What to Do When your Flight Gets Cancelled
Unfortunately, getting to your destination on time is not always a guarantee. Bad weather, crew shortages, and security issues all have the potential to delay or cancel a flight altogether. Furthermore, when a flight at the beginning of the day is delayed or canceled this can cause a ripple effect, disrupting many more flights throughout the day. Because cancellations and delays happen frequently, it’s imperative to know what to do when your flight gets cancelled.
- Make a decision, quickly. Do you want to reschedule your flight or get a refund? Assess which options are available to you and choose which one works best before talking to the airline’s customer service representative.
- Know your rights as a passenger. According to the US Department of Transportation, all travelers are entitled to a refund for their flight in the event of a cancellation, should they choose not to travel. Many airlines will also offer accommodations or vouchers should you choose to re-book a later flight.
- Look at other airlines. When a flight is cancelled, all the passengers expecting to travel will be scrambling to find other options. In the event of a last-minute change or cancellation the airline you were booked on will likely be trying to assist as best they can, but it may take a while to speak to a customer service representative. If it’s imperative that you get on another flight, check for other airlines with tools like Google Flights, SkyScanner, or Hopper and then get a refund for the cancelled flight later on.
- Book strategically to minimize the risk of cancellations. Morning and mid-week flights are less likely to be cancelled. Also, if you are planning a layover give yourself plenty of time between flights to grab food, get to your gate, and relax before the next leg of your journey.
Be sure to Know Your Rights. The airlines know how to protect themselves. Do you?
