What are your rights if your flight is cancelled?

There were more than 50 cancelled British Airways flights departing Heathrow on Thursday, with the airline urging passengers to check their flight status before going to the airport on Friday.

Some flights that are due to depart Friday evening have been notified their flights are delayed, adding to the stress for customers.

A statement from British Airways released just before 10pm on Thursday said: “We’re aware of a technical issue, which we have been working hard to fix”.

What happens if you miss your flight due to airport delays?

“Due to high call volumes please only contact us if you’re due to travel in the next 48 hours.”

Here’s what your rights are if your flight gets cancelled from a UK airport/UK airline.

What are your rights for flight cancellations?

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) states that airlines must provide you with care and assistance if your flight is cancelled under UK law.

This means they need to provide people with accommodation if they are re-routed to the next day, transport to and from the accommodation, a reasonable amount of food and drink (usually as vouchers) and a means for you to communicate (often by refunding the cost of your calls).

They add: “The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it.”

If there is major disruption airlines are not always able to arrange care and assistance for all passengers.

Under UK law airlines need to provide accommodation if your flight is cancelled

In those situations, the CAA recommends organising your own accommodation and transport and claiming the cost back later.

They add: “If you end up paying for things yourself, keep every receipt and do not spend more than is reasonable.

“Airlines are unlikely to refund you for things like luxury hotels or alcohol. Some will provide guidance on reasonable costs.”

Additionally, your airline must offer you the option to receive a refund for all parts of your ticket that you have not used or choose an alternative flight for.

Can you get compensation for a cancelled flight?

Depending on what caused the cancellation you may also be to claim some compensation.

The CAA said: “Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.”

Additionally, they clarify: “If you received less than seven days’ notice of the cancellation, you can claim compensation based on the timings of the alternative flight.

“If your new flight departs no more than one hour before the scheduled time of your original flight AND your new flight arrives less than two hours after the scheduled time of your original flight, you are not entitled to financial compensation.”

A list of the length of disruptions and what compensation that could entitle you to can be found on their website.