Many people know how annoying it is to have their flight canceled. But fortunately, the vast majority of planes fly as planned. But what should you really do when your flight is canceled? What are your rights? Continue reading to get answers on what are your rights when an airline cancels your flight.
Cancelled flight: What are you entitled to?
The airline has a duty to inform you as soon as possible about cancelled flights, flight delays, or other flight disruptions so that you have the opportunity to reschedule your trip. If you experience that your flight has been canceled, you will be entitled to one of the following:
- Flight cancellation refund of your flight ticket
- In case of a stopover, you can be flown back to the departure destination
- Rescheduling the flights as soon as possible
- Rescheduling the flights to a date of your choice
Once you have made your decision on which one of these options you want, the choice cannot be changed back again.
You may also have expenses covered for hotel accommodation, if necessary. This means that if the airline does not offer you a new replacement flight for your canceled flight and you have to wait, you may be entitled to meals and hotel nights. If you have been delayed for at least 2 hours, you will be entitled to the following:
- One free meal, as well as drinks
- One free call
If you have been delayed 5 hours or more, you will also be entitled to:
- Paid accommodation if this becomes necessary
- Transport to the respective airport
You should also be aware that it is important to arrive at the airport before the scheduled departure time, even if you already know that the flight has been canceled. If the airline does not offer meals, accommodation, etc. it is important to keep all receipts so that you can later apply for a refund for this.
Eligibility of compensation in the event of flight cancellations
A cancelled flight may further entitle you to compensation from the airline that was responsible for the delay. The amount of compensation varies according to the distance between departure and arrival destination:
- 250 € for flights of max. 1,500 km.
- 400 € for flights between 1,500-3,500 km
- 600 € for flights min. 3,500 km
When is one not entitled to a refund or flight cancellation compensation?
There are some exceptions when airlines can disclaim liability for compensation of cancelled flights. This can be, among other things, if the trip is canceled because of conditions that the airline could not have avoided, referred to as extraordinary circumstances. These situations are out of the airline’s control and include extreme weather conditions, air traffic delays, strikes, etc.
Since it is an assessment case of whether the airline could have avoided the cancellation, it is sometimes needed to take the case to court to decide the cause of the cancellation.
In addition to the circumstances that the airlines could not have avoided, it will not be possible to seek cancelled flight compensation if:
- The airline notified the passenger about the canceled flight at least 14 days before departure
- The airline notified the passenger about the canceled flight 7-14 days before departure and the airline has offered an alternative flight with a maximum of 4 hours delay
- The airline notified the passenger about the canceled flight less than 7 days before departure, and the airline has offered rescheduling with a maximum of 2 hours delay
There are also instances where you could miss a connecting flight due to a flight delay or cancellation. The cancellation of connecting flights can lead to some inconveniences for the passengers, such as having extra expenses. If you are one of these passengers then do not worry since the airline that you fly with should offer you a new connecting flight. However, if the new flight is a delayed flight of at least 2 hours you will be entitled to compensation.
Denied boarding
If you have voluntarily chosen to surrender your seat on an aircraft, this will be compensated with cash or coupons from the airline. You will also be entitled to one of the following:
- Refund of your ticket, or the flight that was not used, as well as scheduled flights to final destination
- To be rebooked on a new flight as soon as possible
- New flights to the final destination at a later date
If you have been denied boarding on the plane for which you have a ticket, you can claim € 250, € 400 or € 600 depending on the distance between departure and final destination.
If you have been downgraded from the seat you paid for, this can be compensated with 30%, 50% or 75% of the price paid for the ticket. The compensation is also assessed here based on the distance between departure and final destination.
If you have been upgraded, no compensation can be sought for this.
Stuck on board a plane that is on the ground?
In Europe and the USA, there are rules on when you as an airline passenger should be offered food, water, and toilet access if you have boarded a plane that does not take off.
In the EU, after one hour you will have the right to have air conditioning, water, and toilet access. After 5 hours you can leave the plane and the compensation rules will also apply.
In the US, the limit on how long an aircraft can be grounded on tarmac is 4 hours for international flights and 3 hours for domestic flights. However, with the exception, if it is safety reasons that prevent the aircraft from taking off – which also applies in the EU. After 2 hours, the flight crew is obliged to offer food, water, operational lavatories, and medical care should it be necessary.
Is the flight is included in a package trip?
If the flight in your package trip is canceled, you will be entitled to one of the following:
- A comparable or better flight
- A cheaper trip incl. refund of the price difference
- Cancellation of the trip and get your flight tickets refunded
