Compensation for a cancelled flight
When a flight is cancelled you always get your money back or an alternative flight. If you were told less than 14 days before departure, you also get the fixed compensation.
What the airline owes you for any cancellation
- a full refund of the ticket within 7 days, including unused segments;
- or an alternative flight to your destination, as soon as possible or on a date you choose;
- assistance at the airport: meals, drinks and a hotel if needed.
Choosing the refund does not take away your right to compensation. They are two separate things.
When you also get compensation
Compensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure. The exceptions are:
- you were told 7 to 14 days before and offered a flight leaving no more than 2 hours earlier and arriving no more than 4 hours later;
- you were told less than 7 days before and offered a flight leaving no more than 1 hour earlier and arriving no more than 2 hours later;
- the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances.
It is up to the airline to prove it told you in time. If you booked through an agency and the airline only informed the agency, which did not pass the message on, the airline still has to pay (Krijgsman ruling, 2017).
How much you get
| Flight distance | Compensation per passenger |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km, or any flight within the EU over 1,500 km | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km, departing from or arriving outside the EU | €600 |
Examples from Romanian airports
| Route (example) | Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Bucharest – Vienna | 829 km | €250 |
| Cluj-Napoca – Milan Bergamo | 1,081 km | €250 |
| Bucharest – Paris Charles de Gaulle | 1,850 km | €400 |
| Bucharest – Madrid | 2,458 km | €400 |
| Bucharest – Bangkok, with a connection | 7,735 km | €600 |
The examples show the straight-line distance between airports, not the airline's current timetable. We work out the exact distance for your flight when you check it.
A voucher instead of money?
The airline may offer you a voucher, but you do not have to accept it. The regulation provides for payment in money, by bank transfer, and a voucher only counts with your written agreement.
What documents you need
- your boarding pass or booking confirmation;
- an identity document, for the assignment agreement you sign online;
- if you have them, any messages from the airline about the delay or cancellation.
How long you have to claim
In Romania you can usually claim up to 3 years after the flight. Even if the flight was two years ago, it is worth checking.
How Jet Claim helps
Check your flight for free in two minutes and sign online. We handle the correspondence with the airline, the complaint to the authority and, if needed, court. Our fee is 25% + VAT of the amount recovered, deducted only if you get paid. Every situation is explained on the passenger rights page.
Frequently asked questions
I got my ticket money back. Can I still claim compensation?
Yes. A ticket refund and the fixed compensation are separate rights. If the cancellation was announced less than 14 days before and no exception applies, compensation is still owed after the refund.
I was offered a voucher. Do I have to accept it?
No. The regulation provides for compensation to be paid in money, by bank transfer. A voucher only counts if you agree to it in writing. A ticket refund and the fixed compensation are separate: you can receive both.
Can I claim for a flight from two years ago?
Yes. In Romania the time limit is usually 3 years from the date of the flight. All you need is the flight details and your booking.