Flight cancelled: what are you entitled to?

After a cancellation you can choose a refund or a replacement flight, and you are often owed compensation on top. The exception is when you were told at least 14 days in advance.

✓ Free check, no sign-up · ✓ One-off CHF 9.90 incl. VAT, no subscription · ✓ Secure payment via Stripe · ✓ You keep 100% of the compensation · ✓ Your data stays in your browser

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The cancellation rules (Art. 5 Reg. 261/2004)

  • Informed 14 days or more before: no compensation.
  • 7–13 days before: no compensation if the replacement flight departs no more than 2 hours earlier and arrives less than 4 hours later.
  • Less than 7 days before: no compensation if the replacement flight departs no more than 1 hour earlier and arrives less than 2 hours later.
  • Otherwise €250/400/600 by distance, halved if the replacement arrives less than 2/3/4 hours later (Art. 7(2)).
  • Always: refund or re-routing (Art. 8) and care, i.e. meals, drinks and a hotel if needed (Art. 9), even in extraordinary circumstances.

How it works

  1. Check for free: enter route, airline and what happened. The checker works out distance, amount and legal basis.
  2. Letter pack for CHF 9.90: a claim letter with the articles, amount and payment deadline as a PDF and as text for the airline's online form, plus a follow-up letter if the airline rejects or ignores you, and the documents for the free complaint to FOCA (BAZL). In English, German or French.
  3. Keep 100%: the airline pays straight into your account. No commission, no subscription.

Buy the letter pack (CHF 9.90)

FAQ

Does the airline have to pay in bad weather?

Usually no compensation is due, because weather can be an extraordinary circumstance. The airline has to prove it, though. Care and refund or re-routing are still owed.

Do I have to accept a voucher?

No. Compensation must be paid in money. Vouchers only with your signed agreement (Art. 7(3)).

Does EU Regulation 261/2004 apply in Switzerland?

Yes. Switzerland adopted the regulation through the Swiss-EU Air Transport Agreement (SR 0.748.127.192.68). It covers every flight departing from Switzerland, the EU, Iceland or Norway, and flights from a non-EU country into them if the operating airline is from one of these countries.