💼 🛩️ Know Your Rights for Flight Cancellations 💼 🛩️
Published: Tue, 04/18/23
Know Your Rights for Flight Cancellations
The Busy Traveler took some time this weekend to immerse himself in some culture:
I watched John Wick 4, starring Keanu Reeves, over the weekend and it’s easily the best movie of all time. It deserves several Oscars for…Best Director, Best Cinematography, and most definitely, Best Actor.
Scenario: Let’s say…your flight gets canceled, you have to re-plan your itinerary AND you're in a developing country where you don’t speak the language. This can be really frustrating! In this situation, you NEED to know your rights.
To make things easier, I've created the following table for your convenience:
If My Airline Cancels My Flight: Summary of Rights
Potential Solution
Can I Do
It?
Rebook on another flight
Yes
Refund (ticket and associated costs like baggage fees)
Yes
Rebook on another airline
Not required (ask)
Voucher for future travel
Yes (ask about restrictions)
Prepaid hotel
No
Lost wages
No
Non airline ticket costs
associated with cancellation (e.g. hotel room, cab fare, food, etc.)
The key to handling this is to be extra kind to the airline staff since they have the power to make your life easier or harder. Calmly explain your situation and how inconvenient it is for you.
If it applies, mention any extenuating circumstances like a cherished pet waiting for you at home with no food. 🐶
Pro tip💬: Show the airline staff a picture of your lonely pet and they may be even more motivated to help you.
In summary: Use the above table, ask the staff what they can do to help you, and with any luck, you'll be
okay.
If you have experienced a flight cancellation, what was your experience like?
Cocktail of the Week
Scotch Whiskey and cocktails don't usually go well together, but this cocktail breaks the mold. It's named after the 1922 romantic movie, "Blood and Sand," in which the famous actor Rudolph Valentino played a matador who bled on the sand (not a very good matador).
Things got turnt up when Valentino actually died 4 years later. Soon after that, violence and riots broke out and fans even committed suicide. Try the Blood & Sand cocktail.
1 1/2 oz Scotch Whiskey 3/4 vermouth 3/4 oz Cherry Herring 3/4 oz
orange juice
Garnish: Orange peel
Preparation: Shake in a cocktail shaker
Random Travel Thought
Some travelers may shun the idea of having a home base, but having one is healing for me.
