Flight cancelled : costs/refund/compensation ?

[Whywaitfortomorrow]

Our flight back from Europe was cancelled and no return flights were available with airline until 3 days later. We took alternative airline and route back. The cost of the original flights was similar to the new flights. Extras were travel to airport/hotel, food and drink. I just wanted to know if we're entitled to our costs back plus EU compensation or do you claim for one or the other ? All the advice pages say we can claim a refund or costs but it wasn't clear if EU compensation is in addition to or instead of - airline provided a hotel but I couldn't sleep as I was so worried about how we would get home plus missing work. I'm probably going to post on Travel threads too.

europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm

We've had replacement flight and extra leg room fee refunded plus the €400 compensation. It was really easy to claim.

We didn't incur any extras as managed to get on a flight the same day.

Thanks Collaborate and Seastar. It looks like we can claim for re routing and compensation. I tried to stick to the facts in my op but it was really stressful not knowing when we would get home. All passengers were really cross about how it was handled as there was no one from airline available to help.

Can you hint at airline name so can be avoided!

Just an update - our claim for EU compensation was rejected due to ATC restrictions. However, I have been google searching and it seems the same flight was cancelled in previous weeks. Does this still count as 'extraordinary circumstances' or 'ATC restrictions' if it happens consecutively ?

Toad, I plan to appeal so I don't want to name airline just yet.

I don't think there has been a specific ruling on ATC restrictions. However, crew illness and technical failures are not counted as extraordinary circumstances so I would be surprised if ATC restrictions are, especially if it is happening regularly. It wouldn't surprise me to find that the real reason for cancellation is nothing to do with ATC. Many airlines are still trying every trick they can think of to avoid paying the compensation to which their customers are legally entitled.