Airline offered a voucher instead of cash: should you accept it?
What changed (17 Oct 2026): Rewritten and expanded: what the law says, when a voucher is worth it, what to check before signing, and how to get cash after accepting a voucher.
No. Under EU261, refunds and compensation are paid in money: cash, bank transfer or cheque. A voucher is only allowed if you agree to it in writing. Even if you accepted a smaller voucher, you can still claim the rest of what the law gives you.
Check my flight in 30 secondsAfter a cancellation or a long delay, many airlines offer a voucher first: credit for a future flight, sometimes worth a little more than the cash amount. You never have to accept it. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, both the refund of your ticket and the fixed compensation of €250 to €600 are paid in money unless you agree otherwise in writing.
What the law says
Article 7(3) of the regulation says compensation is paid "in cash, by electronic bank transfer, bank orders or bank cheques or, with the signed agreement of the passenger, in travel vouchers and/or other services". Article 8 applies the same rule to refunds after a cancellation, overbooking or a delay of 5 hours or more.
Three consequences:
- Money is the default. The airline cannot decide on its own to pay you in vouchers.
- "Signed agreement" means an active choice. Clicking a pre-selected box, or a voucher sent by default with no cash option, is not a clear agreement. The European Commission's guidelines say the passenger must be informed and must agree.
- The refund is due within 7 days, in money, once you ask for it.
Accepted a voucher? You may still claim
Article 15 says passengers' rights cannot be limited or waived by a clause in the contract. If you accepted a voucher worth less than what the regulation gives you, or you were not properly told about your rights, you can still go after the rest of the compensation.
That said, read what you sign. If you clearly agreed to a voucher in full and final settlement, knowing your rights, the airline will argue the matter is closed. Keep a copy of the offer and of what you were told.
When a voucher can make sense
A voucher is worth considering only if all of these are true:
- It is clearly worth more than the cash, for example €350 in credit instead of €250.
- You will really use it: the airline flies where you go, and you plan to travel before it expires.
- It is flexible: usable for anyone in your family, on any fare, with no extra fees or blackout dates.
- It becomes cash if unused. The European Commission recommended in 2020 that vouchers should be refundable in money if not used within 12 months. Many airlines follow this, but not all: check the terms.
- The airline looks solid. If an airline goes bankrupt, vouchers are often worth nothing.
If any of these is missing, take the money.
What to check before you accept
- Is it for the refund, the compensation, or both? A voucher for the ticket does not settle your €250 to €600 unless it says so.
- Expiry date and whether you can extend it.
- Who can use it and for what (flights only, or also bags and seats).
- Whether it is refundable in money later.
- Any sentence saying it settles "all claims": think twice before agreeing.
How to ask for cash instead
If the airline sent a voucher you did not ask for, reply in writing: say that you do not accept the voucher and ask for a refund (and compensation, if due) in money, by bank transfer, citing articles 7(3) and 8(1) of Regulation 261/2004. Give your bank details. Our free claim letter includes this.
If the airline refuses or ignores you, see what to do when the airline says no. If you booked through an agency, the refund may come through it: ask both.
Package holidays
For a package holiday (flight and hotel sold together), the tour operator must refund the package in money within 14 days if it is cancelled. A voucher is again only an option you can accept, not an obligation.