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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Apparently £63 is unreasonable to spend after a cancelled flight!

137 replies

whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 13:32

I had an easyjet flight cancelled 4 weeks ago.

I submitted for both compensation and refund of expenses. The £63 was made up of dinner the night of the cancelled flight, lunch the next day, buses to and from the airport and a taxi the night of the cancelled flight.

In my mind that’s a really reasonable spend. I’m obviously going to challenge it but AIBU here?!

OP posts:
fashionqueen0123 · 18/09/2026 14:40

whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:19

Yes, which again I wouldn’t have had.

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I’m just confused about the timeline. How did you have that plus lunch the next day? Which day was the flight on?
The dinner day or the lunch day?

RedToothBrush · 18/09/2026 14:42

whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:38

Different things. This is reimbursement of expenses.

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That they aren't liable for. That's the point.

Original poster
whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:42

fashionqueen0123 · 18/09/2026 14:40

I’m just confused about the timeline. How did you have that plus lunch the next day? Which day was the flight on?
The dinner day or the lunch day?

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The flight was Friday afternoon. I’d have been in the hotel by 7:30pm and had dinner there.

I was rebooked onto a flight from the same airport the following evening. So needed dinner and lunch.

OP posts:
Original poster
whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:43

RedToothBrush · 18/09/2026 14:42

That they aren't liable for. That's the point.

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Yes they are. Expenses are separate to compensation and they’re supposed to refund everything that is “reasonable”

OP posts:
fashionqueen0123 · 18/09/2026 14:43

whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:22

They say ATC restrictions

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This happened to me a couple of years ago. We had lunch at the airport which I just chalked up to one of those things.
But I put a claim in for train tickets to and from the airport for my travel insurance as part of the whole claim and got it back. So I suggest doing that.

U53rName · 18/09/2026 14:43

Aren’t they required by law to give you 250 euros for salary beyond 3 hours?

AlwaysExtraHot · 18/09/2026 14:44

£63 is nothing for dinner, lunch, buses and a taxi. They're obviously chancing their arm.

DaftHapeth · 18/09/2026 14:45

U53rName · 18/09/2026 14:43

Aren’t they required by law to give you 250 euros for salary beyond 3 hours?

Not if it’s out of their control. ATC is out of their control.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 18/09/2026 14:46

I don't think you could get the statutory compensation for a cancelled flight but are entitled to recompense for meals etc.

fashionqueen0123 · 18/09/2026 14:46

whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:42

The flight was Friday afternoon. I’d have been in the hotel by 7:30pm and had dinner there.

I was rebooked onto a flight from the same airport the following evening. So needed dinner and lunch.

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I see. They’ll probably say you should have eaten at home if you got a bus back. Same with the lunch.
If you were supposed to be at the hotel, then claim a day back from the hotel from your insurance.

But - can you claim compensation overall for then flight delay? Or does it not count as it was ATC?

Original poster
whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:47

fashionqueen0123 · 18/09/2026 14:46

I see. They’ll probably say you should have eaten at home if you got a bus back. Same with the lunch.
If you were supposed to be at the hotel, then claim a day back from the hotel from your insurance.

But - can you claim compensation overall for then flight delay? Or does it not count as it was ATC?

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I was in a hotel in the city the airport is in. I didn’t go home.

OP posts:
Original poster
whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:47

DeftGoldHedgehog · 18/09/2026 14:46

I don't think you could get the statutory compensation for a cancelled flight but are entitled to recompense for meals etc.

Yes. That’s what I’m after. The expenses.

OP posts:
DeftGoldHedgehog · 18/09/2026 14:49

whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:47

Yes. That’s what I’m after. The expenses.

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The Money Saving Expert link is helpful. There are links to calculators etc too.

Cyclistmumgrandma · 18/09/2026 14:50

Apologies! Yes you should be entitled to claim. Found this on Martin Lewis's website.

  • "Food and drink. Your airline should provide food and drink (or vouchers to buy them) if you're delayed more than two hours on a short-haul flight, three hours on medium haul (for example, Manchester to Malaga) or four hours for long haul. You're entitled to this regardless of the reason for the delay.
  • If it's unable to, you can buy your own and claim back, but make sure you keep receipts. Check if your airline's website has any guidance on what it'll cover.
  • Accommodation (if needed). If the flight is delayed overnight, no matter the reason, you're entitled to a hotel, and the airline must also provide transport to and from it. Ideally it will arrange the hotel for you, so always check before you book somewhere."
fashionqueen0123 · 18/09/2026 14:55

whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:47

I was in a hotel in the city the airport is in. I didn’t go home.

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I think they’ll still say well you would have eaten regardless. Try your travel insurance. They usually pay for delays to cover stuff like this.

Ohnobackagain · 18/09/2026 14:57

Use the Resolver letter templates to push it (assuming you have a case - not saying you don’t). I used them when Tui were being obstructive. It won’t cost you anything, nor do they take any part of the claim. I got the recommendation from Money saving expert @whatistakinghimsolong

Original poster
whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:58

fashionqueen0123 · 18/09/2026 14:55

I think they’ll still say well you would have eaten regardless. Try your travel insurance. They usually pay for delays to cover stuff like this.

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I don’t think you’ve read my posts.

I would have been in an all inclusive hotel.

OP posts:
Hibernating17 · 18/09/2026 15:00

A cousin has successfully claimed compensation from Easyjet only after going throigh specialist solicitors. They are always going to try a 'not our fault' excuse. Been there. They used 'bad weather' when every other flight was leaving and were absolutely no help on the ground. Worth a try. You have lost a whole day of your holiday and should certainly get those expenses.

SquidGinn · 18/09/2026 15:02

whatistakinghimsolong · 18/09/2026 14:58

I don’t think you’ve read my posts.

I would have been in an all inclusive hotel.

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I think she’s hard of thinking it was blatantly obvious to me and others why claimed lunch and dinner! It didn’t need spelling out 🙄

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 18/09/2026 15:18

Cyclistmumgrandma · 18/09/2026 14:50

Apologies! Yes you should be entitled to claim. Found this on Martin Lewis's website.

  • "Food and drink. Your airline should provide food and drink (or vouchers to buy them) if you're delayed more than two hours on a short-haul flight, three hours on medium haul (for example, Manchester to Malaga) or four hours for long haul. You're entitled to this regardless of the reason for the delay.
  • If it's unable to, you can buy your own and claim back, but make sure you keep receipts. Check if your airline's website has any guidance on what it'll cover.
  • Accommodation (if needed). If the flight is delayed overnight, no matter the reason, you're entitled to a hotel, and the airline must also provide transport to and from it. Ideally it will arrange the hotel for you, so always check before you book somewhere."

I suspect their argument may be that you are trying to claim under point 2, but they're only obliged to do this if they haven't offered food or vouchers under point 1. Did you ask about that option?

Viviennemary · 18/09/2026 15:19

It's annoying. But those Easyjet flights are very cheap. How much was the flight.

Badbadbunny · 18/09/2026 15:21

Isn't this what travel insurance is for? Have you tried claiming on your travel insurance instead?

Executrixnotextraordinaire · 18/09/2026 15:25

Recently had a cancelled Easyjet flight, it was initially delayed and cancelled shortly after, and only a few hours before departure.
We had to get home for various reasons and have been unable to claim additional flight costs, cancellation was exceptional circumstances no other reason , initial delay was weather issues for inbound plane which would then be our outbound. Numerous other flights left and landed around the same time from home and destination airports. We’ve been refunded flight costs for that leg but not cost difference for new flight.
Travel insurance wont cover costs as we weren’t delayed more than an hour, i managed to book flights with different carrier leaving at same time, slightly delayed due to EES machines.
Not happy with Easyjet or insurers so I sympathise OP.

wldpwr · 18/09/2026 15:28

This surprises me. We had a cancelled EasyJet flight, ended up being re-routed the next day and they approved a lot of costs for us - organised the hotel and paid for two 80 Euro taxi rides and meals up to around £250 for family of four. I was surprised they didn't challenge any of it. The only thing they questioned was the extra parking we paid at the airport in the UK.