Short Notice Cancellation

Your flight was cancelled between 7 and 14 days before departure

A cancellation notified 7 to 14 days before departure triggers EC261 rights, but with a nuance: compensation may be reduced if the airline offered a suitable alternative. The key is the timing of the alternative offer.

Check My Flight

Compensation

€250 – €600 (may be reduced)

Regulation

EC261 Art.5(c)(ii)

Time Limit

2–6 years (varies by country)

What Counts

What is a Short Notice Cancellation?

The 7–14 day window is EC261's 'middle ground'. Airlines can avoid full compensation only if they prove they offered a suitable alternative flight. 'Suitable' is strictly defined by departure and arrival times.

This qualifies if…

Cancellation notified 7–13 days before scheduled departure
Alternative offered departs no more than 2 hours before original
Alternative offered arrives no more than 4 hours after original
If the alternative timing is outside these windows — full compensation applies

Legal Basis

EC261 Art.5(c)(ii): In the 7–14 day window, compensation is reduced or eliminated only if passengers are offered rerouting departing no more than 2h before and arriving no more than 4h after the original.

How Much

How much are you owed?

Full EC261 amounts apply unless the alternative offered meets the strict timing windows.

Scenario / Distance	Example	Amount	Note
Up to 1,500 km	London → Paris	€250	Full if no suitable alternative offered
1,500 – 3,500 km	London → Athens	€400	Full if no suitable alternative offered
Over 3,500 km	London → New York	€600	Full if no suitable alternative offered

Do I Qualify?

Eligibility checklist

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

Cancellation notified between 7 and 14 days before departure

Required

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

Required

No alternative was offered, OR the offered alternative didn't meet timing requirements

Conditional

You had a confirmed booking and had checked in on time

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 you a replacement flight — no compensation required."

Only a very specific alternative timing avoids compensation: departs ≤2h before original AND arrives ≤4h after original. Any alternative outside these windows means full compensation still applies.

"This was short notice but still a full 10 days — you had time to rebook."

EC261 doesn't care about your ability to rebook. The 7–14 day rule is a bright-line test. If they notified you in this window, the compensation trigger is met — regardless of your booking flexibility.

"The cancellation was for extraordinary circumstances."

Airlines must still demonstrate the two-part extraordinary circumstances test. Simply invoking the phrase is not sufficient. Even in the 7–14 day window, a valid extraordinary circumstances defence is required.

How It Works