If you are a frequent traveller, you most likely have had to deal with flight cancellation at some point. It is not only frustrating but it also disrupts your itinerary. In this article, we highlight some things you can do after your flight has been cancelled.
Expect to Get Notified
When a flight gets cancelled, airlines are expected to notify passengers of the cancellation and rescheduling info, if any. While purchasing a flight ticket, always ensure you provide an active line or email address, so you don’t miss out on important information such as flight cancellations or rescheduled flights. Check to see if you got any notification from your airline and also check the time it came in. If you got notified of the cancellation less than 14 days before the departure date, you may be entitled to some compensation.
The notifications may also include further details on if the flight has been rescheduled and how you can get a refund, should you require one. A notification from the airline is often the first step to knowing further steps to take, including claiming your rights under the law.
Know Your Rights as an Air Passenger
The EU Regulation 261/2004 protects the rights of air passengers in the event of a flight disruption. So, if your flight gets cancelled unjustly, you are covered under this law. But first, you must know your rights to be able to exercise them.
The flight compensation regulation applies to air passengers in the UK or any EU member state who have been denied boarding or have to deal with flight cancellations or long flight delays. This law protects you in the event of a flight cancellation provided you have a valid booking ticket and you were informed of the cancellation less than 14 days to the departure date.
In addition, the reason for the cancellation must also be within the airline’s control for you to be able to claim this compensation. Airlines will likely state the cause in the notification they sent out and if it’s not explicitly stated, you can contact them to request why your flight was cancelled. If you meet the eligibility criteria for flight compensation, you may be entitled to monetary compensation of as much as €250 to €600.
Other things you are entitled to under this law include access to a partial or full refund of your flight ticket, the right to care, and the right to be informed of your rights under this law.
Gather Relevant Documents
Put all relevant documents together to get started on your flight compensation process. You will need documents that prove you have a valid booking ticket to apply for compensation. Even if your flight has been rescheduled, don’t discard the old documents, as they will still be helpful. You should also keep receipts of purchases made as a result of the flight disruption, so you can get compensated properly.
Take Action
If you have your documents ready and are certain you meet the criteria for the flight compensation, you can then take action. Contact the airline directly or speak to a lawyer and you can also contact agencies like Flightright to make the process seamless for you.
