Refund or rebooking after a cancellation: which to pick
Flight cancelled? In the EU you choose: a refund within 7 days or a new flight to your destination. How to pick fast, what to say, and what to avoid.
Short answer: In the EU, you choose, not the airline. Take the refund if the trip no longer makes sense. Take a new flight if you must arrive soon. A refund comes within 7 days. A new flight can be the earliest one or a later date you pick. Never accept a voucher by accident.
The app shows "cancelled". It also shows a big button: "accept new flight" or "get a voucher". Stop. Do not tap yet. You have three options, and the choice is yours. Here is how to pick in five minutes.
Do this now
- Do not tap any offer in the app yet. One tap can swap your cash refund for a voucher.
- Screenshot the cancellation. The app status, the SMS or email, and the departure board.
- Ask yourself one question: do I still need to be there, and by when?
- Check other flights yourself. Note flight numbers from other airlines and nearby airports.
- Ask for your choice by name. At the desk, in the app chat, or on the phone. Whoever answers first.
- Get the answer in writing. A screenshot of the chat or an email is enough.
Not sure which rule fits your route? Ask ChatGPT or Claude with the free SOS Flights assistant tools.
What to say at the desk
If you still need to travel:
"My flight is cancelled. Under EU Regulation 261/2004 I choose re-routing to my final destination at the earliest opportunity. Flight [number] leaves sooner. Please request a seat for me on it. I also need meal vouchers while I wait."
If you no longer need the trip:
"My flight is cancelled. Under EU Regulation 261/2004 I choose a refund of my ticket, paid within 7 days, to my original payment method. I do not accept a voucher. Please send this in writing."
More ready-made lines: what to say at the airline desk.
Your three options side by side
| Option | What you get | Pick it when | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refund | Ticket money back within 7 days | The trip no longer makes sense | Get it as money, not a voucher |
| Re-routing now | Earliest flight to your final destination, comparable conditions | You must arrive soon | Ask for a specific flight number |
| Re-routing later | A later date that suits you | Your trip can wait | Get the new booking in writing |
These options come from EU261. They cover flights from EU airports, and flights into the EU on EU airlines.
Should I take a refund or rebook?
Use these simple tests.
Take the refund if:
- The reason for your trip is gone. A meeting, a wedding, a concert you will now miss.
- The only offer is days away and the trip will not work then.
- You found a better plan yourself and accept the risk of paying for it.
Take re-routing if:
- You must get there soon, and fares for new tickets are high tonight.
- You are mid-trip or far from home.
- You want the airline to stay responsible for getting you there.
Still torn? Ask the desk for both options in writing first. Then decide. You lose nothing by asking.
What are my rebooking options after a cancellation?
You can ask for the earliest flight to your final destination, under comparable conditions. Or you can pick a later date that suits you.
"Earliest" is your word, not theirs. If the desk offers a flight in two days, ask about every earlier option. Ask if another airline or a nearby airport gets you there sooner. Read offered a flight days later? you can say no.
Write down the agent's name and the time if they say no. That note matters later.
Can I refuse the new flight and still get my money?
Yes, in the EU the choice is yours. If the new flight does not work, choose the refund instead.
Thinking of buying a new ticket yourself? That is a risk. It may be claimable only in some cases. First get the airline's refusal in writing or as a screenshot. Then choose a reasonable fare and keep every receipt. Full guide: book another airline and claim it back.
Cancelled flight refund vs rebook: what about food and a hotel?
While you wait for a re-routed flight, the airline owes you care:
- Meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the wait.
- Two phone calls, emails or messages.
- A hotel if you must stay overnight, plus transport to it.
This care is owed even when the cause is bad weather or air traffic control. If the airline gives you nothing, pay reasonable costs yourself. Keep the receipts and claim them back. Details: stranded at the airport overnight.
Choosing a refund and going home? Ask the airline in writing what care it will still cover.
The airline only offers a voucher
A voucher is not the same as a refund. Accepting one can end your refund claim. Read the terms before you click anything.
If you want money, say so in writing: "I choose a refund, not a voucher." More: airline offered a voucher instead of a refund?.
Booked through an agency, a package, or a US airline
- Package holiday: your tour operator is responsible for the whole trip. If the operator refunds you, the airline will not refund the ticket again.
- Online agency: the airline still owes you care at the airport. For the refund, ask both. See booked via an online agency: who helps?.
- UK flights: UK261 works the same way as EU261.
- US flights: if you decline the airline's alternative, you get an automatic cash refund. It comes within 7 business days on a card. See the US automatic refund rule.
Compensation is homework for next week
Your refund-or-flight choice is one question. Compensation is another. Was the cancellation less than 14 days before departure? Then you may be owed €250, €400 or €600 per passenger.
It can be halved if your new flight arrives close to the original time. The airline can refuse when the cause was truly extraordinary, like a storm. Technical faults and strikes by the airline's own staff usually do not count.
An EU261 reform was adopted in 2026, but it only applies from around 2027. Today's rules apply now. You can claim yourself, for free: how to claim compensation yourself.
Tonight, just make the choice and get it in writing. Back to basics: what to do when your flight is cancelled.
FAQ
Should I take a refund or a new flight after a cancellation? Take the refund if the trip no longer makes sense. Take a new flight if you must arrive soon. In the EU, you choose.
How fast do I get my refund for a cancelled flight? Under EU261, within 7 days. On US flights, within 7 business days on a card and 20 calendar days for other payments.
Can the airline force me to take a voucher? In the EU, you can choose a refund instead. Accepting a voucher can end your refund claim, so read the terms first.
Can I refuse the new flight the airline gave me? Yes. You can ask for an earlier flight, a later date that suits you, or a refund.
Do I still get food and a hotel if I wait for a new flight? Yes. The airline owes meals, two calls or messages, and a hotel with transport if you stay overnight. Even in bad weather.
Do I lose compensation if I take the refund? Compensation depends on notice time, distance and cause. Ask the airline in writing, and claim after the trip.
Stuck at the desk and no one is helping? Get a human on your case now. Ryanair passengers: see the quick sheet for a Ryanair cancellation.
Advice only, not legal advice. Rights summarised from Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, the UK CAA and US DOT rules (14 CFR Part 260). Updated 11 October 2026.
