A transatlantic journey sounds exciting, but it can be a long, tedious journey comprising multiple connecting flights. For many travellers, such journeys require booking hotels in advance, renting cars at a specific date and time, and even planning various tour plans and business meetings.
This is why a delay or cancellation of a transatlantic flight can affect or potentially throw the entire itinerary off schedule. Hence, for most transatlantic travellers, compensation is usually not the priority; instead, it is figuring out how to get the journey moving again.
Whether you are flying from the US to Europe, Europe to the US, or connecting through another international airport, a flight disruption can create a chain reaction across your travel plans. A delayed first flight can mean a missed connection, a late arrival at your hotel, changes to a car rental booking, or even missing an important meeting.
Knowing what to do immediately can make the situation considerably easier to manage.
Knowing What Happened & What Are Your Options
One of the first things that you need to know is the reason behind the delay or cancellation of your transatlantic flight. You should check the airline’s website, app, or look for an email or SMS for the latest status.
It is essential that you establish whether your flight is delayed, cancelled, or a missed connection, because your options may differ. If you have a connecting flight, immediately consider what the disruption means for the next flight, as you might miss that flight too.
The reason for the disruption can also be important when you later look into flight delay compensation or passenger rights. Weather, air traffic restrictions, technical problems, staffing issues and other circumstances can be treated differently depending on the applicable rules and the airline involved.
Instead of relying only on information displayed on an airport departure board, check the airline’s official communication channels. Flight status information can change several times during a disruption, particularly when an airline is trying to find replacement aircraft or alternative routes.
Speak to the Airlines About Your Options
Once you have clarity on what options the airlines have to offer, you can speak to them about the earliest alternative routing. This is important, and you have to ensure that you compare the options based on when you arrive, connect with your connecting flight and other practical choices.
If the airline has rebooked, you need to check the details carefully and ensure that it works with your itinerary before accepting and walking with it. If the disruption means an overnight stay, you need to ask what assistance the airline provides, like food, accommodation and even transport from your hotel to the airport.
Think Beyond the First Flight
Most transatlantic fliers understand that their journey is a series of connecting flights, or at least two. When your transatlantic flight is delayed or cancelled, you need to think about how you will manage to connect with your second flight.
This is particularly important if your journey includes separate flight bookings.
For example, you might book a flight from New York to London and then have a separate London-to-Paris ticket. If the first flight is delayed significantly, the airline operating the second flight may not automatically change your ticket.
If you have a separate onward booking, you need to contact the airline as soon as possible to ensure they can help you make changes. If you’ve booked a hotel, you will have to notify them as well. This will ensure that you are able to match the schedule as per the new flight schedule. Always keep every booking confirmation and communication together.
What Happens If You Miss a Connecting Flight?
A missed connection due to a delayed transatlantic flight can be more complicated than a simple flight delay. Your options may depend on whether all flights were booked under the same reservation or were purchased separately.
If your flights are part of the same booking, the airline may be able to rebook you on a later flight to your final destination. If they are separate tickets, however, the airline operating your onward journey may treat you as a passenger who simply failed to show up for the flight.
This is why it is important to act quickly.
As soon as you know that you may miss your connection, contact the airline operating the next flight. Do not wait until you have officially missed the flight if you can avoid it. Explain the situation and ask what options are available.
You should also check whether your travel insurance covers missed connections, delays or additional accommodation costs. Depending on the policy, some expenses caused by a travel disruption may be covered.
Check If You’re Eligible for Compensation
Not all delays or cancellations automatically make you eligible for compensation. Hence, it is essential that you have the details to understand the complete situation and passenger-rights rules applicable to your journey before you claim compensation.
If you are flying from the US to Europe or vice versa and you’re stuck, you can always look for how airlines can help you receive compensation for a delayed flight in the US. You can always try alternative channels like Airhelp to assist you with your compensation claim.
Keep All Your Paperwork
Delay or cancellation of your transatlantic flight can seriously affect your journey and can be a frustrating experience.
However, it is necessary that you keep all the paperwork like original booking confirmation, boarding passes, cancellation or delay notification, rebooking details, receipts of hotels and restaurants, and emails and SMSes with or from the airline. This comes in handy when you are claiming compensation or working out a solution to reach your destination.
Final Thoughts on Delayed or Cancelled Flight
There’s not much you can do when your transatlantic flight is delayed or cancelled. However, what you can control is how you deal with the immediate travel problem thereafter. It is important that you gather the details, talk to the airline provider and reach a mutual solution. Also, during this time, you have to investigate your rights and claim potential compensation once you know how you’re getting to your destination.
