My Flight is Canceled, What Should I Do?

A flight can be canceled for many reasons, such as weather delays, unexpected staff shortages and more. An unexpected problem has the potential to cancel any flight that you take. But, this risk is a small price to pay for many people that enjoy air travel or need to reach their faraway destination for business. When a flight is delayed or canceled, there are a few steps that you can take to deal with the situation. This may include a refund request, rebooking the flight, finding a place to stay and more. In this article, we will look at some useful tips that will help you get through this setback.

Don’t Get Trapped in the Airport

When a flight is canceled, one of the first things that happens is that every other disappointed passenger is going to be looking for a place to crash. Let’s face it, these setbacks always seem to occur at the worst possible times when you’re ready for a rest. If the flight has been delayed for a long time or canceled, it’s much easier to make new plans back at home or in a comfortable hotel room. This risk can be mitigated, if you check the flight status before you depart for the airport. The vast majority of notifications take place well in advance and not at the last minute. So, if you are forewarned you can avoid an unnecessary drive to the airport, stay at home or book an extra night at your hotel. Most airlines offer free text alerts that you can sign up for and these will keep you up to date on the status of your flight. Another option is to download the app for your carrier and get the same information in that format. If you want to check your flight at the last minute before you leave and you’ve not signed up for free texts and/or you don’t have the app, there is another option. Get online and type the flight number and airline into the Google Search bar and the flight status will be revealed. For a wider picture on flight trends, check the FlightAware website which covers the entire nations. When you have advance warning on weather problems or other trends that could disrupt your plans, it’s easy to make informed decisions. In 2022, before the “Bomb Cyclone” event, some US airlines offered no fee flight changes for passengers that requested them. If you find yourself in this position, take a waiver offer fast, those early birds get the best seats and flights to get their trip back on track. 

Be Prepared and Maintain a Positive Attitude

When we pay for a service and things don’t go as expected, it can be a frustrating experience. But, unforeseen events do occur and the carrier and airline staff are going to be trying to deal with the problem in a professional manner. Getting angry, shouting or being upset can only exacerbate the situation and there is no advantage to be gained. The best approach is to be nice and sympathetic and seek advice on what’s going to happen next. This is far more likely to get some kind of resolution that could improve your prospects. It’s always a great idea to do a little advance research to have some options ready to go if something goes wrong. If you know an alternate route or a different flight, it may be possible to expedite things with your agent. Be prepared to explain exactly what you want and listen carefully to their suggestions. Your plan to extricate yourself from this situation may be viable or you may need to adjust your plans. If you’ve booked your flight with a third-party site like Expedia, you will need to deal with them in the event of a cancellation. 

Make an International Call or Get on the Airline App

When a flight is canceled, you should be able to rebook that flight for free with your reservation code. But, getting in line to speak to an agent may limit your choices and acting quickly should be a priority. Every avenue for communication to get the help you need can be helpful and it’s important to speak to an agent. One effective and lesser-known tactic is to call the international numbers for the airline. An office in Canada, Mexico or even the UK and others may be costly, but it can get you to the person that you need to speak with. The better option is to use the airline app (download it ahead of time) to rebook the flight with your six character code. Other avenues include WhatsApp, texting and even social media messaging. Remember that your new flight can alter your travel plans depending on the reason for the flight cancellation. 

Always Purchase Travel Insurance and Keep the Receipts

Travel insurance is essential, these plans provide extra cover in the event of a flight cancellation or other uncertainty. Additional cover can be applicable if a flight is delayed by 12 hours or long due to adverse weather, a mechanical breakdown or a labor dispute. When you’re forced to stay in place at the airport to deal with a flight delay, always keep the receipts. This money can be recovered from the airline later to ensure that you’re not out of pocket. Bear in mind that the airline will only cover reasonable expenses, trying to get your money back for expensive hotels, extravagant meals and a bar tab is highly unlikely.  

Get Your Refund

When a flight is canceled and you are forced to make travel plan changes, you will be entitled to a refund under federal law. This process can take a long time, it can be frustrating and many airlines will offer credit against future travel. Be careful, some of these credits have restrictions including blackout dates which make them less useful. If you turn down flight credits in the near future, you should be issued your refund in cash or as a credit card payment within seven business days. The policies can vary a great deal depending on the specific airline and these can be reviewed at the DOT Cancellation and Delay Dashboard site.