Flight Cancelled & Rebooked for the Next Day? Yes, You Can Still Claim Compensation
Stranded overnight because your Ryanair, easyJet, or Lufthansa flight was cancelled? The airline owes you more than just a seat on tomorrow's plane. Here's how to get up to €600 in your pocket.
Picture this: you're at the airport, bags checked, ready to go—and then the dreaded announcement. Your flight is cancelled. The airline says they'll put you on a flight tomorrow morning. You're stuck overnight.
Here's what most people don't realise: being rebooked doesn't mean you've lost your right to compensation. In fact, a next-day rebooking almost guarantees you're owed money. Since you'll arrive more than 3 hours late at your destination, EU law says the airline must pay you €250 to €600 in cash—on top of covering your hotel, meals, and transport.
Why Next-Day Rebooking Works in Your Favour
If your flight was cancelled the same day (or within 14 days of departure) and you arrived more than 3 hours late, you qualify for compensation. A next-day rebooking means you're almost certainly delayed by more than 3 hours—making your claim straightforward.
Your Rights When Your Flight Is Cancelled
When an airline cancels your flight and rebooks you for the next day, you have three separate rights under EU261:
1. Choice of Options
You can choose between a full refund OR rebooking to your destination. If you accept rebooking, you keep your right to compensation.
2. Right to Care
The airline MUST provide meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation (if overnight), and transport to/from the hotel.
3. Cash Compensation
€250-€600 depending on flight distance—paid directly to your bank account. This is separate from care!
All Three Rights Are Separate!
Accepting rebooking and hotel accommodation does NOT waive your right to cash compensation. You're entitled to all three—don't let the airline tell you otherwise.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim?
EU261 compensation is based on flight distance. Here's what you can claim for a cancelled flight with next-day rebooking:
Real Example: A Typical Next-Day Rebooking
Let's say you were booked on a 7pm Ryanair flight from Madrid to Munich. At 5pm, the flight is cancelled. Ryanair rebooks you on the 9am flight the next morning. You finally land at 11am—14 hours after you were supposed to arrive.
~1,870 km (medium-haul)
14 hours
€400 cash compensation
Plus hotel, dinner, breakfast, and taxi to/from airport (airline pays)
Hotel, Meals & Transport: What the Airline Must Provide
When you're stuck overnight due to a cancellation, the airline has a legal duty to take care of you. This is called your "right to care" and is separate from compensation.
Hotel Accommodation
If your rebooked flight is the next day, the airline must pay for a hotel room. This applies even if you live nearby.
Meals & Refreshments
Food and drinks proportionate to the waiting time. Usually provided as vouchers for airport restaurants.
Transport to Hotel
The airline must arrange and pay for transport between the airport and hotel (taxi, shuttle, etc.).
Communication
Two phone calls, emails, or faxes to notify others about your situation.
What If the Airline Doesn't Provide Care?
If you had to pay for your own hotel, meals, or transport, keep all receipts! You can claim these expenses back from the airline in addition to your EU261 compensation. The airline must reimburse reasonable expenses.
When Can You Claim Compensation?
Good news: if your flight was cancelled at short notice and you were rebooked for the next day, you're almost certainly eligible. Here's the breakdown:
You CAN Claim If:
- You arrived 3+ hours late (next-day rebooking = almost always yes)
- Cancelled due to technical problems with the aircraft
- Cancelled due to crew sickness or no-shows
- Cancelled due to airline scheduling or operational issues
- Your flight departed from any EU airport
- Your flight arrived in the EU on an EU-based airline
You Cannot Claim If:
- The airline told you 14+ days before your flight date
- Cancelled due to genuinely severe weather (storms, volcanic ash)
- Cancelled due to air traffic control strikes
- Cancelled due to a genuine security threat
- Your flight was from outside the EU on a non-EU airline
Note: If you were stranded overnight at the airport, the airline clearly didn't give you 14 days notice—so you're in the clear on that one.
Airlines Love Excuses. Most Don't Hold Up.
"Technical issues" and "operational reasons" are the airline's problem, not yours—and they don't count as extraordinary circumstances. If the gate agent blamed something vague, there's a good chance you're still owed money. We can check for free.
How to Claim Compensation for Your Cancelled Flight
Follow these steps to get both your care entitlements AND cash compensation.
At the Airport: Get Written Confirmation
Ask the airline for written confirmation of the cancellation and the reason. This is crucial evidence for your claim. Don't just accept a verbal explanation.
Claim Your Right to Care Immediately
Ask for meal vouchers, hotel accommodation, and transport. Don't pay out of pocket—the airline is legally obligated to provide these.
Document Everything
Keep all evidence for your compensation claim:
- Booking confirmation & boarding pass
- Cancellation notice from airline
- Photos of departure boards showing cancellation
- Receipts for any expenses (if airline didn't provide care)
Submit Your Compensation Claim
Once you've reached your destination, submit your EU261 compensation claim. Airlines often reject valid claims—using a claim service like Claimzi significantly increases your success rate.
Don't Wait Too Long!
Claim time limits vary by country: 5 years (France), 3 years (Germany), 5 years (Spain), and 2-10 years in other EU countries. Submit your claim as soon as possible after your disrupted flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about compensation for cancelled flights rebooked the next day.
Was Your Flight Cancelled?
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