In short: react after a canceled flight in self-transfer
In the event of a canceled flight on a separate correspondence, only the company having canceled its flight must reimburse you, the second ticket being generally lost without specific coverage.
- Mandatory refund: The airline canceling must return 100% of the unused ticket price within 7 days.
- Flat-rate compensation: Depending on the distance of the journey, you can claim €250, €400 or €600 if the notice is less than 14 days.
- Agency fees included: The Court of Justice of the European Union (judgment C-732/19) imposes the reimbursement of the reservation fees charged by intermediaries.
- Free remedies: Contact the Tourism and Travel Ombudsman (MTV) or the European Consumer Center (CEC) to settle a dispute.
Understand your rights to separately purchased tickets
Buy two separate tickets from low-cost companies (self-transfer or self-transfer) constitutes two legally independent transport contracts. Under the European Union Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, the carrier providing the second flight has no obligation to redirect or refund you if any delay or cancellation on the first flight causes you to miss your connection.
On the other hand, the first carrier must assume the cancellation of its own service. If your departure is canceled, the operating company is legally required to offer you the choice between a rerouting or full refund of the ticket within 7 days for the part of the trip not made.
Calculate the amount of your lump sum compensation
In addition to the refund of the ticket, you are entitled to lump sum financial compensation if the cancellation was notified to you less than 14 days before the scheduled departure time, except in the event of extraordinary circumstances.
According to Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, the fixed amount of this indemnity depends strictly on the distance from the air link concerned:
| Flight type and distance | Lump sum compensation per passenger | Legal payment period for reimbursement |
|---|---|---|
| All flights up to 1,500 km | 250 € | 7 days |
| Intra-EU flights of more than 1,500 km and other flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km | 400 € | 7 days |
| Non-intra-EU flights of more than 3,500 km | 600 € | 7 days |
Recover online booking agency fees
If you have booked your tickets through an online travel agency or third party comparator, these intermediaries often charge application fees. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), by judgment C-732/19, established that the refund due to the airline must include all of the reservation fees charged by those third-party agencies.
In case of refusal of the intermediary seller to include these costs in the refund, you can explicitly invoke this Community case law in your written complaint.
Manage the situation at the airport: option A vs option B
Faced with an unexpected cancellation at the counter or at the landing door, adopt a pragmatic strategy according to your immediate priority.
Option A: Continue the trip at your expense
If you absolutely must reach your final destination despite the risk on the second flight:
- Immediately request a written cancellation certificate at the counter of the first company.
- Buy a new direct ticket on the first available link or change your second route if the change price remains affordable.
- Keep all supporting documents and purchase invoices.
- Submit a flat-rate compensation claim (€250, €400 or €600) to the first company as soon as you return.
Option B: Cancel the trip and require refund
If missing your second correspondence makes the whole trip useless:
- Refuse any late rerouting proposals that would not allow your second flight to catch.
- Demand full refund within 7 days of your first airplane ticket under the European regulation.
- Consult the conditions of your second ticket with the low-cost carrier to check if the airport taxes can at least be returned to you.
initiate legal and administrative remedies in France and in the EU
If the airline refuses to proceed with the refund within 7 days or rejects your legitimate compensation claim, several free remedies are available to you.
In France, Article 2224 of the Civil Code sets the statute of limitations at 5 years to take legal action against an air carrier under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Before getting there, focus on amicable steps:
- The Tourism and Travel Ombudsman (MTV): For unresolved disputes with signatory companies of the mediation charter, you can seize the MTV for free to obtain an independent opinion.
- The Network of European Consumer Centers (ECC Net): If the airline is based in another Member State of the European Union, submit a free cross-border complaint to the CEC network.
- The General Directorate of Civil Viation (DGAC): You can file an official report with the DGAC for administrative breaches if the carrier refusing to apply the regulations operates on departure from France.
frequently asked questions
How to get a canceled flight on a separate connection?
Ask for a full refund of your ticket from the company that canceled its flight. Under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, payment must be made within 7 days. If the second flight is missed, the refund depends on its original fare.
What is the amount of compensation for a canceled low-cost flight?
If you are notified less than 14 days before departure, the fixed compensation is €250 for journeys up to 1,500 km, €400 for intra-EU flights of more than €1,500, and €600 for non-intra-EU flights of more than 3,500 km.
What is the legal deadline for filing a complaint against an airline in France?
According to article 2224 of the French Civil Code, the limitation period is 5 years to present a claim for compensation or to initiate a legal recourse against an airline under European law.
{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@graph”:[{“@type”:”Article”,”headline”:”Vol annulé et correspondance séparée : obtenez votre remboursement”,”description”:”Vol annulé sur une correspondance séparée low-cost ? Découvrez vos droits réels, du remboursement à l’indemnisation jusqu’à 600 € selon la loi européenne.”,”datePublished”:”2026-10-04″,”dateModified”:”2026-10-04″,”inLanguage”:”fr”,”keywords”:”annule, correspondance, separee, gestion, annulation, cost, problem”},{“@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Comment se faire rembourser un vol annulé sur une correspondance séparée ?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Demandez le remboursement intégral de votre billet à la compagnie qui a annulé son vol. En vertu du Règlement (CE) n° 261/2004, le paiement doit intervenir sous 7 jours. Si le second vol est manqué, le remboursement dépend de son tarif d’origine.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Quel est le montant de l’indemnité pour un vol low-cost annulé ?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Si vous êtes prévenu moins de 14 jours avant le départ, l’indemnité fixe est de 250 € pour les trajets jusqu’à 1 500 km, 400 € pour les vols intra-UE de plus de 1 500 km, et 600 € pour les vols non intra-UE de plus de 3 500 km.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Quel est le délai légal pour porter plainte contre une compagnie aérienne en France ?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Selon l’article 2224 du Code civil français, le délai de prescription est de 5 ans pour présenter une demande d’indemnisation ou engager un recours judiciaire contre une compagnie aérienne dans le cadre du droit européen.”}}]}]}
