Are You Entitled to Compensation for Weather Cancellations?
Dot’s flight was cancelled by her airline. She contacted me, wanting to know her rights and what action to take.
Every day, consumers ask me a variety of questions across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Threads. In my weekly The Complaining Cow Consumer Column I share the issues that come up most frequently.
If your flight is cancelled due to bad weather you may not be entitled to compensation, but airlines still have legal responsibilities. Under UK passenger rights rules, you may be entitled to a refund, rebooking, meals and accommodation depending on the circumstances.
In the video below, I explain your rights when your flight is cancelled due to the weather.
@thecomplainingcow Replying to @DotDaFuq #airlines #flights #delays #knowyourrights #compensation
What are the regulations that cover me if I have a flight problem?
The EC Denied Boarding Regulations have been written into UK law as The Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. They apply to all flights departing from an airport within the EU. They also apply to passengers departing from an airport outside the EU to an airport within the EU, if the operating air carrier is a Community carrier (a carrier with a valid operating license granted by an EU state).
What must airlines provide if your flight is delayed or cancelled
The airline must look after you. It must provide food, drinks and access to communications, in the unlikely event you don’t have a mobile phone or it’s not charged. You are entitled to this if you are delayed more than 2 hours on short haul, 3 hours on medium and 4 on long haul.
If you are delayed overnight, the airline must provide you with a hotel and travel to and from it. (All these must still be provided, even if the delay was out of the airline’s control).
What must airlines provide if your flight is cancelled
If your flight is cancelled then you will be entitled to a full refund. The amount of compensation you are owed for delayed and cancelled flight depends on various factors.
If the flight was cancelled less than 14 days before the flight, you will be due compensation. This can be anything from £110 to £520, depending on the length of the flight is and the amount of delay if you take a replacement flight. You can check your flight details using this calculator.
Examples of cancellations caused by the airline include: Pilots turning up late, cancelling the flight due to too few passengers, over booking (too many passengers), technical difficulties, etc. In these instances passengers can complain and get compensation.
However, a situation that is out of the airline’s control, such as air traffic control issues or severe weather events, would be considered as an “extraordinary circumstance”.
If you doubt that your flight was cancelled due to the weather and think that other airlines were flying check a site like Flyaware.com for other flights that flew that day. Take screenshots of the proof that other flights were running and then make your claim.
Alternative flights
An airline might suggest you to fly with them on an alternative flight but legally you are entitled to find any flight that can get you to your destination. Try to confirm an alternative flight with the same airline but if you can’t get that, book and claim later.
You have a responsibility to keep costs down to what an average person would deem as “reasonable”. Keep your evidence, such as screenshots of the websites you tried. But even if it’s too late to do that you can take a screen shot of your search history, showing the various dates and times you checked to find the cheapest alternative. You will use the evidence as part of making your claim for the replacement flight plus compensation.
More on complaining about flights
What to do when your flight is delayed – the full guide on what you can claim for when and how.
See All you need to know about booking/complaining about holidays/flights for numerous scenarios, regulations, laws and complaining!
How to complain to get refunds and more
Top 20 Tips on how to complain effectively.
For more guidance on complaining effectively and understanding your rights, see the consumer guide GET THE BOOK! How To Complain: The ESSENTIAL Consumer Guide to Getting REFUNDS, Redress and RESULTS!
101 Habits of an Effective Complainer provides you with more tips.
More frequently asked in questions in The Complaining Cow Consumer Column
