Last Minute Cancellation

Your flight was cancelled less than 7 days before departure

A last-minute cancellation with less than 7 days notice is the strongest cancellation claim under EC261. The airline can only escape full compensation if they offered a rerouting that arrives within 1 hour of the original schedule — an extremely narrow window.

This page provides general information about a disruption scenario. Any compensation amount shown is indicative only and depends on the facts of the disruption, supporting documents, and the final legal assessment of the claim.

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Compensation

€250 – €600 (full amounts)

Regulation

EC261 Art.5(c)(iii)

Time Limit

2–6 years (varies by country)

What Counts

What is a Last Minute Cancellation?

Less than 7 days notice is the tightest EC261 category. Full compensation applies unless the airline offered a rerouting departing within 1 hour of the original and arriving within 2 hours of the original arrival time.

This qualifies if…

Cancellation notified less than 7 days before departure
Cancellation on the day of travel
Flight cancelled at the gate or after boarding
Aircraft turned back and flight declared cancelled

Legal Basis

EC261 Art.5(c)(iii): Under 7 days, airlines avoid compensation ONLY if they offered rerouting departing ≤1h before and arriving ≤2h after original. This window is nearly impossible to meet commercially.

How Much

How much are you owed?

Full EC261 amounts apply. The 1-hour alternative window is extremely narrow and rarely met.

Scenario / Distance	Example	Amount	Note
Up to 1,500 km	London → Paris	€250	—
1,500 – 3,500 km	London → Athens	€400	—
Over 3,500 km (intra-EU)	Lisbon → Helsinki	€400	—
Over 3,500 km (extra-EU)	London → New York	€600	—

Do I Qualify?

Eligibility checklist

Check these against your situation — the more you can tick, the stronger your claim.

Cancellation notified less than 7 days before departure

Required

No alternative was offered within the 1h/2h safe harbour window

Conditional

Flight covered by EC261 (EU/UK departure or EU/UK carrier)

Required

You had a confirmed booking

Required

Not sure if you qualify? Submit your details via our free claim checker — we assess eligibility at no cost and no obligation.

Know Your Defences

Common excuses airlines use — and why they're wrong

"We offered a flight the same day — no compensation needed."

Under 7 days, the alternative must depart within 1 hour of the original. A 'same day' flight 3 hours later does not qualify. Full compensation still applies.

"It was an extraordinary circumstance — ATC strike."

ATC strikes can qualify as extraordinary, but the airline must still have taken all reasonable measures. And duty of care (meals, hotel, rebooking) always applies regardless.

"The cancellation was for safety reasons."

Safety is important — but it doesn't remove compensation rights. If the safety issue was caused by foreseeable maintenance failures or operational choices, the extraordinary circumstances defence fails.

How It Works