What to Do if Your Norwegian Flight Is Cancelled?

A Norwegian flight cancellation can be stressful and disruptive — especially if you’ve already started your journey or are preparing to leave for the airport. Knowing what to do and what your rights are can make the situation much easier to manage.

Your next steps will depend largely on where you are when the cancellation happens. Below is a simple guide to follow, whether you’re still at home or already at the airport.

What to do if your Norwegian flight is cancelled? Continue reading to find out.

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What to Do if Your Norwegian Flight Is Cancelled?

Continue reading about what to do if your Norwegian flight is cancelled.

Thanks to EU261 regulation, you’re protected in cases of all major flight disruptions—not just cancellations. Even if your flight is cancelled due to bad weather or other extraordinary circumstances, your core passenger rights still apply (exception is the EU flight compensation).

1. If You Are Still at Home or at Your Hotel

If you receive the cancellation notification before leaving for the airport, the best thing you can do is stay where you are for the moment. There is no need to rush to the airport.

What to do next:

• Contact Norwegian Airlines customer support as soon as possible to find out what your new options are.
• Norwegian will explain your choices — most commonly:
  • A later flight the same day (if available)
  • A flight the following day
  • A flight with a partner airline or another carrier if that gets you to your destination sooner
• You can also request a full refund instead of a replacement flight if you no longer wish to travel.

When you’re not yet on the move, you’re in a convenient position — you can wait comfortably while your alternative flight rebooking is arranged.

2. If You Are Already at the Airport

If the cancellation happens after you’ve arrived at the airport, your next steps are a bit different.

Before security:

If you’re still on the landside (public area of the airport), do not go through security yet. You’ll need a new boarding pass for your rebooked flight, so you must return to the check-in desks.

After security:

If you’ve already gone through security, try to return to the landside area. This may require speaking with airport staff to be let back through.

You’ll need to:

• Re-check your baggage
• Collect a new boarding pass
• Follow updated instructions from Norwegian staff

Speak with Norwegian Airlines personnel.

Head to the Norwegian service desk or airport help desk. The airline staff will:

• Rebook you on the next available flight
• Offer you a refund if you prefer not to continue your journey
• Provide any necessary vouchers for meals, drinks, or accommodation
• Give instructions about your checked baggage

You do not need to figure this out alone — airport staff are there to assist you.

3. What to Do if Your Flight Is Cancelled Well in Advance?

If Norwegian cancels your flight well in advance — typically more than 14 days before departure — you have the right to choose between a full refund or re-routing to your destination on a different date or flight.

Since the cancellation is announced early (it’s not a last-minute cancellation), compensation does not apply, but your basic rights remain the same. Contact Norwegian as soon as you receive the notification to review your options, compare alternative flights, and secure a new itinerary that works for you.

Rebooking early increases your chances of finding a convenient replacement flight with minimal disruption to your travel plans.

If you’re unsure what to do if your Norwegian flight is cancelled, knowing your rights under EU261 can help you take the right steps.

Always Remember About Your EU Air Passenger Rights

Regardless of where you are when the cancellation occurs, you have several important rights:

• Right to a free alternative flight. Norwegian must offer you a replacement flight at no cost. This may be on Norwegian or another airline if it gets you to your destination sooner.
• Right to a refund. If you no longer wish to travel, you can request a full refund of your unused ticket.
• Right to care. If you are stuck at the airport due to the cancellation, Norwegian must provide: free meals and refreshments, hotel accommodation if the wait is overnight and transportation between the airport and the hotel. Also you can get two free forms of communication.
• Right to EU flight compensation (if Norwegian is at fault). If Norwegian cancels your flight due to reasons within their control — such as a technical issue or operational problem — you may be entitled to EU flight cancellation compensation of up to €600, depending on the route. More on this below.

Compensation is still available even if the cancellation is announced last-minute.

Why Norwegian Cancels Flights (Common Reasons)?

Norwegian may cancel flights for a variety of reasons, many of which are outside the airline’s control.

Common causes include severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, and strikes (not involving Norwegian staff).

Other cancellations may result from technical problems or crew shortages, which are usually the airline’s responsibility. If your flight is cancelled due to crew shortages, technical problems or Norwegian staff strikes, you may be entitled to EU flight compensation.

Understanding the reason for your cancellation is important, as it affects whether you’re entitled to EU261 compensation or only to re-routing, a refund, and care.

What to Do if You Miss a Connecting Flight?

If you miss a connecting flight on a single-ticket itinerary booked directly with Norwegian, the airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination. This means Norwegian must rebook you on the next available flight, provide care if you’re stuck waiting, and offer accommodation if an overnight stay is required.

However, if your connection was a self-transfer—meaning you booked separate tickets independently—Norwegian is not obligated to assist with the missed onward journey (even if the separately-booked flights are all with Norwegian). In that case, the missed connection becomes the passenger’s responsibility, and you would need to book a new onward flight yourself.

Always check whether your itinerary is on a single ticket, as it determines your level of protection.

Read more: Norwegian Missed Connection Compensation

Norwegian Flight Cancellation Compensation

If your Norwegian flight is cancelled and the cause is within the airline’s control — such as technical issues or operational problems — you may be entitled to EU261 flight cancellation compensation. The amount depends on the distance of your journey and can range from €250 to €600 per passenger.

Flight cancellation compensation applies when the cancellation is announced less than 14 days before departure, unless Norwegian can prove the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances like severe weather or air traffic control restrictions.

This compensation is in addition to your rights to a refund, new flight, and care, ensuring you’re still fairly compensated for the inconvenience.

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

What to do if your Norwegian flight is cancelled? A flight cancellation is never pleasant, but knowing what to do can take much of the stress out of the situation.

Featured photo by Matthias Groeneveld from Pexels