SAS Scandinavian Airlines cancellation compensation
Compensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c). You are also entitled to choose between a full refund and a replacement flight, whatever the notice.
Which SAS Scandinavian Airlines flights are covered
SAS Scandinavian Airlines is registered in Sweden, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because SAS Scandinavian Airlines is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
Worked examples on SAS Scandinavian Airlines routes
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockholm (ARN) → Copenhagen (CPH) | 547 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Stockholm (ARN) → Oslo (OSL) | 385 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Copenhagen (CPH) → Oslo (OSL) | 517 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Stockholm (ARN) → Paris (CDG) | 1,540 km | EU261 | €400 |
What SAS Scandinavian Airlines is likely to say — and the answer
“You were offered an alternative flight” — only relevant if it fell inside the Article 5 windows. Check the departure and arrival times.
“We told you in advance” — the question is whether it was 14 days or more, counted from when you were actually informed.
“Operational reasons” — not a category in the Regulation.
A voucher offered instead of money — you are entitled to be paid in money.
Specific to SAS Scandinavian Airlines
The Airhelp v SAS judgment — which established that a strike by an airline’s own staff is NOT an extraordinary circumstance — was brought against this airline. If SAS rejects your claim because its own pilots or crew were on strike, that case is directly on point and decided against them.
They operate across Sweden, Denmark and Norway with different limitation periods in each. Which country’s courts hear the claim depends on where you departed or arrived.
Scandinavian winter operations produce genuine de-icing and snow delays. A weather rejection in January at Arlanda is more defensible than one in July.
Their claims portal is functional and they will usually give a specific reason rather than a generic one, which makes the reason easier to test.
Time limit: SAS Scandinavian Airlines is based in Sweden, where claims run for 3 years from the date of the flight. How that works
Check it free, then send the letter yourself.
If your SAS Scandinavian Airlines cancellation appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat, with SAS Scandinavian Airlines’s likely objection answered in advance. You keep 100% of what they pay. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines cancellation: common questions
How much can I claim from SAS Scandinavian Airlines for a cancellation?
Between €250 and €600 (or £220 and £520 under UK261) per passenger, depending on distance. The worked examples on this page show the figure for some of SAS Scandinavian Airlines’s routes.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines cancelled my flight and put me on another one. Can I still claim?
Possibly. If you were told less than 14 days before, the airline only escapes compensation if the replacement fell inside strict windows — for example, with under 7 days’ notice, departing no more than an hour early and arriving less than two hours late. Outside those windows, compensation is due, although it can be halved if you arrived within 2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance.
What reasons does SAS Scandinavian Airlines give for refusing cancellation claims?
The most common are: You were offered an alternative flight; We told you in advance; Operational reasons; A voucher offered instead of money. Most of these do not hold up against the Regulation or the case law.
How long do I have to make a SAS Scandinavian Airlines cancellation claim?
Where SAS Scandinavian Airlines is based, the limit is 3 years. You can usually also claim in the country your flight departed from or arrived in, which may give you longer.
Other SAS Scandinavian Airlines claims
- SAS Scandinavian Airlines: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- SAS Scandinavian Airlines: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- SAS Scandinavian Airlines: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- SAS Scandinavian Airlines: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.