Flight cancelled? Try these hacks.
Travel behind the scenes: 3 (tested) hacks when your flight has been cancelled.
Recently I was going back to the airport to catch my flight after a pleasant weekend away, when I received this message from the airline:
“Your flight on 24 September is cancelled. We will rebook you on the next available connection free of charge”
Followed by this message after a few minutes:
“We regret that we had to rebook your flight on 26 September”
What happened?
This airline cancelled my flight three hours before departure and offered a new flight in two days from now. That’s a lot for a one-hour flight between two major European cities!
Unfortunately, thousands of passengers experience flight disruptions every year, with some airports in Europe seeing up to 50% of flights disrupted in 2023. In this article I’ve shared some tips to plan in advance around potential flight disruptions.
But what can you do after your flight has been cancelled?
As a regular passenger, you might think that in case of cancellations, your options are limited.
However, industry insiders know that there are a few things worth trying to make it home on time for dinner.
Here are my top three insider tips.
1 - Accept the later flight and get that compensation
In many countries there are regulations protecting passengers’ rights in case of fight disruptions. For example, passengers travelling within and to/from Europe with an Europe-based carrier are covered by the EU 261 regulation.
Hotel nights, refreshments and transportation to and from the hotel are refunded by the airline.
Additionally, in case of delays or cancellations that are not due to extraordinary circumstances, passengers are usually entitled to a cash refund between 250-600 EUR per person.
More information about EU 261 regulation can be found here.
If you are not in a hurry to fly back home and have some extra time to spend, this could be the best choice.
2 - The PRO tip: Ask for better options
Here’s where you can start showing off your pro skills. Sometimes, airlines rebook passengers on alternative flights that they assume might be the best option for that specific passenger.
However, it’s worth checking with the airline if some “hidden” options are available that could work for you. I recommend doing this directly at the airport, but some airlines offer excellent customer service via chat or phone, too.
Some alternatives to consider:
Flying to another airport close to your original destination and from there take a bus or train. It’s always best to make sure that the airline can cover the costs of the train ticket.
Flying with another airline that has an earlier departure. While some airlines only offer alternatives on their own flights, some airlines allow re-routing with other airlines, too.
Good to know: Passengers with a Business Class ticket or with a frequent flyer status usually get higher priority when airlines assign alternative flights.
Therefore, it’s always a good idea to register to the airline’s frequent flyer program before flying. It’s free and increases the chances of getting better flight alternatives in case of disruptions.
3 - The PRO tip: Try the waiting list
Here’s where your insider knowledge will really make a difference.
When airlines look for alternative flights to get you at your destination, they tend to exclude flights that are fully booked. You might not even see those flights when searching by yourself, because flight search engines (like Google Flights) usually hide them from search results.
However, years spent in this industry taught me this: Even on flights that are fully booked, there might be a slight chance of getting a seat.
In fact, sometimes passengers might not show up at the gate for whatever reason!
If I’m already at the airport and need to arrive at destination as soon as possible, I’ll ask to be put on the waiting list on the earliest possible flight. This usually works especially when I’m travelling alone and with a carry-on luggage only (here are some tips to pack a suitcase efficiently).
If you are not lucky and the flight is completely full, you are still entitled to ask the airline for other alternative flights and / or for a compensation, depending on your case.
Finally - Be kind with airport staff and customer service
Flight disruptions can be cause of much stress, not only for the passenger but also for the employees handling your case.
In my career as a “serial traveller” I’ve experienced countless flight disruptions. As I’ve written in other articles, an extra bit of kindness and patience with the airport staff and customer agents always paid off.
About me:
As a passionate traveler and airline & hospitality expert I've been lucky to experience travel from behind the scenes -From crossing the Andes by bus, to flying Business class to the Maldives.
Some fun facts about my trips:
I’ve visited 5 of the 7 New World Wonders
Lowest point I’ve reached: Death Valley, California at -86 mt (-282 ft) altitude
Highest point I’ve reached: The Andes, 5,050 mt (16,568 ft) altitude
I've stayed at 100+ accommodations, from a tent in the Savannah to a houseboat on a French river
I’ve travelled 350,000+ km across 45+ countries and 5 continents by bus, car, boat, bike, hiking and so much more…
In my blog Beating Jetlag I share my travel experiences, insider tips and behind-the-scenes content for smart adventurers, as well as travel marketing recommendations for Creators. You can read more about me here.