Your flight got cancelled.
What are you owed?
I spent hours figuring this out after my own Etihad flight got cancelled. Saving you the research.
Gulf carrier cancelled on you?
If your flight was from outside the EU (Bangkok, Bali, Singapore...) on one of these airlines:
EU261 does NOT protect you.
These are not EU airlines, and your flight didn't depart from the EU.
What you can do
Call the airline. Push for rebooking.
They should rebook you on their next available flight under their conditions of carriage. Be specific: "I want to be rebooked on [flight number] on [date]." Trust me, a concrete request works way better than "get me home."
Check your credit card.
Many travel cards include trip interruption insurance. Call your bank.
Keep every receipt.
Hotel, food, transport, everything. The Montreal Convention lets you claim provable costs from any international airline, up to ~€5,800 per person. Boring but important: you need receipts for all of it.
EU airline or EU departure?
EU261 applies if either is true:
Your flight departs from an EU airport (any airline)
Your flight is operated by an EU airline arriving to the EU
EU airlines with Gulf routes:
British Airways is NOT EU since Brexit. Separate UK261 rules.
What EU261 gives you
Rebooking on the next flight
Even on another airline. Or a full refund within 7 days. Your choice.
Meals, hotel, transport
While you wait for your rebooked flight.
Up to €600/person cash
For long-haul cancellations. Family of 4 = up to €2,400. The airline may argue "extraordinary circumstances" (war, airspace closure) to avoid this. But they still must rebook you and provide care.
The return leg trick
Have a return flight departing from an EU airport on your booking? That leg is covered by EU261 even on Gulf carriers, because it departs from the EU.
Right now
Call your airline (not the airport)
Say: "I'm requesting rerouting to my final destination." EU airline? Add "under EU261, Article 8."
Find alternative routes yourself and tell the airline which flight you want
Document everything (screenshots, receipts, agent names)
If refused: file with AirHelp or your national aviation authority
Free, no signup. Routes from SEA to Europe avoiding Gulf airspace.
Rebooked on a different route? Check transit visa rules before you go. Powered by Sherpa.
Built by a stranded traveler in Bangkok, not a lawyer. Always confirm with your airline or a consumer rights organization.