When a flight is cancelled, or delayed 5+ hours and you no longer want to travel, EU261/UK261 Article 8 gives you the choice between a full refund and re-routing — the airline can’t force a voucher on you. A refund must go back to your original payment method within 7 days.
[Your name / address / email / phone]
[Date]
[Airline] — Customer Relations / Refunds
Re: Refund demand under Article 8, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
Flight [number] — [origin] to [destination] — [date] — PNR [____]
Dear Sir or Madam,
My flight [number] on [date] was [cancelled / delayed by more than five
hours and I have chosen not to travel]. Under Article 8 of Regulation
(EC) No 261/2004, I am exercising my right to a FULL REFUND of the ticket.
Please refund EUR [amount] — the [full fare / unused portion] including
taxes and fees — to my ORIGINAL form of payment within 7 days, as the
regulation requires. I do not accept a travel voucher or credit in place
of a cash refund.
This refund is separate from, and does not affect, any compensation I am
owed under Article 7 for [the cancellation / long delay].
Yours faithfully,
[Signature / printed name]
Notes
- Refund vs re-routing is your call. You can instead require re-routing to your destination at the earliest opportunity (or a later date you choose). You don’t have to accept whatever the airline offers first.
- Original payment method, within 7 days. Vouchers are only valid if you agree to one. If you paid by card and only got a voucher, restate Article 8.
- Compensation is on top. A refund does not cancel your Article 7 cancellation or delay compensation.
- US flight? The 2024 DOT rule has its own automatic-refund mechanics — use the US DOT refund letter instead.
A “refund” in airline credit is not a refund. If you booked with cash or a card, the law (EU/UK Article 8; US DOT 2024 rule) entitles you to your money back in that same form. Don’t let a credit shifted to a wallet quietly replace cash you’re owed.