Guide
Cancellation fees: how much you lose and why
A cancellation fee is the amount the seller keeps if you cancel a service you’ve paid for. For package holidays just before departure, non-refundable rates and tickets, it’s often the full price. An overview of what’s typical, what the law says and how to reduce the fee.
Updated 14/10/2026 · general information, not legal advice
How much they are
Cancellation fees by type of service
Typical market ranges. Your seller’s terms are always what counts.
Package holidays
10–100%
Tour operators have cancellation fees tiered by how many days are left until departure. The closer to departure, the higher — in the last week it can easily be the full price.
Accommodation
0–100%
Flexible bookings can often be cancelled for free up to a certain date. Non-refundable rates are cheaper, but you get nothing back if you cancel.
Tickets
usually 100%
With few exceptions, tickets for concerts, festivals and matches are non-refundable. The only help is resale or a name transfer, if the organiser allows it.
Courses and camps
20–100%
Language schools and camp and course organisers have their own cancellation terms, usually also tiered by date.
The law
What the law says about cancellation
Package holidays: you can withdraw from the contract at any time before the holiday starts. The tour operator may ask for a reasonable cancellation charge set out in the contract.
Without a cancellation charge, you can withdraw if there are unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances at the destination (war, natural disaster) or if the tour operator significantly changes the terms of the holiday.
Tickets and accommodation for specific dates bought online usually can’t be returned within 14 days — this period doesn’t apply to leisure services for a fixed date.
How to reduce the cancellation fee
- Cancel as early as possible — the cancellation fee usually rises as the date gets closer.
- Read the cancellation terms before you buy, and compare the flexible and non-refundable rates.
- Ask about transferring to another person or a replacement — it’s often cheaper than cancelling.
- For tickets, try the organiser’s official resale.
- For flights, ask for a refund of airport charges and taxes, even if the ticket is non-refundable.
- Ask for confirmation of the cancellation stating the fee — you’ll need it for the insurance too.
- Have cancellation insurance? For tickets, send the originals to the insurer before the event starts.
When you have to cancel
Cancellation insurance reimburses cancellation fees
If you can’t go because of illness, injury, a death in the family or another serious reason, the insurance reimburses your cancellation fees after deducting the 10% excess. It costs 9% of the price.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Yes. With a package holiday, you can withdraw from the contract at any time before it starts, and the tour operator may ask for a reasonable cancellation charge, which must be set out in the contract. For accommodation, tickets and courses, cancellation is governed by the seller’s terms and conditions.
You can withdraw from a package holiday without a cancellation charge if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occur at or near the destination that significantly affect the holiday — for example, a war or a natural disaster. You can also withdraw free of charge if the tour operator significantly changes the terms of the holiday.
Usually not. The 14-day period for withdrawing from a distance contract doesn’t apply to leisure services for a fixed date — typically tickets to events and accommodation for a specific date.
Cancellation insurance reimburses cancellation fees after deducting the 10% excess (a 10% excess, with no minimum amount). If you cancel because the insured person is hospitalised or dies, it reimburses the cancellation fees in full. It only applies to the reasons listed in the policy terms; the premium, airport taxes and refundable fees aren’t included.
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