Cancelled service

UA971 from Rome to Chicago cancelled on 7 October 2026

On 7 October 2026, UA971 FCO–ORD was cancelled. Under EU261, a claim hinges on how early you were warned and which alternative flight you were offered.

Rome Fiumicino (FCO) → Chicago – O’Hare Airport (ORD)
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 UA971?

On 7 October 2026, United Airlines cancelled flight UA971 between Rome Fiumicino and Chicago – O’Hare 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 7,742 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: UA971
Operated by: United Airlines
Flight date: 7 October 2026
Itinerary: FCO → ORD
Departure airport: Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
Arrival airport: Chicago – O’Hare Airport (ORD)
Planned departure: 07:45 UTC
Outcome: Cancelled
Route length: 7,742 km
Distance band: more than 3,500 km
Applicable law: EU261
United Airlines disruptions on this route: Disrupted flights logged: 1

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

United Airlines did not fly this service on 7 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