Airline changed your flight time? Your options, step by step
Got a 'your flight time has changed' email? Don't click accept yet. Check the new times and connections, then ask for a refund or another flight.
Short answer: Do not click "accept" yet. Compare the old and new times first. In the EU, a flight moved more than 1 hour earlier counts as cancelled. Then you choose: a refund, or another flight to your destination. If the new time breaks your trip, ask for a refund or an alternative in writing.
An email lands: "Your flight time has changed." The app shows a big green button. It says "Accept". Wait. That button is the airline's easiest option, not always yours. Here is how to check it in five minutes.
Do this now
- Screenshot the email and the app. Capture the old time, the new time, and the flight number.
- Compare departure and arrival. Note how many hours earlier or later each one moved.
- Check every connection. Trains, second flights, hotel check-in, car hire. Does each one still work?
- Do not tap "accept" in the app until you know your options. One click can lock in the new flight.
- Look for the other buttons. Many change screens hide "change flight" or "request refund" further down.
- Write to the airline if the new time does not work. Ask for a refund or a specific other flight.
What to say at the desk
"My flight time was changed by the airline. I have not accepted the new time. The new schedule does not work for me. I am asking for a full refund, or re-routing to my final destination on this flight: [flight number]. Please confirm in writing."
Most schedule changes are fixed by chat or phone, not at an airport desk. Paste the same words into the chat. Keep a copy. Need more lines? See what to say to the airline.
Your situation at a glance (EU rules)
| What changed | What it can mean | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Moved earlier by more than 1 hour | Counts as a cancellation | Refund or another flight |
| Moved earlier by up to 1 hour | Usually just a change | Check connections, then accept |
| Moved later, connection still works | A schedule change | Accept, or ask about options |
| Moved later, connection broken | Your trip no longer works | Refund or a new routing, in writing |
Rows two and three are the most common. Rows one and four are where your rights matter most.
My flight was moved earlier. What are my rights?
Under EU law, a flight brought forward by more than 1 hour counts as cancelled. The EU's top court said so in 2021.
That gives you the full cancellation choice:
- A refund of the unused ticket within 7 days.
- Re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity.
- Re-routing at a later date of your choice.
You pick, not the airline. Full guide: flight moved earlier? more than 1 hour can count as a cancellation. If it is now a cancellation, our main checklist helps too: flight cancelled? what to do.
Flight time changed. Can I get a refund?
It depends on how big the change is and where you fly from.
Moved earlier by more than 1 hour (EU): yes. It counts as a cancellation, so a refund is one of your choices.
Moved later (EU): the law is less clear-cut here. Ask anyway, in writing. Explain why the new time does not work. Keep the airline's answer.
Flights to, from or within the US: a significant change you decline means a cash refund. Significant means 3 hours or more on domestic flights. On international flights, it means 6 hours or more. See US flight cancelled or changed: the refund rule.
Offered a voucher instead? Read the terms first. Accepting a voucher can end your refund claim. More here: airline voucher or refund.
The new time breaks my connection. What now?
This is the most urgent case. Act before travel day, not at the gate.
If both flights are on one booking, tell the airline the new times no longer connect. Ask them to re-route the whole trip. Give them a specific alternative by flight number.
If the second flight or a train is a separate booking, the airline may not fix it for you. Ask for a refund or a different flight that still connects. Keep the screenshots of both bookings. Step by step: a schedule change broke your connection.
Moved to another airport too? Read rebooked to a different airport.
Flight rescheduled by the airline: when is there compensation?
Compensation is homework for later. Solve the trip first.
When a change counts as a cancellation, notice time matters:
- Told 14 days or more before departure: no compensation. The refund or re-routing choice still applies.
- Told 7 to 13 days before: none if the new flight leaves at most 2 hours earlier and lands less than 4 hours later.
- Told less than 7 days before: none if it leaves ≤1 h earlier and lands <2 h later.
Outside those limits, you may be owed €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, by distance.
If your flight was moved later and you arrive 3 hours or more late, the delay rules may apply. See the 3-hour delay quick sheet.
FAQ
My airline changed my flight time. Do I have to accept it? No. Do not click "accept" until you have checked times and connections. If the new time does not work, ask for a refund or another flight in writing.
Is a flight moved earlier a cancellation? In the EU, yes, if it was moved more than 1 hour earlier. The EU's top court decided this in 2021.
Can I get a refund for a schedule change? Yes for an EU flight moved more than 1 hour earlier. In the US, yes for a significant change you decline. Otherwise, ask in writing and keep the answer.
What if the new time makes me miss my connection? On one booking, ask the airline to re-route the whole trip. On separate bookings, ask for a refund or a flight that still connects.
Do I get compensation for a schedule change? Sometimes. It depends on how early you were told and how far the times moved. Under 14 days' notice, €250 to €600 may apply.
I already clicked accept. Is it too late? Not always. Contact the airline at once and explain the problem. Keep screenshots of what you saw before you clicked.
New time does not work and the airline is not helping? Get a human on your case now. Moved later and arriving late: see the 3-hour delay quick sheet.
Advice only, not legal advice. Rights summarised from Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, CJEU case C-146/20 and US DOT rules (14 CFR Part 260). Updated 10 October 2026.
