Aer Lingus' cancellation policy depends on fare type, route, and timing. Here’s a concise overview:
24-Hour Cancellation Policy (U.S. Routes):
- Flights to/from the USA, Canada, or the Caribbean can be canceled within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, provided the booking is made at least 7 days before departure. This applies to all fare types and is mandated by U.S. Department of Transportation regulations.
- Submit cancellations via the Refund Request Form on aerlingus.com
General Cancellation Rules:
- Cancellations must be made at least 2 hours before departure to be eligible for any refund. Failure to cancel before this time may result in forfeiture of the ticket value, except for government taxes.
- Saver and Plus Fares: Non-refundable, except for government taxes and charges. Change fees, seat fees, and baggage fees are also non-refundable.
- Smart Fares: Non-refundable, but eligible for a voucher refund if requested at least 2 hours before departure. No change fees apply, but seat and baggage fees are non-refundable.
- Advantage, AerSpace, and Flex/Business Flex Fares: Fully refundable if canceled at least 2 hours before departure. If upgraded from a Smart Fare, only the fare difference is refundable.
- A $21 refund administration fee may apply, except for fully refundable fares or airline-canceled flights.
- Canceling individual segments of a multi-segment itinerary is treated as a change, potentially incurring a change fee (e.g., €40/£35/$60 per person per flight) and fare differences.
How to Cancel:
- Customer Service: Call Aer Lingus (+1-877-240-6770) for assistance, especially for complex itineraries or partner airline bookings.
- Travel Agency: If booked through a travel agent or third-party platform, contact them directly for cancellations.
- Airport: Visit an Aer Lingus ticket counter, though online cancellation is recommended to avoid delays.
Refunds:
- Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 7 days, with notification via email.
- Non-refundable fares (Saver, Plus, Smart) only allow refunds of government taxes and charges.
- If Aer Lingus cancels your flight, you’re entitled to a full refund, a voucher (including fare, taxes, and ancillary purchases), or rebooking on the next available flight.
- For cancellations with less than 14 days’ notice due to airline-controlled reasons (e.g., technical issues), you may claim compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004, up to $650 (€600) based on flight distance, unless extraordinary circumstances (e.g., weather) apply.
Special Cases:
- Bereavement or Illness: If canceling due to the death or critical illness of a passenger or immediate family member (e.g., spouse, parents, children, siblings, in-laws, grandparents, aunts, uncles), submit a Refund Request Form or Bereavement Form with documentation (e.g., death certificate, medical certificate). Full refunds or ticket validity extensions (up to 3 months) may be granted.
- COVID-19: Change fees were waived for bookings made before February 1, 2023, or for travel impacted by COVID-19 restrictions (e.g., testing positive or entry bans), though fare differences may apply.
- No-Show: Failure to cancel before departure forfeits the ticket value, except for taxes.
- Multi-Segment Itineraries: Canceling one leg of a roundtrip may result in remaining flights being repriced as one-way fares, potentially increasing costs or reducing refunds.
Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions:
Under EU261/2004, for flights departing from or arriving in the EU, compensation may apply for cancellations or delays over 3 hours caused by the airline:
- $270 for flights under 1,500 km.
- $430 for flights 1,500–3,500 km.
- $650 for flights over 3,500 km.
Submit claims via the Post Travel Enquiry Form on aerlingus.com.
