Heathrow closure: what are US travelers’ rights if your flight is cancelled?

London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) closed early Friday due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, and it could be some time before it re-opens to passengers.

According to the airport’s latest update, Heathrow will remain closed until at least midnight on Friday night while power is restored to the terminals. That means all arriving and departing Friday flights are canceled, affecting an estimated 150,000 passengers.

The disruptions will likely stretch beyond Friday, and persist even after the airport reopens. With aircraft and crews displaced — and with Heathrow being one of the world’s busiest airports — travelers could feel the effects of Friday’s closure for several days.

If you are a passenger currently affected by the disruption or are due to fly in or out of Heathrow in the next few days, here is what you need to know and your rights regarding refunds and any compensation.

Can I currently fly to or from Heathrow?

Heathrow Airport will be closed until at least midnight on Friday, March 21.

However, even if Heathrow determines the airport can open on Saturday, March 22, many more flight cancellations are likely.

Most flights headed from the U.S. to Europe depart in the evening and land the next morning. And already, we’re already starting to see cancellations to flights scheduled to depart the U.S. Friday evening bound for London.

If your flight from Heathrow on Friday has been canceled do not go to the airport and contact your airline for further advice. We’d also recommend keeping a close eye on your airline’s app for updates and potential rebooking opportunities.

Should LHR resume its operations on Saturday, as is expected, we fully expect this disruption to trickle into the ensuing days. With so many flights canceled or diverted, we anticipate further cancellations throughout the weekend and possibly into next week, alongside additional delays for flights that can operate.

Should I change my travel plans?

If your flight was affected on Thursday, March 20 or has already been delayed or canceled on Friday, March 21, you may wish to change your travel plans to fly to, from, or through any European airport other than Heathrow.

All other London area airports (Gatwick, Stansted, City and Luton) are operating as normal, noting they have some additional aircraft landing due to diversions from Heathrow.

All other airports in the United Kingdom and across Europe are unaffected. However, some may be receiving diverted aircraft, so take-offs and landings may take longer than usual.

Depending on your airline and the type of ticket you booked, you may be able to change your itinerary to land at a different European city altogether — though you’d then, of course, have to figure out additional transportation to your final destination via rail, car or a separate flight.

Am I entitled to EU261 or UK261 compensation if my flight is canceled or delayed?

Under European and U.K. regulations, you are entitled to another flight or a refund.

Unfortunately, flights canceled or delayed due to this fire are unlikely to be eligible for additional EU261 compensation, as this was caused by an event outside the individual airline’s control and is viewed as an “extraordinary circumstance.”

However, despite not being eligible for compensation due to “extraordinary circumstances,” airlines do still have a duty of care in this instance under U.K. legislation, as per the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority.

If you are currently stranded at an airport because of this event (noting Heathrow is currently closed and not allowing any passengers into its terminals), you are also entitled to food, drinks and refreshments. These should be provided by your airline. If they are not provided, you should be able to claim reasonable costs afterward — so keep any receipts.

While airlines we’d expect airlines to extend this duty of care to flights not covered by U.K. legislation, they may not have to.

As a guide, here’s where you can expect to be covered by U.K. law.

US refund policy

Under U.S. Department of Transportation policy, travelers are entitled to a refund when their flight is canceled or significantly delayed and they ultimately choose not to travel, regardless of the circumstances.

So, if your flight to London was canceled, your airline would owe you a prompt refund — within seven days, if you paid by credit card — if you decide to stay home.

Keep in mind, though, if the airline offers you rebooking and you accept, you would not be refund-eligible.

Can I get a refund on my flight? Will I need to pay to change my flight?

If you wish to change your flight, you should try to do so through your airline’s app or online self-service. If you choose to call your airline you can expect long wait times as many others try and do the same.

Currently, several U.S. carriers are offering to waive fees usually incurred when changing bookings as follows:

American Airlines

Fee’s waived if rebooked travel is between March 22-26, 2025 and you don’t change origin or destination city. You must rebook the same cabin, or pay the difference. Changes must be booked by March 22.

Delta Air Lines

Change fees will be waived. If rebooked travel occurs on or before March 26, 2025, in the same cabin as originally booked, the fare difference will be waived. For changes to either cabin, origin or destination city, a difference in fair may apply. If the flight can’t be rescheduled, travelers may cancel their reservation and apply any unused value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket for a period of one year from the original ticket issuance.

United Airlines

United will waive change fees and fare differences if you reschedule your trip between now and March 28. Your ticket must be in the same cabin and between either the same cities originally booked, or one of the following: Amsterdam (AMS), Brussels (BRU), Paris (CDG) or Edinburgh (EDI).

Regardless of individual airline policies, under the Department Of Transport (DOT) flight refund policy, you are entitled to your money back — no questions asked — if your international flight to or from the U.S. is canceled and you choose not to travel.

This policy applies to any unflown portion of your ticket and is not voided by something outside the airline’s control, as EU261 compensation may be.

You’ll find these and other passenger rights guarantees on the DOT dashboard.

Related: Getting a refund for a canceled or delayed flight

What if I’m in Europe for Spring Break and planned to transit through Heathrow?

If your travel is Friday, you should consider other alternative options that do not operate through Heathrow Airport, noting this is the only airport in Europe closed because of this event.

For travel on Saturday, March 22 onward you can either try and find alternative transportation now or wait and see when Heathrow announces its reopening. We advise to reach out to your airline who may offer you the chance to change your flight without having to pay fees.

Which North American airlines are affected?

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and JetBlue were affected by the Heathrow closure, with multiple overnight flights diverted, canceled or returned to their origin.

Flights scheduled to depart for Heathrow on Friday may be canceled; however, you should check with the operating airline.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also offer a comprehensive route network of nonstop services from the United States to Heathrow and have already canceled multiple flights.

Bottom line

This is an unprecedented event with airport management scrambling to restore power to Europe’s busiest airport. If your flight has already been canceled its a good idea to know your rights and consider an alternate transportation, noting thousands of other travellers may be trying to do the same thing. As frustrating as this is, be patient and respectful of your fellow passengers and airline staff. We’ll likely continue to see the fallout of today’s events over the next few days, and it may take some time to fully rectify any challenges every passenger is currently facing.