Flight Delays and Cancellations: A General Overview
This guide explains, in general terms, how official European Union and United Kingdom sources describe flight delays and flight cancellations. It does not assess any individual flight, and it does not state what you may be owed. For current information, consult the official sources linked throughout this page. ClaimYourTrip's tools provide general information only and do not determine legal eligibility or guarantee an outcome.
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This page provides general information, not legal advice. Passenger-rights rules and their application can change and depend on individual circumstances. Check the relevant official authority or obtain qualified advice before relying on this information.
What this guide means by "delayed" and "cancelled"
Official EU guidance lists several situations it treats as a cancellation — for example, when your original flight is not operated and you are moved onto a different scheduled flight, or when your departure time is brought forward by more than one hour. The official page lists additional situations and qualifications, so consult the full source for its complete current guidance. Your Europe — Air passenger rights (opens in new tab)
For this guide, we use "delay" to mean a flight that still operates but departs or arrives later than scheduled. This is the everyday terminology used throughout this guide, not a quotation from an official source.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority publishes separate guidance for delays and cancellations under UK261. Those pages should be checked directly because their wording and conditions may differ from EU guidance. UK CAA — Delays (opens in new tab) UK CAA — Cancellations (opens in new tab)
Why official guidance treats them differently
Both EU and UK guidance apply different conditions depending on whether a flight was delayed or cancelled — for example, the notice given before a cancellation can be relevant, while for a delay, official guidance generally looks at how the flight's actual timing compares with what was scheduled. Because the relevant conditions differ, official sources treat these as separate categories rather than one combined rule. The specific conditions and any thresholds are set out in the official sources linked throughout this page and at the end, including Your Europe — Air passenger rights (opens in new tab), UK CAA — Delays (opens in new tab), and UK CAA — Cancellations (opens in new tab).
Assistance while waiting
European Union
Official EU guidance discusses assistance while waiting separately from possible compensation. For delays, this is described as meals and refreshments in proportion to the waiting time, plus two free phone calls, emails, or faxes, and hotel accommodation if the new departure is the next day or later. For cancellations, official guidance describes similar categories: food and drink, a way to communicate, and accommodation and transport if you're rebooked onto a flight the next day. Your Europe — Air passenger rights (opens in new tab) Exact conditions are set out on that page.
United Kingdom
UK guidance describes its own assistance categories, which should be checked on their own terms rather than assumed to match the EU position. The UK Civil Aviation Authority's guidance on delays describes food and drink, two phone calls or emails, and accommodation and transport if an overnight stay is needed, and states this applies regardless of the reason for the delay. UK CAA — Delays (opens in new tab) Its guidance on cancellations describes food and drink, a way to communicate, and accommodation and transport if you're rerouted the next day, again described as applying regardless of what caused the disruption. UK CAA — Cancellations (opens in new tab) Both CAA pages set out further detail, including when assistance applies and how it's usually provided.
Why the stated cause can matter
Official EU and UK guidance indicates that the stated cause of a disruption can be relevant to compensation-related questions. This overview does not assess or state whether any particular cause qualifies. Your Europe — Air passenger rights (opens in new tab) UK CAA — Delays (opens in new tab) UK CAA — Cancellations (opens in new tab)
Check current official guidance
Rules and figures can be updated by the authorities described on this page. Always check the current version directly:
- European Union: Your Europe — Air passenger rights (opens in new tab)
- United Kingdom: UK CAA — Delays (opens in new tab) and UK CAA — Cancellations (opens in new tab)
Where ClaimYourTrip can help
ClaimYourTrip's Flight Delay & Cancellation Checker provides general information based on the details you enter. It does not determine legal eligibility, submit a claim, or guarantee an outcome. Our Claim Guide explains, in general terms, how passengers can contact an airline directly.