Whether you’re heading off for a crucial business meeting or you’re filled with excitement for that well-deserved break by the sea, when your flight gets cancelled it’s easy to feel like giving up. But hold on a minute! There are plenty of ways to keep you sane while you wait for an alternative flight, plus there’s tons of help out there to make sure you know your rights when you’re tackling the airline, so you can get the compensation you deserve.
Take a look at our helpful advice for dealing with a flight cancellation:
Your passenger rights matter
Yes, you read correctly; they really do! Not only that, you can easily read up on your flight cancellation rights and discover what compensation you’re entitled to in just a few minutes – all online. So, when you hear that dreaded announcement or your heart drops after seeing your flight status change up on the departure board, take a deep breath and check out if you can use this to your advantage. This is sure to be music to your ears – up to 600 EUR in compensation could be all yours!
Pack wisely
Once you’ve got an idea of the situation at hand, it’s time to get comfortable. Now, this takes planning ahead of course and it’s always a good idea to prepare for the worst, especially when it comes to air travel. There’s always a chance that you’ll have a problem with your flight -it’s the nature of the beast – and flight problems often mean long waiting times in the airport. Firstly, throw some travel-size toiletries in your hand luggage so you can freshen up, then add a change of clothes if you have space. If not, spare underwear and socks will be enough to make you feel human! Finally, pack snacks to stop you getting hangry and an empty water bottle which you can fill up once you pass through security. Stay comfortable, hydrated and fed and the wait will feel a hundred times more bearable!
Explore the airport
When you’ve had enough of listening to podcasts, flicking through a magazine or reading your book, stand up, stretch your legs and head off into the great unknown. Okay, maybe it’s not quite as exciting as that, but it’s definitely worth checking out what the airport has to offer. Simply meandering through the shops, you might happen on the perfect travel gadget (maybe you do need those fancy noise-cancelling headphones after all?) or a deal on your favourite perfume in Duty Free. You may be lucky enough to be stuck in an airport with some cool feature – an art gallery, gym, viewing platform or garden – to keep you entertained. Why not treat yourself to a tasty meal at a restaurant, a refreshing cocktail in one of the bars or chill out with a cup of coffee and some cake in a cosy café? Think of it as an opportunity to chill out!
Flight cancellations are an unpleasant part of air travel, but they aren’t the end of the world. Informing yourself about passenger rights, packing your creature comforts and making the most of the situation will all help to make dealing with your cancellation a breeze.
