Can I get a refund if I cancel my Vueling flight?

It depends entirely on your fare. **Basic fares are non-refundable.** Most other fares return your money as **Flight Credit** (a voucher valid 18 months), not cash, unless you added **Flex Pack** or booked **Fly Grande**, those let you cancel free up to 2 hours before departure. A genuine cash refund for a voluntary cancellation is limited to 'justified reasons' (illness, isolation, pregnancy, death, court/polling duty) requested via the Customer Service Centre up to 30 days after the flight.

Will I lose my money if I cancel a Basic fare with Vueling?

Largely, yes. Vueling's **Basic fare is non-refundable and non-changeable**, so a voluntary cancellation typically returns nothing, no cash and no Flight Credit, unless you added the **Flex Pack** service at booking. The main exceptions are if Vueling cancels the flight (full cash refund) or you qualify for a 'justified reason' refund with documentation. Government taxes and certain charges can sometimes be reclaimed even on non-refundable tickets, so it's worth asking customer service.

Can I cancel my Vueling flight online or do I have to call?

You can cancel **online or in the app** via the **'My trips'** section if you booked **Fly Grande** or added the **Flex Pack** service, up to 2 hours before departure, receiving Flight Credit. For a **'justified reason' cash refund** (illness, death, court summons, etc.), you must **call the Customer Services Centre** (up to 30 days after the flight) and provide supporting documents. So the channel depends on why and how you're cancelling.

Does Vueling give a cash refund or only flight credit?

For **voluntary** cancellations Vueling almost always gives **Flight Credit**, a voucher valid 18 months, rather than money back to your card. **Cash** is due when **Vueling** cancels or significantly changes your flight, and under EU/UK air passenger rules you cannot be forced to accept a voucher instead of a monetary refund. You may also get cash for a documented 'justified reason' cancellation. If an agent only offers credit for a Vueling-caused cancellation, insist on the cash refund in writing.

What happens to my Flight Credit if I don't use it?

Flight Credit is **valid for 18 months** from the date it's issued and works like a virtual moneybox you can spend on future Vueling bookings, for yourself or someone else. You can check the balance and expiry on Vueling's website or app. Note that **credits from separate cancelled bookings can't be combined** into one new booking, and you can't use Flight Credit to add extras to an already-confirmed booking. If it expires unused, the value is generally lost.

Can I cancel just one passenger or one leg of my Vueling booking?

No. Vueling states that a Flight Credit cancellation is **only valid for the entire booking**, it is **not possible to cancel the flight of only one passenger or a single journey**. If you need to remove one traveller or drop just the outbound or return leg, the online cancel flow won't allow it; contact the Customer Services Centre to discuss options, though a partial refund is unlikely on standard fares.

What if Vueling ignores my cancellation or refund request?

Keep everything in writing. Email **contactus@vueling.com** (and use the online complaints form) with your booking code, and set a clear deadline citing the 7-day refund rule. If they don't respond, escalate to Vueling's **executive/customer-relations** team, and for UK-linked flights raise it with the **CAA** or an approved ADR/ombudsman scheme; EU departures can use the relevant national enforcement body. Tools like Resolver (endorsed by MoneySavingExpert) can structure and escalate the complaint for free.

Can I change my Vueling flight instead of cancelling?

Often yes, and it can be cheaper than cancelling. **TimeFlex** includes unlimited free flight changes and same-day changes; **Optima/Family** allow limited changes; **Basic** is non-changeable. Vueling also allows **fee-free changes within 24 hours of booking** (though you may pay any fare difference). Changing dates preserves more value than a Basic-fare cancellation, which typically returns nothing. Make changes in 'My trips' online/app or via the Customer Services Centre.

Am I entitled to compensation if Vueling cancels my flight?

Possibly. Beyond a refund or rebooking, if you were notified of the cancellation **less than 14 days before departure**, you may be able to claim **up to €600 per person** under EU261 (retained in UK law after Brexit), separate from and on top of your ticket refund. Compensation isn't due if Vueling rebooks you onto a flight arriving at a similar time, or if the cancellation was caused by 'extraordinary circumstances.' Keep your booking details and any cancellation notice.

REFUND GUIDE

How to Get a Vueling Refund, Not a Voucher.

Q: How long does a Vueling refund take?

When Vueling cancels a flight, its terms state a **full refund within a maximum of 7 days** via your original payment method. In practice, card refunds are often quoted at **7 to 10 business days**, and Avios/points refunds can take up to about a week. Flight Credit, by contrast, is issued **instantly** and is valid for 18 months. If your refund is overdue, chase it in writing with your booking code and, for UK card payments, consider a Section 75 claim or chargeback.

Inside 24 days their own policy is on your side; statutory cooling-off rights may stack on top. Outside it, you've still got tools, a clear email, a card-issuer chargeback, the lot. Here's the playbook for Vueling.

Last verified today against Vueling’s own Terms · UK, US, and EU rights covered below

The short answer

If Vueling cancels your flight, you're entitled to a full cash refund to your original payment method within about 7 days (or a free rebooking), you cannot be forced to take a voucher. If YOU cancel, the outcome depends on fare: Basic is non-refundable, and most fares return money only as Flight Credit (valid 18 months), not cash, unless you added Flex Pack or booked Fly Grande. Cash refunds for personal cancellations are limited to 'justified reasons' (illness, isolation, pregnancy, death, court/polling duty) requested via the Customer Service Centre up to 30 days after the flight.

Or let yoink chase the refund.

30 seconds to set up. yoink emails Vueling, cites the policy, escalates if ignored, and surfaces the win when the money lands.

Get yoink (App Store) →

What Vueling actually says

“In all cases of cancellation, you can choose one of the following options: Full ticket price refund within max 7 days of application via the booked payment method for the untaken flight(s) and the taken flight(s) if the flight no longer fits the original travel plan”
, verbatim from Vueling’s terms

24-day cancellation windowPro-rata refund: noStatutory cooling-off: 14 days in UK + EU on new subs

How long does a Vueling refund take?

Most merchants agree to a straightforward refund within 1 to 3 working days of a well-written email request. Once agreed, the money itself takes another 3 to 5 working days to land, that part is card-network processing and no merchant can skip it. If nothing has arrived 10 working days after a written “refund approved”, reply on the same thread asking for the ARN (acquirer reference number), which your bank can trace.

Note Vueling’s own policy works on a 24-day window, ask inside it and the request is routine; outside it you’re relying on goodwill or statutory rights.

What you can claim

The law where you live is the strongest hook, lead with it when you contact the company.

European Union

Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU
14-day withdrawal across all EU member states.
EU-wide statutory right to withdraw and recover any payment within 14 days of subscription start. Mirrored in local law in every EU country.
ECC-Net cross-border escalation
EU Consumer Centre network mediates against EU sellers.
If Vueling is based in another EU country, your local European Consumer Centre will mediate the dispute for free. List of national contacts at commission.europa.eu.

Worldwide

Card-issuer chargeback
Visa/Mastercard chargeback works everywhere they do.
Open a chargeback for “subscription not cancelled” or “services not as described”, your bank initiates, Vueling has ~45 days to defend. Works regardless of where Vueling is headquartered.
PayPal Buyer Protection
If you paid via PayPal, open a dispute.
PayPal’s Buyer Protection covers “item not as described”, applies to services that didn’t deliver. Resolution typically within 20 days.

Rights in other regions (United States, United Kingdom)

United States

Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)
Dispute any credit-card charge in writing within 60 days.
For US credit-card payments, the FCBA gives you 60 days from the statement date to dispute a Vueling charge in writing. Your card issuer is required to investigate and may withhold the disputed amount during the process.

United Kingdom

Section 75, Consumer Credit Act
Credit card issuer is jointly liable. £100-£30,000.
For UK credit-card charges between £100 and £30,000, your card issuer is jointly liable with Vueling for any breach. Call your bank, say “Section 75 claim”, send evidence. Usually resolved in 2-4 weeks.
Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013
Full refund within the 14-day window.
Inside 14 days of starting any Vueling subscription, you’re entitled to a full refund of any payment taken, no questions, no policy override.
Citizens Advice + Trading Standards
For repeated bad-faith refusals.
Free escalation lane: file with Citizens Advice (08082231133), they pass it to Trading Standards. Slow (8-12 weeks) but creates a paper trail Vueling can’t ignore.

The 4-step refund email

Email the right address
Use mobile.support@vueling.com, the route yoink has verified actually gets read for Vueling.
Use a clear subject line
Subject: Refund Request, [your account email]

Send this body

Hi Vueling team,

I'm requesting a refund of the recent charge on my subscription, account [your account email].

Under Directive 2011/83/EU, I'm entitled to terminate this contract by notice through the same channel it was formed in. Please confirm by reply that the refund will be processed to my original payment method.

Best,
[your name]

Wait 7-14 days, then escalate
If you haven’t heard back in 14 days, escalate via the regional route above, a card-issuer chargeback works in every market.

Refund FAQ for Vueling

Vueling allows **fee-free changes** within 24 hours of booking, and free cancellation within 24 hours is generally available **only if your flight is more than 7 days away** and you booked directly. Note the 24-hour window mainly covers changing the date/time or fixing a name, it doesn't guarantee a cash refund on a Basic fare. Promotional and Basic fares remain largely non-refundable, so check your specific fare's terms before relying on the 24-hour rule.