The airline changed your flight time or date without your agreement
When an airline significantly alters your flight time or date, EC 261/2004 may treat this as a cancellation. You have the right to a full refund or rerouting — and potentially compensation depending on notice given.
Compensation
€250 – €600 (if significant change with short notice)
Regulation
EC 261/2004 Art.5
Time Limit
2–6 years (varies by country)
A schedule change becomes significant — and triggers EC261 rights — when it materially alters your journey. 'Significant' has no fixed legal definition but courts look at disruption to your plans.
EC261 Art.5: A schedule change communicated less than 14 days before travel is treated as a cancellation. Courts in Goldair Handling v Ryanair have extended this to significant changes notified even earlier.
Compensation depends on how much notice the airline gave and how disruptive the change is.
| Scenario / Distance | Example | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 14 days notice + no suitable alternative | New time 5+ hours different | €250 – €600 | Full EC261 compensation applies |
| 7–14 days notice + unsuitable alternative offered | New departure 3 hours early | €250 – €600 (potentially reduced) | Depends on alternative timing |
| More than 14 days notice | Change notified weeks in advance | Refund or rebooking only | No cash compensation — but can reject the change |
Check these against your situation — the more you can tick, the stronger your claim.
Flight is covered by EC261 (EU/UK departure, or EU/UK carrier arriving in EU/UK)
RequiredThe schedule change is significant (departure/arrival time, date, or airport)
RequiredChange was notified less than 14 days before travel
ConditionalAlternative offered did not arrive within 2/4 hours of original (depending on distance)
ConditionalYou did not explicitly agree to the change
RequiredNot sure if you qualify? Submit your details via our free claim checker — we assess eligibility at no cost and no obligation.
"You agreed to it when you accepted the new itinerary."
Clicking 'OK' on a notification email to acknowledge receipt is not the same as waiving your legal rights. Rights under EC261 are non-waivable regardless of what you click.
"It was only 90 minutes earlier — not significant."
Significance is assessed on the disruption to the passenger, not a fixed number of minutes. Missing connecting transport, hotel check-in, or family events due to a 90-minute shift can be significant.
"We gave you 10 days notice — that's plenty."
EC261 sets the threshold at 14 days. Less than 14 days notice triggers the same rights as a cancellation, regardless of whether the airline considers the notice 'reasonable'.
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Last updated: 2025-01-15 · Covers EC261, UK261 and Montreal Convention