Norwegian Flight Cancellation Compensation

Norwegian flight cancellation refund.

Norwegian flight cancellation compensation. What is the difference between compensation and refund? Which one can you get? When can you get both? How much is the compensation? Flights can be cancelled due to a number of reasons. All you need to know is, if your flight is cancelled due to the airline’s fault, you may be entitled to both – a full refund from Norwegian and cancellation compensation up to €600.

All of it applies to their flights to and from the EU, EEA and the UK.

There are two ways you can claim flight cancellation compensation.

1. Norwegian Flight Cancellation Compensation: EU  Regulations

What happens if your Norwegian flight is cancelled?

Will you be booked on a new flight? Is it going to be free of charge? What if the new flight doesn’t meet your needs? Can you ask for a full refund instead? 

According to EU law, flight cancellation procedures are very specific.

If you are notified of the cancellation 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

If you are notified of the cancellation less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

Could you be entitled to Norwegian flight cancellation compensation? 

Yes. As long as your flight meets these criteria:

• Cancellation must be due to the fault of Norwegian;
• It must be a last-minute flight cancellation (up to 14 days before departure);
• Flight must be to/from Europe or the UK.

By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

Sometimes reasons for flight cancellations are out of the airline’s control.

Situations like these are known as extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, you aren’t entitled to flight cancellation compensation no matter how last-minute is the cancellation.

But what exactly are extraordinary circumstances? These are events like bad weather, natural disasters, terrorism threat, civil unrest, security issues and other similar incidents. If your Norwegian flight has been cancelled because of a such event, you can’t get flight cancellation compensation from Norwegian.

At the same time, events like Norwegian staff strikes aren’t considered extraordinary circumstances. So, yes, make sure to double check what you’re told.

Because not always airlines are telling you the truth. To avoid paying compensation, airlines often wrongly refuse compensation claims by telling false reasons for flight delay and cancellation. If you claim compensation on your own, take this into account. Ask for some kind of proof. Don’t give up. It might take some time to get compensation.

If this sounds like too much hassle, work with a compensation claim company. They will check your flight on your behalf. If they find out that you are entitled to compensation, they will claim it on your behalf. 

Just fill in our claim form, and experts will check it on your behalf.

1.2 Right to Care

Your Norwegian flight is cancelled last-minute.

Now you have to wait at the airport for a new flight.

In this case you have a right to receive care from the airline.

Norwegian must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If your new flight is leaving only on the next day, a free hotel stay (including free transfer) must be offered.

You are entitled to receive care from Norwegian, if the wait is 3+ hours. 

It doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.

1.3 Norwegian Flight Cancellation Refund, Norwegian Refund Policy

And again, the rules are very specific.

In the EU, if your flight is cancelled, the airline must offer you a choice between a new flight and a full cancellation refund. If your Norwegian flight is cancelled, you can ask for either a refund or a new flight.

These rules aren’t affected by Norwegian internal policies (Norwegian refund policy).

If you choose the refund, keep in mind that it will take up to 7 days to receive it. Norwegian flight cancellation refund has to be paid to your bank account. 

You don’t have to agree to a Norwegian voucher refund.

Here’s an excerpt from the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004:

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 5

Cancellation

In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall: (a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 8

Right to reimbursement or re-routing

Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between: (a) – reimbursement within seven days (b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.

It doesn’t cover cases when you cancel your Norwegian flight.

2. How to Claim Norwegian Compensation?

There are two ways how you can claim Norwegian flight cancellation compensation.

One of them is more time consuming, the other – easier.

One of the options is to contact Norwegian yourself. Contact Norwegian via the live chat or using social media channels. Find out where can you send your compensation claim regarding your disrupted Norwegian flight. You might need to fill in Online Dispute Resolution form on europa.eu/. Note that this process may take at least a couple of months.

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

If you want a hassle free option, work with a flight compensation company. All you have to do is to fill in one form (EU flight cancellation compensation claim form). Register your Norwegian compensation claim, and the rest is done by the legal office. Our partners offer such services.

Read more:

• How to Claim Norwegian Compensation?
• Norwegian Compensation Claim Denied: What’s Next?
• Your Norwegian Refund Is Taking Forever? Here’s Your Plan of Action

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

If everything goes well, the process could take some 2-3 months.

2 to 3 months from the moment you file a compensation claim until your Norwegian flight cancellation compensation is transferred in your bank account. Keep in mind that not always it will be 2-3 months. If the airline refuses to cooperate, you will need to take your case to a national enforcement body or even court. It might add a couple more months to the process.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount in the EU go up to €600 per person.

Here is how you can calculate your Norwegian compensation:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 Norwegian Voucher Refund or Cash?

What if you are offered a Norwegian voucher instead of compensation?

You don’t have to accept it. Airline compensation and refunds have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer. It applies to both EU and UK flights.

4. What Happens If a Flight Is Cancelled?

What to do if your Norwegian flight is cancelled?

First of all, wait for the email from Norwegian. This email will contain all the necessary information about your options — information about a replacement flight and refund.

If you are already at the airport, and it’s a very last-minute cancellation, there’s nothing much you can do. Just follow your Norwegian flight information and wait for the announcement from the airline. There will be a new flight. It might be in a few hours, or it might be on the next day. If it’s the latter, the airline will provide you with a free hotel as well. 

In most cases, you’ll be given a choice between a new flight and a full refund. If you choose a refund, take into account that you won’t receive it right away. Usually flight cancellation refunds are made within 7 days.

If it is a last-minute cancellation due to the fault of the airline, you might get flight cancellation compensation from Norwegian.

Do you need to be on time for another flight? If it’s a Norwegian connecting flight (two or more flights under one booking reference number), don’t worry. If you miss your connection because your previous flight was delayed or cancelled, Norwegian will book you on another flight free of charge. But if it’s a self transfer (separately booked flights), it’s your responsibility.

Norwegian Flight Cancellation Compensation and Refund: FAQ

Norwegian Refund

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received Norwegian flight cancellation compensation? Do you still have questions about Norwegian compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.