Flight cancellation: what to do
What matters at the airport and in the days after, and how it affects the check.
What matters at the airport and in the days after, and how it affects the check.
At the airport
Ask the airline for the reason for the cancellation in writing or by message, and keep everything you are given. If an alternative flight is offered, note when it departs and when it lands at your final destination.
What to keep
The booking confirmation, the boarding pass if one was issued, the cancellation notice, and any correspondence with the airline. A screenshot beats memory.
What comes out later
How much notice you were given, what alternative was offered, and the gap between your original planned arrival and when you actually arrived.
A common mistake
Accepting a voucher or credit quickly without checking. It is worth understanding what that means before agreeing.
Questions about this situation
The airline told me a week in advance. Does that matter?
The notice you were given is one of the factors, alongside the alternative offered. Earlier notice and a reasonable alternative reduce the likelihood of entitlement, but the picture is taken as a whole.
I already received a full refund for the ticket
A ticket refund and compensation are two different things. Having been refunded does not necessarily close the matter, though it is worth mentioning in the check.
The cancellation was due to weather
Airlines routinely argue circumstances outside their control. That argument is tested against what actually happened that day, and not every weather event falls within it.
More guides
- Flight delay: what is actually measured
Why the departure time matters less than the landing time, and what is worth documenting.
- Missing a connecting flight
When an itinerary with a connection counts as one journey, and why one booking differs from two.
Want to know whether you are owed?
The first check takes a moment and costs nothing.