Air France passenger rights
Air France cancelled flight: refund and compensation
If Air France cancels your flight, you're entitled at least to a refund or another flight under every set of rules we cover. Compensation on top depends on the route, how much notice you had, and the cause.
Rules checked against official sources on Oct 11, 2026
Air France is licensed in France, an EU country, so EU261 covers its flights both departing from and arriving in the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, and UK261 covers its flights to and from the UK.
This page covers the law, not airline policy
These rules apply whatever Air France's own terms say. For Air France's own policy and official links, see the Air France page.
Rules that can apply to your Air France flight
Several sets of rules can apply to the same flight, but you generally can't be compensated twice for the same disruption.
EU Regulation 261/2004
Home rulesApplies to: All of its flights departing the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, and its flights arriving there from elsewhere.
- You can choose between a refund of the ticket, paid within 7 days, and re-routing to your destination.
- No compensation is due if you were told about the cancellation at least two weeks before departure.
- With 7–13 days' notice, no compensation is due if the alternative flight left no more than 2 hours early and arrived less than 4 hours late.
- With less than 7 days' notice, no compensation is due if the alternative flight left no more than 1 hour early and arrived less than 2 hours late.
- No compensation is due if Air France proves the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided, for example severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or security risks.
- If you accept an alternative flight that arrives within 2, 3 or 4 hours of the original arrival time (by distance band, shortest first), the airline may halve the compensation.
| Flights of 1,500 km or less | €250 |
|---|---|
| Flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km, and flights over 1,500 km between two airports in the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland | €400 |
| Other flights over 3,500 km | €600 |
Care while you wait
- Meals and refreshments, and a means of communication.
- Hotel accommodation and transport to it if you have to stay overnight.
How to claim
- Claim directly from the airline that operated the flight, in writing. Keep your booking reference, boarding passes and receipts.
- If the airline refuses or does not reply, complain to the national enforcement body in the country where the incident happened, or use an approved alternative dispute resolution scheme.
- Time limits for court claims are set by national law and differ between countries.
Good to know
- Changes to Regulation 261/2004 have been under negotiation in the EU. At our last review, the rules shown here were the ones in force. Check the official source for updates.
- Distance is the great-circle distance between the first departure and final arrival airports.
Applies to: Its flights departing the UK, and its flights arriving in the UK.
- You can choose between a refund of the ticket, paid within 7 days, and re-routing to your destination.
- No compensation is due if you were told about the cancellation at least two weeks before departure.
- With 7–13 days' notice, no compensation is due if the alternative flight left no more than 2 hours early and arrived less than 4 hours late.
- With less than 7 days' notice, no compensation is due if the alternative flight left no more than 1 hour early and arrived less than 2 hours late.
- No compensation is due if Air France proves the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided, for example severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or security risks.
- If you accept an alternative flight that arrives within 2, 3 or 4 hours of the original arrival time (by distance band, shortest first), the airline may halve the compensation.
| Flights of 1,500 km or less | £220 |
|---|---|
| Flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km, and flights over 1,500 km within the UK | £350 |
| Other flights over 3,500 km | £520 |
Care while you wait
- Meals and refreshments, and a means of communication.
- Hotel accommodation and transport to it if you have to stay overnight.
How to claim
- Claim from the airline first, in writing.
- If you're not satisfied with the final response, or the airline hasn't replied within 8 weeks, escalate to the airline's approved ADR scheme or to the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT).
- Court claims in England and Wales are generally subject to a 6-year limitation period (5 years in Scotland).
Good to know
- Distance is the great-circle distance between the first departure and final arrival airports.
- Separate tickets (self-transfer) are assessed flight by flight.
Applies to: Its flights to, from and within Canada.
- For a cancellation, the airline must rebook you or refund the unused portion of the ticket if the alternative doesn't meet your needs.
- Compensation is owed when the disruption is within the airline's control and not required for safety, and you were told about it 14 days or less before departure.
- Disruptions required for safety, or outside the airline's control (such as weather or air traffic control), do not attract compensation, though rebooking or refund rules still apply.
- If your ticket is refunded rather than rebooked, the airline must still pay the refund-related compensation shown.
- Large carriers (2 million or more passengers a year worldwide) pay the higher amount; small carriers pay the lower one.
| Arriving 3 to under 6 hours late | CA$400 (large airline) · CA$125 (small airline) |
|---|---|
| Arriving 6 to under 9 hours late | CA$700 (large airline) · CA$250 (small airline) |
| Arriving 9 or more hours late | CA$1,000 (large airline) · CA$500 (small airline) |
| Ticket refunded instead of rebooking | CA$400 (large airline) · CA$125 (small airline) |
Care while you wait
- Food and drink, and access to communication, after a 2-hour wait for disruptions within the airline's control.
- Hotel accommodation if you have to wait overnight, for disruptions within the airline's control.
How to claim
- Send a written compensation request to the airline within one year of the delay or cancellation.
- The airline must pay or explain why it won't within 30 days of receiving your request.
- If you disagree with the response, file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency.
Good to know
- Amendments to the APPR have been proposed. At our last review, the amounts shown here were in force.
- Whether a carrier is 'large' depends on its passenger numbers in the two preceding calendar years.
Applies to: Its flights to, from and within the United States (refunds, not compensation).
- If your flight is cancelled and you don't accept an alternative, you are entitled to a full refund of the fare, taxes and paid extras.
- There is no federal requirement for airlines to pay cash compensation for delays or cancellations. Some airlines promise meals, hotels or credits in their customer service plans.
- Refunds must be prompt: within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.
Care while you wait
- Meals and hotels are set by each airline's own customer service plan, not by federal law.
How to claim
- Refunds for cancellations and significant changes should be automatic if you decline the alternative. If one doesn't arrive, request it from the airline or ticket agent that took your payment.
- If the airline doesn't resolve it, file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation.
Good to know
- Parts of the DOT refund rules have been under administrative reconsideration. Check the DOT source for the current position.
- Airline vouchers offered instead of a refund are optional; you can insist on the refund.
Applies to: Its flights to, from or within Australia (no fixed compensation scheme).
- At our last review, Australia had no fixed-amount compensation scheme for delays or cancellations like the EU's.
- Under the Australian Consumer Law, services must be provided with due care and within a reasonable time. If a flight isn't provided, you may be entitled to a refund or other remedy, depending on the circumstances and the airline's conditions of carriage.
Care while you wait
- Meals and accommodation depend on the airline's own policies.
How to claim
- Contact the airline in writing and refer to its customer charter and conditions of carriage.
- If unresolved, contact your state or territory consumer protection agency, or the ACCC for information.
Good to know
- The Australian Government has announced reforms to aviation consumer protection. Check the ACCC for the current position.
What to do now
- Note when and how you were told about the cancellation. The amount of notice decides whether compensation is owed.
- Decide whether you want a refund or a new flight. Accepting a voucher is usually optional.
- Ask Air France for the reason for the cancellation in writing.
- Check your route with the flight compensation checker to see which of these rules apply and what they give you.
- Claim from Air France in writing, and keep a copy. The refund letter generator can draft the request.
- If the airline refuses or doesn't reply, escalate to the regulator or complaints body listed under the rules that apply.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a refund if Air France cancels my flight?
Yes, under every set of rules we cover. EU261 and UK261 let you choose a refund (paid within 7 days) or re-routing. Canada's APPR requires a refund if the alternative doesn't meet your needs. US rules give a full refund of the fare, taxes and paid extras if you don't accept an alternative.
Is Air France cancellation compensation owed on top of the refund?
Under EU261 and UK261, it can be, unless you were told at least two weeks before departure, you were offered an alternative close to your original times, or Air France proves extraordinary circumstances. Under the APPR, compensation applies if you were told 14 days or less before departure and the cause was within the airline's control. The US has no federal cancellation compensation.
Do I have to accept a Air France voucher instead of a refund?
Under US rules, vouchers offered instead of a refund are optional; you can insist on the refund. Under EU261 and UK261, you can choose a refund of the ticket instead of re-routing.
Official sources
Spotted an error or outdated information?
Tell us what's wrong and, if you can, link to the official source. Editors review every report under our corrections policy.