AMERICAN AIRLINES · CANCELLATION · AA · UK 261 AND EC 261
What is a cancelled American Airlines flight worth?
A cancelled American Airlines flight triggers two separate rights under EC 261 and UK 261: a refund within 7 days or rerouting under Art. 8, and compensation of €250, €400 or €600 or £220, £350 or £520 under Art. 7 unless the airline gave 14 days notice or a close replacement flight. The CAA's May 2026 file records 36 American Airlines cancellations, 2.41 percent of its flying.
REVIEWED AGAINST RULE SET V6 AND THE CITED PRIMARY SOURCES · UPDATED 7 AUGUST 2026
How often American Airlines flights were cancelled, May 2026
| MEASURE | VALUE |
|---|---|
| Flights matched | 1,459 |
| Flights cancelled | 36 |
| Cancellation rate | 2.41% |
When does a cancelled American Airlines flight pay compensation?
| WHEN YOU WERE TOLD | COMPENSATION DUE? |
|---|---|
| 14 days or more before departure | No. Refund or rerouting only |
| Two weeks to seven days before | Yes, unless the replacement departed no more than 2 hours early and arrived less than 4 hours late |
| Under seven days | Yes, unless the replacement departed no more than 1 hour early and arrived less than 2 hours late |
What does American Airlines owe besides compensation?
The Art. 8 choice: a full refund within seven days for the parts of the journey not made, or rerouting to the final destination at the earliest opportunity, or at a later date of your choice. Care under Art. 9 applies while you wait. These duties stand even where an extraordinary circumstance defeats the compensation itself.
Common questions
American Airlines rebooked me. Can I still claim compensation?
Rerouting satisfies one duty; compensation is a separate one. On a cancellation with under 14 days notice, compensation can still be due where the replacement flight fell outside the departure and arrival windows in Art. 5(1)(c). The free check applies those windows to your times.
I accepted a refund. Is compensation gone?
No. The Art. 8 refund covers the unused ticket; Art. 7 compensation is a separate claim for the disruption itself. Accepting one does not waive the other.
Can American Airlines pay the compensation as a voucher?
Art. 7(3) requires payment in money (cash, transfer or cheque) unless the passenger signs an agreement to accept travel vouchers or other services. You can decline a voucher and ask for the cash amount.
What about meals and hotels while I waited?
Care under Art. 9 (meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the wait, plus accommodation and transfers where an overnight stay becomes necessary) is a separate duty, and it applies even where the cause was outside the airline's control. Keep receipts.
CONTAINS DATA FROM THE UK CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY PUNCTUALITY STATISTICS.
SOURCES
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(1) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 5(1)(c) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 8(1) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Joined Cases C-402/07 and C-432/07 Sturgeon v Condor, judgment of 19 November 2009 (ECLI:EU:C:2009:716) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- UK Civil Aviation Authority punctuality statistics, full analysis (monthly CSV) · UK Civil Aviation Authority · checked 7 August 2026
OTHER AMERICAN AIRLINES DISRUPTIONS
The free check applies these rules to your American Airlines flight and shows the amount before any personal details.
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