Whether it's a flight to Italy or Thailand, it can happen to anyone: you arrive at the airport early, having woken up at 5 am and beat the morning traffic, only to discover that your flight is delayed.
Worse, you've got your entire family in tow and that means that for the next six hours all of you are going to be wandering aimlessly up and down terminals, wasting money on overpriced airport restaurants, and watching planes depart morosely knowing that that could have been you jetting off to a beach somewhere... but that's not your only course of action.
In fact, you're not completely powerless at the hands of a delay or cancellation. Below we're going to take a look at your options should you find yourself in the event of a severe flight delay.
Know Your Rights
As an air passenger flying in and out of Europe, you're actually protected by law against severe delays and cancellations.
This law states that in the event of such a delay or cancellation, every passenger affected is eligible for compensation. The amount you'll be compensated depends on a number of factors such as the length of the delay as well as the distance that you were about to travel, but it can up to as much as €600.
Considering that many families travel together, that's a lot of money we're talking about.
If you need help claiming it, consider contacting a company such as AirHelp, who will help you claim your EU flight delay compensation. Alternatively, you can speak to a member of the airline in question and they will provide you with information about who you can contact.
Book A Hotel
Delays happen for all sorts of different reasons such as airline strikes. When this happens, the delays can stretch for hours and even days. If that's the case, instead of roughing it in an airport terminal, check into a hotel instead.
On top of the compensation which you're eligible for, airlines also have to provide you with free accommodation in a hotel until your next flight is ready to depart. So next time you and your family find yourself stranded, why not live it up in luxury?
Grab Some Free Food
On top of the compensation and hotel stay, airlines are also obliged to provide you with food vouchers should you be subject to a lengthy delay or cancellation.
Often they will provide these food vouchers directly at the gate that you were meant to board at, so keep a sharp eye out for any airline staff handing them out. These vouchers will only be eligible for any restaurant within the airport that the delay happened at, so take advantage of them and chow down while the chowing is good.
Check Your Connecting Flights
Delays often have a knock-on effect on any connecting flights you may have, so it pays to double check on their status as soon as you find out your flight is delayed.
Ordinarily, the airline will ensure that you get to your destination, but if you booked the second flight separately you'll have to sort it out on your own. Contact that airline in question and find out if it's possible to change your booking, if not, asking the airline who caused the delay if they will pay for a new ticket.
It is worth the effort to pop in your claims, so make sure you know what your rights are.
Originally from South Africa, now living in Australia, Jolene is a wife and a mother to three beautiful daughters. Together with her family, she is embarking on a journey towards changing her current stress-filled life to one focusing on her dreams and her passion for travel. She wants to share her stories in the hope to inspire you to chase your own dreams!
