What are my rights after a cancelled flight?
What to expect and what you can do next
When an airline cancels a flight the immediate priorities are getting you to your destination or returning your money, and covering any urgent needs while you wait. Airlines typically offer one of three basic remedies: rebooking you on the next available flight, placing you on a different carrier where possible, or refunding the unused portion of your ticket.
Key practical steps to take right away
- Contact the airline immediately and confirm whether you are being rebooked or offered a refund. Keep records of all communications.
- If you are stranded away from home, ask the carrier about accommodations, meals, and transfers; some airlines provide care when disruption is their responsibility.
- Save receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses (hotels, meals, transport). These can support claims to the airline or your insurer.
Rules that may apply
- Regulators and laws differ by region. In the European Union, passengers often have substantive protections for cancellations and delays; other regions rely on airlines’ contracts of carriage and national consumer rules.
- Extraordinary events such as military action, strikes, or severe weather can limit an airline’s liability in some jurisdictions.
Other avenues to pursue
- If the airline refuses a refund or reasonable re-routing, escalate: ask for a supervisor, file a written complaint with the airline, and if unresolved, complain to the national enforcement body (or aviation consumer protection office) in the operating country.
- Check travel insurance and credit-card benefits for trip interruption or delay coverage; some policies reimburse emergency expenses or offer trip-cancellation protection for covered reasons.
- If you’re in a conflict zone or widespread disruption, contact your embassy or consulate; governments have in some cases coordinated special repatriation flights or issued advisories that affect airline obligations.
Document everything, be persistent with the airline, and weigh options: a refund plus a new ticket may be more practical than waiting for limited rebookings during widespread disruption.