Flight cancellations, something none of us simply wants to contemplate, but sadly something we must always plan for. Whether on your family holiday, on business or on your way to meet friends flight disruption is a hurdle almost everyone can do without.
Many people understandably feel panicked and stressed when the realisation sets in that their flight is grounded. Whilst these feelings are natural the unfortunate reality is that it is counter-productive to solving your problem.
Liaise with customer services
The first thing to do when the dreaded cancellation word appears on the departure boards is to head to a service kiosk of your airline. Be prepared to wait extended periods of time to be seen by the service kiosk since all of the other passengers on your flight will also be getting in the same queue to rearrange their departures.
Contact your airline via telephone
If the kiosk queues look appear significant you may wish to try and steal a march on other passengers by calling your airline directly using the numbers provided on flight tickets and other documentation. By calling ahead to head office it is possible to get ahead of the queues and rebook your place on another flight.
Act in a courteous manner to customer service agents
By the time you do eventually make it to the front of the service kiosks always be sure to be calm and polite as the customer service teams will have dealt with hundreds of similar enquiries in a short space of time. By being courteous and clear about your flight arrangements the operators are far more likely to be receptive to finding a solution to your cancelled flight.
In the event of a flight cancellation you are likely to be offered a choice of the following as compensation:
- Complimentary food
- Complimentary overnight accommodation
- Vouchers for new flights
- Seat upgrades for new flights
- Complimentary transportation to different airport
The best way to resolve compensation claims if your flight operator does not acceptably reimburse you for your inconvenience is to contact the Air Transport Users Council.
EU Regulation 261/2004
If you have a legitimate claim and have failed to receive compensation the Air Transport Users Council can hit airlines with fines of up to £5,000 for every passenger that has been left neglected. This is part of ‘EU Regulation 261/2004’ which gives passengers significant rights when travelling in Europe.
The claim must be followed through with the authorities in the country of your departure so this may prove more difficult dealing with foreign organisations if you are left stranded overseas.
Never feel that your passenger rights don’t matter, but a calm, restrained outlook to flight cancellations can get you on the move quicker than you may think.