Aer Lingus cancellation compensation
Compensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c). You are also entitled to choose between a full refund and a replacement flight, whatever the notice.
Which Aer Lingus flights are covered
Aer Lingus is registered in Ireland, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because Aer Lingus is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
Worked examples on Aer Lingus routes
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin (DUB) → Cork (ORK) | 231 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Dublin (DUB) → Shannon (SNN) | 195 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Dublin (DUB) → Manchester (MAN) | 265 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Dublin (DUB) → Paris (CDG) | 785 km | EU261 | €250 |
What Aer Lingus is likely to say — and the answer
“You were offered an alternative flight” — only relevant if it fell inside the Article 5 windows. Check the departure and arrival times.
“We told you in advance” — the question is whether it was 14 days or more, counted from when you were actually informed.
“Operational reasons” — not a category in the Regulation.
A voucher offered instead of money — you are entitled to be paid in money.
Specific to Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus is an Irish carrier, so its transatlantic flights INTO Dublin or Shannon from the United States are covered by EU261 even though they start outside Europe. Passengers frequently do not realise this and never claim.
Ireland allows six years to bring a claim, which is one of the longest windows in Europe. An Aer Lingus flight from 2021 may well still be live.
They operate a dedicated EU261 form and will usually acknowledge within a few days, with the substantive answer taking around a month.
Where a transatlantic flight is delayed by a technical issue in Dublin, expect a rejection citing an unforeseen technical fault. That argument was closed off by van der Lans in 2015.
Time limit: Aer Lingus is based in Ireland, where claims run for 6 years from the date of the flight. How that works
Check it free, then send the letter yourself.
If your Aer Lingus cancellation appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat, with Aer Lingus’s likely objection answered in advance. You keep 100% of what they pay. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Aer Lingus cancellation: common questions
How much can I claim from Aer Lingus for a cancellation?
Between €250 and €600 (or £220 and £520 under UK261) per passenger, depending on distance. The worked examples on this page show the figure for some of Aer Lingus’s routes.
Aer Lingus cancelled my flight and put me on another one. Can I still claim?
Possibly. If you were told less than 14 days before, the airline only escapes compensation if the replacement fell inside strict windows — for example, with under 7 days’ notice, departing no more than an hour early and arriving less than two hours late. Outside those windows, compensation is due, although it can be halved if you arrived within 2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance.
What reasons does Aer Lingus give for refusing cancellation claims?
The most common are: You were offered an alternative flight; We told you in advance; Operational reasons; A voucher offered instead of money. Most of these do not hold up against the Regulation or the case law.
How long do I have to make a Aer Lingus cancellation claim?
Where Aer Lingus is based, the limit is 6 years. You can usually also claim in the country your flight departed from or arrived in, which may give you longer.
Other Aer Lingus claims
- Aer Lingus: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Aer Lingus: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Aer Lingus: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Aer Lingus: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.