Your Flight Was Delayed or Cancelled in Europe. What Do You Do First?

When an EU-covered flight is disrupted, the order of actions matters. Many passengers look immediately for compensation amounts, but their immediate need is information, care, a revised itinerary and a safe place to sleep. Applicable rights depend on the route, airline and circumstances.

Confirm what happened

Keep the booking reference, boarding pass, airline notice and timestamped photos of disruption screens. Ask whether the flight is delayed, cancelled or being rerouted, because the available options differ. Check official airline communications before accepting an expensive third-party alternative.

Ask about care and rebooking

Under EU rules, some covered disruptions trigger meals, communication, accommodation or transport assistance depending on the circumstances and waiting time. For cancellations, the airline generally must offer a choice among reimbursement and appropriate rerouting options. If it does not provide required care, keep reasonable itemized receipts.

Compensation is a separate question

A long arrival delay or cancellation may lead to compensation when the criteria apply, but extraordinary circumstances and notice periods can change the outcome. Do not assume an automatic payout for every storm or industrial disruption. File a documented claim directly with the airline and keep the case number.

Protect onward reservations

Contact your hotel, car rental agency and the next transport company as soon as a missed arrival looks likely. Separate bookings may not be protected like one through-ticket. Ask your travel insurer what evidence it needs and document extra expenses as they arise.

Before you book: your 5-point checklist

• Save boarding pass and airline notices.
• Ask for care and rerouting before paying out of pocket.
• Keep reasonable receipts.
• Submit airline claims with a timeline.
• Check the official EU rights checker.

This guide is independently written for GOODFINDS. It is not a sponsored review; any referral links elsewhere on the page are identified separately.