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Aer Lingus refunds

Whether Aer Lingus gives your money back depends on who cancelled. If the airline cancels, you can choose a cash refund – the law guarantees it. If you cancel, your fare decides: Saver and Plus fares in Europe only return taxes and charges, while flexible fares allow a voucher or cash. This guide sets out both, using Aer Lingus's own published rules.

By the EU261 Flight Delay editorial team Last reviewed: How we write our guides

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In short: Aer Lingus cancels: request a cash refund or a refund voucher (valid 5 years) via the Disrupted Flight Refunds forms – under EU261/UK261 the cash refund is due within 7 days. You cancel: European Saver and Plus fares are non-refundable apart from government taxes and charges; Advantage and AerSpace allow a voucher or cash refund up to 2 hours before departure (an admin fee may apply). Transatlantic bookings can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of booking if departure is at least 7 days away.

Aer Lingus cancels: cash or voucher

After a cancellation, Aer Lingus's Requests and Enquiries page offers Disrupted Flight Refunds: request a voucher refund or a cash refund if your flight was cancelled due to a disruption and you did not travel. Alternatively you can rebook or change your flight (see cancelled flights).

  • Cash refund: Article 8 of EU261 (and UK261 on flights from the UK) entitles you to the full ticket price for unused parts within seven days, plus the used part if the trip no longer serves a purpose.
  • Refund voucher: Aer Lingus says it carries the full value of your booking – fare, taxes, charges and any seats or bags – for use within 5 years, in the original booking currency. Aer Credit Card and Chase Companion fares are not eligible for vouchers.

A voucher is optional: the law requires money unless you agree otherwise (Article 7(3)). Compensation for a late cancellation is a separate claim and is not replaced by the refund. General rules: flight refund rights.

If you cancel: flights within Europe

Aer Lingus's Cancelling your Booking page sets out what each European fare allows when you cancel a booking made on aerlingus.com or the app:

FareIf you cancel
SaverNon-refundable; government taxes and charges can be refunded. Change, seat and bag fees not refunded.
PlusNon-refundable; government taxes and charges can be refunded. Change, seat and bag fees not refunded.
AdvantageFull voucher or cash refund up to 2 hours before departure; a refund administration fee may apply. Seat and bag fees refundable.
AerSpaceFull voucher or cash refund up to 2 hours before departure; a refund administration fee may apply. Seat and bag fees refundable.

If you cancel within 2 hours of departure, or miss the flight, Aer Lingus says you can only claim back government taxes and charges, using its Tax Refund form.

If you cancel: transatlantic flights

Flights to and from the USA, Canada and the Caribbean can be cancelled within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, as long as departure is at least 7 days away (new bookings only, not changes). After that, the fare rules apply:

FareIf you cancel
SaverNon-refundable; taxes and charges refundable
SmartNon-refundable, but eligible for a voucher if requested at least 2 hours before departure (not for cancelling one leg of a round-trip fare)
FlexFull voucher refund up to 2 hours before departure
BusinessVoucher refund, or cash refund less 15% of the fare and carrier-imposed charges, up to 2 hours before departure
Business FlexVoucher or full cash refund up to 2 hours before departure

Aer Lingus also lists special cases: a duplicate booking (request within 24 hours), bereavement of an immediate family member (death certificate needed) and serious illness (supporting medical evidence, request at least 2 hours before departure).

Check your Aer Lingus flight

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What happened?Step 1 of 4

What happened to your flight?
Where did you fly from and to?

With a connection, enter your first departure and your final destination – compensation is based on the total distance.

How late did you arrive at your final destination?

What counts is when the aircraft doors opened at your destination – not the departure delay.

When were you told about the cancellation?
When did you arrive on the replacement flight?
Which airline operated the flight?
When was the flight?

How many passengers were on the booking?

1 passenger

Every passenger gets their own compensation, children too. Infants under 2 without their own seat do not count.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Fee only if successful (35%)
  • AirHelp: Trustpilot 4.5/5

Rather skip the questions? Start a claim with AirHelp straight away

How to request an Aer Lingus refund

  1. Go to Requests and Enquiries on aerlingus.com and choose the matching form: Voucher Refund, Cash Refund, Disrupted Flight Refunds, Extras Refund (bags, seats, upgrades, lounge) or Tax Refund.
  2. Note Aer Lingus's warning: submitting a cash refund request for a flight cancels the booking, and refunds do not apply to flights you have flown.
  3. Booked through a travel agent, online agency or another airline? Aer Lingus asks you to go to them. Corporate, group, AerClub Reward and Aer Credit Card bookings must contact Aer Lingus directly.
  4. Keep the confirmation email. If a refund for a cancelled flight is late, write again citing Article 8's seven-day deadline.

Refund late or refused?

  • For a cancelled flight from Ireland, complain to the Irish Aviation Authority through its MySRS platform; from Great Britain, to the CAA's PACT; to or from Northern Ireland, the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. See Ireland and Northern Ireland and CAA complaint.
  • If you paid by card, ask your card provider about a chargeback; UK credit card payments over £100 may also be covered by section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
  • Put it in writing: complaint letter template.

Back to the overview: Aer Lingus delay compensation.

Frequently asked questions

Does Aer Lingus give cash refunds for cancelled flights?

Yes. After a disruption-related cancellation you can request a cash refund or a voucher through the Disrupted Flight Refunds forms. EU261 requires the cash refund within seven days if you choose it.

Can I get a refund on an Aer Lingus Saver fare?

Not of the fare. Saver (and Plus) fares are non-refundable, but Aer Lingus says you can request a refund of government taxes and charges if you do not travel.

How long are Aer Lingus refund vouchers valid?

Aer Lingus says refund vouchers can be used within 5 years and include the fare, taxes, charges and any seats or bags originally bought, in the original currency.

Is there a 24-hour cancellation rule at Aer Lingus?

For flights to and from the USA, Canada and the Caribbean: you can cancel within 24 hours of booking for a full refund if the flight is at least 7 days away. It applies to new bookings only.

The Aer Lingus name belongs to its owner; EU261 Flight Delay is an independent information site and is not affiliated with Aer Lingus. Information only, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. Cancelling your Booking – Aer Lingus
  2. Vouchers Information – Aer Lingus
  3. Requests and Enquiries – Aer Lingus
  4. Cancellations & Schedule Changes – Aer Lingus
  5. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (UK version), Article 8 – legislation.gov.uk
  6. Air Passenger Rights – Irish Aviation Authority

We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.