Flight Canceled: You can do that
The holiday is coming up, but suddenly you get the message that the flight has been cancelled. If you’re lucky, you’ll get the message a few days or hours before departure, giving you time to deal with the airline at your leisure. The situation becomes a bit more difficult when you are already at the airport and very precarious even when you are abroad and your flight home has been cancelled. Here you can find out what rights you have in the event of a flight cancellation.
What should you do if the flight is cancelled?
First, it is important to remain calm and get more information from the airline hotline or counter. Even if you get the message about the canceled flight hours before departure, if you are still at home, you should go to the airport, as many airlines offer alternative flights on the same day. Overall, you should not give up hope of still reaching your destination, since in most cases you are specially protected by the European Air Passenger Rights Regulation.
If everything goes wrong, there are flight law experts at myflyright.com/de who will help you to get your rights, to claim back additional costs from the airlines or to receive compensation, provided that you are entitled to some according to European law.
Legal protection thanks to the European Air Passenger Rights Regulation
If you travel in the EU area, you are particularly protected by the European Air Passenger Rights Regulation. This protection also applies to all flights that take off or land within the EU if the airline’s registered office is in the EU. The ordinance regulates certain benefits in the event of flight delays and flight cancellations:
- Free drinks and meals
- Free access to means of communication
- Complimentary hotel accommodation if necessary
- Free transport to the accommodation if necessary
- Free transportation alternative, be it air or rail
You are entitled to all these services regardless of the reason for the flight cancellation. In addition, you also have a right to compensation in certain cases, but the question of guilt plays a decisive role here.
The right to compensation
With the right to compensation, you are entitled to 125 euros to 600 euros as compensation from the airline for a canceled flight. The exact sum depends on the flight distance and flight duration. For example, you are entitled to compensation of up to 400 euros for a canceled flight with a distance of up to 3,500 km. Many airlines are very stubborn when it comes to calculating the amount of compensation, so it is often worth hiring a lawyer.
However, you are only entitled to compensation if the airline is to blame for the flight cancellation. Consequently, the airline does not have to pay compensation if the flight cancellation is explained by exceptional circumstances. These circumstances include canceled flights due to acts of God such as bad weather, flight delays due to problems with other passengers and flight cancellations due to strikes.
What if the airline files for bankruptcy?
If the airline files for bankruptcy, you may be left with additional costs. Nevertheless, you should treat the flight cancellation of an insolvent line like any other canceled flight. Some of your costs can be covered by insolvency insurance if the airline has one. If you did not book the flight directly through the airline, but through a travel agency, then you have a legal claim against the travel agency.