How To Handle Flight Delays And Cancellations: A Complete Guide

Preparing for travel takes a lot of effort. Hence, when touring plans fall apart, it hurts a lot too. But mourning over the broken pieces of your carefully organized venture won’t fix the issue. Get some tissues to wipe your tears and go through this guide to know the next right step. This comprehensive read by FarePorto will give you insights into the actions you should take when such situations occur. Begin your journey with towards becoming an informed, savvy traveler for whom handling flight delays and cancellations is no big deal.

What Causes A Flight Delay?

In order to be prepared for the worst, you should know the causes of the worst that happen. A delay in your flight or air trip cancellation from the airline’s end may have several reasons. Let’s look at each one of them.

• Bad Weather: It is a factor no one has control over. If you are traveling during a thunderstorm, heavy snow, or fog, keep your mind prepared for flight cancellations and delay news.
• Aircraft Issue: Mechanical issues should be addressed as a priority to ensure safety while traveling. Fixing these problems may take time, thus causing delays in travel.
• Air Traffic: Like road traffic, the sky also gets congested sometimes due to several aircraft operating at the same time, causing delays in your departure.
• Late Crew: The airline’s pilots and other crew members run in shifts, which can sometimes clash, preventing them from meeting duty time regulations properly and thus causing delays.
• Delay In Connecting Flight: If the flight you need to board is arriving from another location, you may have delayed tours if it arrives late.
• Passenger Issues: Boarding passengers with disabilities and special requirements or those arriving late can be another reason for delays in your flight journey.
• Law Orders: Under certain circumstances, if the government bans or puts restrictions on air travel, airlines may undergo flight delays or even cancel flights.
• Pandemic/Epidemic: After the coronavirus hit, this reason doesn’t need any explanation.
• Labors On Strike: The mood of your airline’s crew members can also affect your flight travel. If they went on a strike, the airlines are bound to cancel flights.

Tackling With Delayed Flights

Even though the issues causing your flights to be delayed can be genuine, they have a significant impact on the travel plans of passengers. Being a well-informed and conscious traveler can change the game and turn the tides in your favor. Continue reading to learn how.

Becoming A Savvy Traveler

Do you know what makes a savvy traveler? It’s knowledge. It not only makes you smart but also protects you from any losses. If you wish to prevent becoming the victim of the misfortune of delayed and canceled plane trip plans, you should know these things.

• Learn Your Airline’s Rules: Every Airline has its own set of travel rules. Take, for instance, baggage. While one airline generously allows travelers to bring 1-2 checked bags on their flight ticket, others may charge even for bringing an extra carry-on. Hence, you should read the complete rules and regulations of the airline to prevent attracting any penalties and steer clear of hidden flight costs.

• Understand Your Rights As A Passenger: There are certain rules that protect passengers from discomfort or complications in their travel. You should be aware of them to take the right action when a travel crisis befalls you.

• Right To Compensation: According to EU regulations for air travelers, the airline is deemed to pay flight reimbursement to its passengers in cases of flight delay by more than 3 hours, trip cancellations from their end, or unwarranted denial in boarding.
• Right To Refund: Airlines Required To Refund Passengers For Canceled Delayed Flights.
• Right To Rebooking: In case of overbooked flight seats or other conditions within the control of the airline, they are obligated to offer rebooking on the next available flight or provide alternate transport options.
• Right To Care: In flight delay circumstances, passengers may be offered meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodations as per the airline’s rules.
• Right To Communicate: It is the airline’s duty to inform its passengers about delays or cancellations.
• Right To Downgrade Compensation: If passengers are demoted to a lower-class flight, the airlines are bound to provide a certain amount of refund.

Expect The Unexpected

You never know what is coming your way, but you can prepare for unexpected situations and act smart when they arrive.

• Travel Insurance: Investing in a travel cover has various benefits, especially when there is a lot at stake. This protection shield activates when you face a delay in your flight. It covers the consequences, such as expenses of hotel accommodation, transportation, lost or delayed baggage, communication, and more.
• Frequent Flyer Program: If you are a loyal passenger of the airline you are traveling with, you should take complete advantage of it. Having a frequent flyer status qualifies passengers to unlock exclusive services such as priority rebooking, real-time flight notifications, bonus miles, travel vouchers, complimentary upgrades, and amenities as compensation for delayed flights.

Dealing With Flight Cancellations And Delay

So, the unexpected did happen. First of all, don’t fret, calm down. Everything will be alright and start to make sense within a minute. Keep reading to steer the right course of action and ameliorate this difficult situation.

1. Communicate With Your Airline’s Staff: The foremost thing you should do when your flight is delayed is to get in touch with your airline. Ask them for detailed information about your flight and seek delayed flight perks and assistance for continuing your travel.
2. Rebook Your Flight: If there is another similar flight available, your airline will rebook it for you. In case no flight is available, ask the airline’s staff to make arrangements for alternate transportation.
3. Follow Up With Flight Delays Cancellation Compensation If Eligible: In case your airline can’t let you travel after booking a flight with them, you should submit a claim for flight cancellation compensation.
4. Journal Your Experience: Make sure to write your eventful day in your diaries. Share your travel experience on the airline’s social portals to create awareness about passenger rights. Keep your travel receipts and records if you think you may need them for future reference or claims.

How To Claim For Delayed and Canceled Flights?

If you are qualified for the airlines compensation for delays and cancellations, here are the methods to redeem it:

1. Gather all the relevant documents, such as your boarding pass, the airline’s delay certificate, and any correspondence with the airline.
2. Reach out to the airline’s customer service to file your delayed flight claim.
3. If your airline doesn’t respond satisfactorily, you can file a formal complaint with the relevant aviation authority in your country.
4. If you have bought travel insurance, you can redeem reimbursement and other facilities from your insurance provider.
5. Be persistent in your action of seeking resolution. Keep track of your claim and follow up with your airline to seek redemption.

Weathering Travel Difficulties

Does the airline’s announcement of flight cancellation and delay news leave you baffled and speechless? Certain thoughts like “not being able to attend that important meeting or will reach that concert late” might come across your mind. You may lose your travel journey, but you shouldn’t give up on the expenses you invested in your trip. Unless you are aware of your rights as a passenger and how to claim them, you are protected on your travel journey.

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Queries About Flight Delays And Cancellations

What can I do if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is delayed, communicate with your airline to get detailed information about its status, utilize the airline’s services, and seek compensation for your flight cancellation and delay.

Can we get a refund if the flight is delayed?

If your flight is delayed by three or more hours and you decide not to travel even if provided with an alternative flight, your airline is entitled to provide you with late flight compensation.

How to get a refund for a delayed flight?

If you are eligible for flight delay compensation, you need to connect with your airline’s staff with all the necessary documents and follow up with the procedures to claim it.

Does travel insurance cover flight cancellation?

Depending on the travel insurance guidelines and under specific conditions, you are entitled to flight cancellations compensation.