✈ Flight cancellation · EU law · up to €600
Flight cancelled? Secure up to €600 in compensation – free of charge.
Was your flight cancelled? Under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation per person – in addition to the refund of your ticket price. Passengers friend checks and enforces your claim.
No prepayments and 100% risk-free.
⚖️ Experts in EU passenger rights law
💶 Up to €600 flight compensation
➕ Reimbursement of consequential costs included
✅ No Win - No Fee
⭐ 4,4 on Google
OVERVIEW
Flight cancellation & compensation – Key facts at a glance
All essential facts regarding your compensation claim under EU Regulation EC 261/2004 – summarized compactly and clearly.
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Claim for cancellation less than 14 days before departure – if your flight was cancelled on short notice, you are generally entitled to compensation under EU law.
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Up to €600 compensation per person – tiered by flight distance: €250 (up to 1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km), or €600 (over 3,500 km).
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Right to choose: Rerouting or full ticket refund – you can choose between a free replacement flight to your destination or a full refund of your ticket price.
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Care services at the airport – while waiting for the replacement flight: meals, drinks, communication facilities. If an overnight stay is necessary: hotel accommodation and transfer.
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No claim in case of extraordinary circumstances – e.g., severe weather, air traffic control strike, or crises. Technical defects or staff shortages do not count. But important: Your consequential costs must still be reimbursed by the airline!
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Statute of limitations: 3 years – calculated from the end of the calendar year in which the flight took place. A cancelled flight from March 2023 therefore expires on December 31, 2026.
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Passengers friend handles everything – from review to enforcement, in court if necessary. Only 25% commission upon success, no costs in case of failure. One of Germany's most affordable providers.
EASY WAY TO COMPENSATION
No stress. No effort. No risk.
Passengers friend handles the entire process – from the initial review to the payout to your account. You don’t have to worry about a thing.
No Win – No Fee
Commission only upon success – you take no financial risk.
Only 25% commission
Cheaper than Flightright and AirHelp – more stays with you.
Reimbursement of consequential costs
Hotel, meals, replacement transport – we claim it back.
Check claim
Submit flight data for free – online in 2 minutes.
We take over
Passengers friend enforces your claim against the airline.
Receive payout
Compensation directly to your account – without any further effort.
COMPENSATION AMOUNT UNDER EU-LAW
How much compensation am I entitled to for a flight cancellation?
The amount of compensation depends on the distance between the departure and destination airports – regardless of the ticket price. In addition to compensation, you are entitled to a refund of your ticket price or a free rebooking.
| Flight distance | Compensation per person * |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | up to €250 |
| 1,500 – 3,500 km | up to €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (long-haul) | up to €600 ** |
* Information in accordance with EU Regulation EC 261/2004. In addition, proven consequential costs (hotel, transfer, meals) can be reimbursed separately – Passengers friend enforces these for you as well. ** Under EU passenger rights, a statutory cap applies to pure domestic flights within the European Union: The compensation payment is a maximum of €400, regardless of whether the flight distance exceeds the 3,500 km mark.
When can the compensation be reduced?
For flights over 3,500 km, the compensation can be reduced to €300 if the airline offered a replacement flight that brings you to your destination no more than 4 hours later than planned. Passengers friend checks in every case whether a reduction is legally permissible.
Check for free how much you are entitled to
In 2 minutes – directly online, no risk
CLAIM REQUIREMENTS
When am I entitled to compensation for a flight cancellation?
For a compensation claim under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, the following requirements must be met:
Flight from/to EU or EU airline
The flight departs from an EU airport, or it is operated by an EU airline departing from a non-EU country.
Cancellation less than 14 days prior
You were notified of the flight cancellation less than 14 days before the scheduled departure date.
Confirmed booking available
You had a valid, confirmed booking.
No extraordinary circumstance
The cancellation is not due to an extraordinary circumstance that the airline could not have avoided.
Quick-Check: Am I eligible?
Flight disrupted / cancelled?
Less than 14 days notice given?
Flight from an EU airport or EU airline?
Valid booking?
Within the 3-year statute of limitations?
If yes: Claim likely – check for free now
IMPORTANT REGULATION
The 14-day rule: When does the claim no longer apply?
The EU regulation differentiates depending on the timing of the cancellation notice. The shorter notice the airline gives, the higher your claims.
| Time of notification | Compensation claim | Condition for waiver |
|---|---|---|
| More than 14 days before departure | No claim | No compensation – rebooking or refund still possible |
| 7 to 14 days before departure | Claim very likely | Does not apply if replacement flight departs more than 2h earlier and arrives at most 4h later |
| Less than 7 days before departure | Claim very likely | Only does not apply if replacement flight departs max. 1h earlier and arrives at most 2h later |
* What matters is the time you were informed about the cancellation, not the date of the cancellation itself.
Regardless of your compensation claim, you always have the right to choose between three options: ① Refund of the full ticket price (including any additional services already booked), ② Rebooking onto the earliest possible flight to your destination, or ③ Later rebooking to an alternative flight on a date of your choice. This right of choice applies regardless of whether a compensation claim exists or not.
Uncertain whether your case falls under the 14-day rule?
Passengers friend checks your case free of charge and with no obligation.
AIRLINE RESPONSIBILITY
Exceptional circumstances – when does the claim no longer apply?
Not every flight cancellation automatically entitles you to compensation. If an extraordinary circumstance occurs, the airline is exempt from paying compensation. Passengers friend checks in doubtful cases whether the airline truly could not have avoided the circumstance.
| ✓ Airline responsible → Claim exists | × Extraordinary circumstance → No claim |
|---|---|
| Technical defect on the aircraft (regular maintenance) | Severe storms / extreme weather conditions |
| Airline staff shortage | Strike by external service providers (e.g., air traffic controllers) |
| Strike by the airline's own personnel | Lightning strike on the aircraft |
| Airline financial problems | Airspace closure / airport shutdown |
| Failure to observe crew rest periods | Political crises / natural disasters |
| Bird strike |
*What matters is the time you were informed about the cancellation, not the date of the cancellation itself.
Many airlines routinely reject compensation claims by citing extraordinary circumstances – even when the actual cause falls within their own responsibility. Passengers friend knows this tactic and consistently contests unjustified rejections.
Uncertain whether an extraordinary circumstance applies?
Passengers friend checks your case free of charge and with no obligation.
STEP BY STEP
How to proceed in the event of a flight cancellation
Document
Keep proof of booking, save cancellation confirmation, secure communication with the airline.
Submit Claim
Submit flight details and documents to Passengers friend – free of charge, online, in 2 minutes.
Receive Money
Passengers friend enforces your claim – if necessary in court. Payout directly to your account.
Which documents do I need?
- ✓ Boarding pass or booking confirmation
- + Cancellation confirmation from the airline (if available)
- + Receipts for additional expenses (hotel, transfer, meals)
- + Details of the alternative transportation (if applicable)
YOUR ADVANTAGE
Why Passengers friend – rather than doing it yourself or hiring a lawyer?
Three paths – one clear winner. Only Passengers friend combines maximum payout with minimal effort and the lowest costs.
Passengers friend is more affordable than Flightright (~28%) and AirHelp (35%) with a 25% commission – making it one of Germany's most cost-effective providers.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
What our customers say
Google Reviews
"Flight to Madrid canceled at short notice. Passengers Friend enforced the 400 € within 2 months."
Flight cancellation · Madrid"Airline initially refused to pay. Passengers Friend initiated legal proceedings and we won."
Flight cancellation · New York"Simple form, fast communication. Took a bit longer, but in the end the compensation arrived."
Flight cancellation · Barcelona"Didn't even know I still had claims from the previous year. Passengers Friend checked it."
Flight cancellation · ViennaFAQ
Everything about flight cancellation compensation
Do I always have a right to compensation in the event of a flight cancellation?
Not automatically. The claim exists if the cancellation was communicated less than 14 days before departure and no extraordinary circumstances apply. Passengers friend checks your case free of charge and tells you exactly if and how much you can receive.
What happens if the airline rejects the claim?
We are challenging the rejection and, if necessary, taking legal action. An additional gross litigation fee of 10% only applies if a lawyer has to be involved. Even then, with a total fee of 35%, we are still more affordable than most competitors.
Can I demand compensation and a ticket refund at the same time?
Yes. Compensation (up to 600 €) and ticket price refund are two separate claims that can be asserted at the same time. Passengers friend enforces both for you.
My flight was canceled due to a strike – am I still entitled to compensation?
That depends on the type of strike. A strike by the airline's own staff (pilots, flight attendants) is not considered an extraordinary circumstance – you are entitled to compensation. An external strike, e.g., by air traffic controllers, on the other hand, is considered an extraordinary circumstance. Passengers friend will review the specific case for you.
Can I still claim compensation if my flight cancellation was 2 years ago?
In Germany, a limitation period of 3 years applies, calculated from the end of the calendar year of the flight date. A flight cancellation from January 2022, therefore, only expires on December 31, 2025. It is best to check your claim now.
What does the service of Passengers friend cost me?
The check is completely free of charge. In the event of success, we charge a 25% commission (incl. VAT) – that is one of the lowest commission of all German providers. No success means no fee. You take no financial risk.
