Refund vs compensation: what is the difference?
A refund concerns the ticket. Compensation concerns the disruption and airline responsibility.
Refunds deal with the ticket
A refund returns the price of the ticket or the unused part of the journey. It is often relevant after cancellation, long delay, or when the trip no longer serves its original purpose.
A refund is not the same as compensation. It addresses the service that was not used or no longer useful.
Compensation is separate
Fixed compensation depends on passenger-rights rules, flight distance, arrival delay, and airline responsibility. It can still be relevant even when the ticket issue has been handled.
An airline response about refund processing does not automatically answer the compensation question.
When both may apply
After a cancellation or serious disruption, a passenger may have ticket-related rights and a separate compensation claim. The outcome depends on notice timing, alternative travel, and disruption cause.
That is why a case should not be closed simply because a refund was paid.
Do not mix categories
Voucher, refund, rerouting, airport care, and fixed compensation are different categories. They can overlap, but they do not have the same conditions.
A strong claim separates what is being requested and why.