How to handle these situations to avoid extra costs and find a way to reorganize your trip? This is one of the most frequently asked questions by travelers: in 2018 – says Volagratis.com – enquiries about strikes and cancellations were among the top 3 reasons passengers contacted Volagratis.com customer service (15%*).
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For this reason, Volagratis.com has created a handy guide you should always keep with you to be prepared and know how to deal with these scenarios.
Let’s look at three cases: airline strike, flight cancelled by the airline, or cancellation requested by the passenger.
Airline strike: what should you do?
- According to Italian regulations, if there is a strike by airline, airport, or air transport staff, all flights (including charter flights) scheduled between 7-10am and 6-9pm must be guaranteed, along with incoming international flights landing within 30 minutes of those time windows ending.
- When booking flights, remember that Italy enforces blackout periods during which strikes are not allowed. For air travel, the Strike Guarantee Authority prohibits strikes from July 27 to September 5. Keep in mind, however, that this rule does not apply outside Italy, so industrial action in other countries—even during these dates—could still affect flights to or from Italy!
- Before booking, check the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (Enac) website, where you’ll find the current list of authorized strikes. Our tip? If you know about an upcoming strike but haven’t received any notice about your flight being cancelled, go to the airport anyway to access the protections in the Passenger Rights Charter.
Your airline cancelled your flight: what now?
- Flight cancelled, long delay, or denied boarding? It’s always a good idea to check the Passenger Rights Charter, a helpful guide on compensation and protection measures set by European law. In such cases, you may be entitled not only to a refund of your ticket, but also to claim compensation directly from the airline.
- For worry-free travel, keep in mind that if you book through an online travel agency like Volagratis.com, you can always rely on their support team to help find alternative flights and manage ticket refunds by dealing directly with the airline on your behalf.
- Two is better than one! If you booked flight + hotel together and your flight is cancelled by the airline, online agencies like Volagratis.com can offer you alternate flight solutions from all airlines flying to your destination, at no extra cost. You’ll also benefit from the additional protections guaranteed by the new Package Travel Directive.
Want to cancel your flight? What to do
- Work emergencies or family issues making you change plans? Unfortunately, most low-cost airlines do not offer refunds for passenger-initiated cancellations. Even if it seems like an extra expense, consider adding travel insurance to your booking, which—for just a few euros more—can help minimize penalties and save money if you have to cancel close to your departure.
- If you hurriedly booked a flight and later realized the dates aren’t right, don’t worry: you could still have time to fix it! In some cases you can cancel your booking the same day and pay less in change fees. The Volagratis.com support team will contact the airline to check this option for you.
- Not sure if you’ll be able to travel? Don’t wait too long: if your ticket allows it, cancelling as early as possible before departure can get you a higher refund. With Volagratis.com, you can manage changes, cancellations, or check your booking status online or on the app, saving both time and money.
