signing a waiver for a voucher without reading it. Ask whether it limits other rights.
Losing evidence. Keep boarding passes, emails and receipts, and note the real arrival time.
Assuming every delay qualifies for compensation. Check the rules for your route and the cause given.
Waiting too long to claim. Time limits vary by jurisdiction, so submit promptly.

Sources and further reading

These pages were reachable when we last checked. They informed definitions and rules referred to above; they do not endorse this guide. Where rules differ by country, check the authority for your location.

Aviation Consumer Protection — US Department of Transportation, retrieved 27 October 2026
Air passenger rights — European Union Your Europe, retrieved 27 October 2026

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