Do you know what to do when your flight is delayed or canceled? Many passengers don’t know what to do, and they’re missing out on compensation from airlines. A lot of airline passengers assume that there’s nothing they can do when their flight is canceled. However, you do have options, even if your airline isn’t cooperating with you.
Keep reading to learn more about what you can do immediately after a flight was canceled.
What Do I Do When My Flight Was Canceled?
Travel delays are never fun, but every traveler will likely experience a cancellation or two at some point. The best thing you can do is be prepared.
Here are five things you need to do right after you find out your flight was canceled:
1. Be Proactive
As soon as you know your flight was delayed our canceled, reach out to the airline to see what the problem is. Don’t wait and see if you’re rebooked or wait for them to contact you with an update.
If you’re already at the airport, save time by calling the airline directly. Gate agents and customer service desks can have hour-long waits, during which you’re losing valuable time.
2. Know Your Rights
There are no federal regulations that demand airlines assist customers during delays, but most airlines still have certain guarantees in their customer agreements. Many will rebook you on the next available flight or reimburse your flight with travel vouchers.
Make sure you review your airlines fine print before you book, so you know what to expect when travel plans change. Even if you don’t have travelers insurance, you should still have rights to be rebooked on a different flight or receive cancelled flight compensation.
3. Ask About Meal or Hotel Room Credits
When you’re stranded at the airport for hours, or even overnight, you might be entitled to meal vouchers or even a compensated night in a hotel room. Every airline has a different policy, so make sure you reach out to them as soon as you know your travel plans have been changed.
4. Reach Out Via Social Media
Social media is a very public platform, so many airlines are much more responsive here than anywhere else. Try tweeting at them or messaging them on Facebook for help if you’re not getting excellent customer service. Odds are they will be more helpful once you’ve made your frustrations public.
5. Keep All Your Documents
Whenever you file a complaint with an airline, you must keep all proof. This proof includes boarding documents, flight confirmations and more. Don’t toss your boarding pass when they book you on another flight. The airline might ask you for this information later on, and you’ll want to prepare yourself.
Get More Travel Tips and Tricks
Airline travel is notoriously stressful and knowing what to do when your flight was canceled is just the beginning. You can make every airport trip go a little more smoothly by being prepared for every situation.
Check out the rest of our site for more helpful travel tips. This article on the best sites to score a vacation deal is a great place to get started planning your next getaway.