What to do when your flight gets cancelled

Unfortunately, there are times when your flight might be cancelled. I have experienced this a lot on my travels, especially during the Coronavirus outbreak. Whilst cancelled flights can mean a ruined holiday, I doesn’t always have to be all doom and gloom. Knowing your rights and what to do if your flight is cancelled can be really beneficial! 

Know your rights 

The good news is that as consumers, we have rights! The tricky bit is that it isn’t always easy to decipher what these rights are, particularly in the airline industry when there are different rules and regulations in different parts of the world. 

See if you can re-book 

Many airlines will allow you to rebook your flight. They may offer the same route at another time or they may offer an alternative route. When our flight to Israel was cancelled, we rebooked on a flight to Egypt and took a bus across the border, for example. It wasn’t ideal, but we got to our intended destination in the end!

Find out if you are entitled to compensation 

In many instances, you will be entitled to compensation if your flight is cancelled. However, getting this compensation can be easier said than done! Luckily there are organisations like AirHelp who specialise in this area that can help you out when you experience flight cancellations. 

If all else fails turn to social media

If you are struggling to get a response from your airline then I suggest that you turn to social media. There have been many times when I have been ill-informed by my airline, with no response by email or phone, but as soon as I sent then a Tweet I’ve had an instant response! 

Make sure you have travel insurance 

Flight cancellations can cost you a lot more than just a flight. You might miss your transfers, not collect your hire car in time or miss out on a stay in a hotel. You also might have additional expenses, such as booking additional transportation such as buses etc. For this reason, I never travel without travel insurance- I recommend World Nomads for a great, reliable service. 

Keep all of your tickets, receipts etc 

You might need to show documentation in order to make claims. Keep all of your receipts and documents that are handed to you just in case. This includes food that you might have purchased, bus tickets, hotel vouchers etc. 

Keep calm 

A cancelled flight can be extremely stressful, but it’s not the end of the world. Try to keep calm and remember that there is nothing you can do to change the fact that your flight has been cancelled. For now, stay calm and get organised!