Happening Right Now
Your flight was cancelled. What now?
A cancellation feels urgent because the plan has already broken. The useful first move is not to join every line at once. Confirm the cancellation, collect the airline's proposed solution, then compare it with the trip you actually need to complete.
What to do first
- Check the airline app and airport screens for the same flight number.
- Save the cancellation notice or take a screenshot.
- Look for an automatically rebooked flight before buying anything new.
- If you have a connection, check the whole itinerary, not just the first flight.
Step-by-step instructions
- Step 1
Open the airline app, email, or booking page and confirm whether the flight is cancelled or only delayed with a new time.
- Step 2
Check whether the airline has already moved you to another flight. Look at departure airport, arrival airport, date, and connection time.
- Step 3
If the new plan does not work, compare options: same airline, partner airline, later same day, next day, or refund if you no longer travel.
- Step 4
Ask airport staff which line handles rebooking, but also use phone, chat, or the app while waiting. The fastest option is often the one that answers first.
- Step 5
If checked baggage is involved, ask whether it will be moved to the new flight or whether you must collect it and recheck it.
- Step 6
Keep receipts for meals, transport, or hotel costs when the delay moves you overnight. Rules vary, but records are always useful.
Important things to check
- New arrival time and whether it still meets your purpose
- Minimum connection time at the next airport
- Baggage status and bag tag number
- Hotel and meal instructions if travel resumes tomorrow
- Whether separate tickets are affected by the change
Common mistakes
- Leaving the gate area before you understand where rebooking is handled
- Buying a replacement ticket before checking refund or rebooking options
- Assuming checked bags automatically follow you
- Ignoring later segments of the same booking
What to do next
Once you have a workable flight, review the connection, baggage, hotel, and document requirements again. A cancellation often changes more than one part of the trip, so slow down for five minutes before moving.
Related guides
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Missing baggage
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