The reasons are numerous, but very often airlines cancel flights in advance due to commercial factors. In such cases, the airline must notify its passengers no later than 2 weeks before the flight. In other situations, a flight delay can gradually turn into its cancellation. Then, a passenger must be transported to the destination point by the air carrier’s next flight or a flight from its partner company. When this is impossible, flight ticket money should be returned within 7 days. The sum of the required compensation ranges between $135 – $650 per passenger.

It does not matter whether you have a regular or a charter flight (or even a low-cost, more affordable carrier). It is essential to understand that when a passenger pays money for a flight, they are in effect signing a contract with the airline company which is obliged to deliver him or her to a specific destination at a specific time. Flight delay, cancellation, or overbooking (a denial of entry on the plane) are all violations of a given agreement by a carrier.

It all depends on a country where the compensation is filed. In Ukraine, for instance, it comes down to 2 years. The maximum term of limitations we’ve dealt with is 6 years.

First of all, it is important to get a stamped document which testifies the event of flight cancellation and/or flight substitution. Make sure it contains true and exact reasons of the given force majeure. If this proves impossible, a cancellation stamp on an itinerary receipt will work too, although it won’t specify the reasons. To do this, find your airline representative at one of their podiums, for example, or at the airline ticket desk. If you are in the airport concourse, such representatives can be found at the gate (a place where passengers leave the airport and get on their airplane). In case a representative cannot be found, ask any airport employee where to get the abovementioned document. As a rule, it can be done at the airport information stall. Certainly, you can always call an airline’s customer service and ask for updated flight information (an airline telephone number can be indicated on the airport banner).

You could also visit an airline’s website. In any case, save the tickets, boarding pass, and luggage claim tickets. I would also recommend taking a photo of them as a backup. It is also a good idea to take a picture of an airport display board listing departures which shows current time and your flight’s status. Also collect all food, hotel, and taxi (bus, train) receipts related to your flight cancellation to demonstrate financial hardships endured.

Passengers are lawfully entitled to ask an airline for a compensation. For this, a traveler needs to describe the situation and refer to the applicable law that should be invoked in their specific case as well as the specific airline’s transportation rules. Remember that airlines are a huge, powerful organizations. When explaining your situation, be as honest as possible. In addition, when requesting compensation, attach travel documents and collected proof of the airline’s fault. You are also fully entitled to sue the airline at the very beginning or after failed compensation negotiations.

Based on our experience, airlines avoid paying compensation whenever possible. That’s why we strongly recommend hiring a professional lawyer who specializes in the sphere of passenger air transportation.

This is simply impossible. With this in mind, don’t hesitate to ask for compensation.
I hope your readers will have more enjoyable flights and fewer flight cancellations!