Art. 8 EU 261 — three options the airline MUST offer you

Article 8 of EU 261/2004 governs the three choices the carrier must offer you on cancellation, denied boarding, or delay of 5+ hours (Art. 6(1)(iii)).

The three choices (Art. 8(1)):

1. Reimbursement within 7 days of the full ticket price for the unused portion, plus where applicable a free return flight to the original departure point.
2. Re-routing at the earliest opportunity, under comparable transport conditions, to the final destination.
3. Re-routing on a later date at the passenger's choice, under comparable conditions, subject to seat availability.

The choice is YOURS. A common misconception airlines lean on: they offer only option 2 ("we've rebooked you on the next flight in 8 hours") and not the other two. You have the right to demand option 1 or 3 — request in writing.

Voucher as reimbursement? A voucher is legally NOT reimbursement. The airline may offer it, but you may refuse and demand cash reimbursement under Art. 8(1)(a). ECJ Sturgeon + broad consumer case law confirm this.

Transport by other means? Under Art. 8(2) the carrier may offer transport "by other means" (train, bus) if that reaches the destination faster. You may accept — no obligation.

Combining with compensation: Art. 8 rights stand separate from Art. 7 compensation. You're entitled to BOTH. The carrier cannot offer a "take re-routing in place of compensation" deal — both apply.