Cancelled service

AA9603 from Barcelona to Philadelphia cancelled on 18 October 2026

On 18 October 2026, AA9603 BCN–PHL was cancelled. Under EU261, a claim hinges on how early you were warned and which alternative flight you were offered.

Barcelona El Prat (BCN) → Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Airline cancelled the flight
As much as €600 per passenger

Did not operate

€600

The most EU261 allows if the airline warned you under 14 days ahead and the replacement fell outside the time limits.

Is compensation due for the cancelled AA9603?

On 18 October 2026, American Airlines cancelled flight AA9603 between Barcelona El Prat and Philadelphia International Airport. Under Regulation (EC) 261/2004, passengers can be owed money if they were warned fewer than 14 days ahead and the alternative flight did not land near the original schedule. Airport screens give no record of when passengers were notified. This route covers 6,300 km, which places it in the bracket for flights longer than 3,500 km.

Compensation for cancelled flights · A guide to EU261

Flight data

What the screens showed for this flight

Sourced from live departure and arrival screens at both airports. All times in UTC.

Flight number: AA9603
Operated by: American Airlines
Flight date: 18 October 2026
Itinerary: BCN → PHL
Departure airport: Barcelona El Prat (BCN)
Arrival airport: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Planned departure: 09:30 UTC
Outcome: Cancelled
Route length: 6,300 km
Distance band: more than 3,500 km
Applicable law: EU261
American Airlines disruptions on this route: Disrupted flights logged: 2

Passenger rights

Your claim for a cancelled flight

What the law says

Under EU261, a cancellation announced with under 14 days’ notice can earn €250 to €600 per passenger, unless the replacement flight keeps within strict time limits.

About this flight

American Airlines did not fly this service on 18 October 2026. Your entitlement depends on when you heard and what alternative you were offered.

Time limit

Claims can reach back as far as 3 years. The check costs nothing and takes around two minutes.

Rules that apply to this route

How much notice did you get?

Told under 7 days ahead: compensation is due unless the replacement left at most 1 hour earlier and landed under 2 hours late.
Told 7–13 days ahead: compensation is due unless the replacement left at most 2 hours earlier and landed under 4 hours late.
Told 14 or more days ahead: nothing is owed.

What was your arrival delay?

Less than 3 hours: no cash payment.
Between 3 and 4 hours: €300 each.
At least 4 hours: €600 each.

We take this data from the public departure and arrival screens at each airport. It is shared for information, it does not amount to legal advice, and an airline can contest liability when the disruption was beyond its control.

Nothing to pay unless we win