Browse 60 edited English answers to common cancellation, delay, refund and compensation questions.
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Can I get compensation for a one-hour flight delay?It depends on the jurisdiction and the reason for the delay. A one-hour delay does not meet the usual EU fixed-compensation arrival threshold. South Korean domestic fare-based references require a separate check of the current annex and carrier responsibility.What changes between a two-hour and three-hour delay?Different rights use different clocks. Airport care may start before fixed compensation, while some rules examine arrival at the final destination. Check the jurisdiction, route and cause before comparing time bands.What if departure is three hours late but arrival is two?For the usual EU long-delay fixed-compensation analysis, arrival at the final destination matters. A two-hour arrival delay may fall below that threshold, although airport care or another remedy could still apply.Does arrival delay end at landing or when the door opens?EU case law focuses on when passengers can leave the aircraft, which can be later than touchdown. Other jurisdictions and insurance policies may define arrival differently.Can I claim after taking a replacement flight?Possibly. Accepting rerouting does not by itself answer every compensation question. Keep the substitute flight's arrival time, the cancellation notice and the airline's reason; a full refund for transportation you used is a different issue.Can I claim if the airline cancels one day before departure?A one-day notice can make EU or UK cancellation-compensation rules relevant, but substitute-flight timing and possible exemptions still matter. Refund and rerouting choices should be reviewed separately.Does a cancellation notice 14 days early end all rights?No. Early notice may affect EU fixed compensation, but refund or rerouting options can remain. Preserve the exact notice time and the original schedule.Is the airline liable for a maintenance cancellation?The word maintenance does not settle responsibility. Ask what failed, when it was discovered and what reasonable measures the airline took; the legal test depends on the jurisdiction.Can I ask for a hotel after a weather delay?Depending on the jurisdiction, care can remain available even when weather affects fixed compensation. Ask the airline about lodging before paying, and keep the written answer and receipts.How do air traffic control and crew problems differ?The source of a disruption can affect carrier responsibility. Ask for the specific written reason and compare it with the applicable rule; neither label alone decides every refund, care or compensation claim.Is there a cancellation fee when the airline cancels?An airline-initiated cancellation is different from a voluntary passenger cancellation. Ask for an itemized refund decision and the contractual or legal basis for any deduction.Can a nonrefundable fare be refunded after airline cancellation?A nonrefundable fare label does not automatically defeat a refund after the airline cancels a service you decline to use. Check the governing rule, ticket seller and any alternative you accepted.What if I canceled because I no longer want to travel?A voluntary cancellation usually follows the fare conditions rather than airline-cancellation refund rules. Check the fee, unused taxes, any applicable 24-hour policy and insurance terms.Does a card-paid airline ticket go back to the same card?Refunds generally follow the original payment method where the applicable rule or policy requires it. Ask the airline or ticket seller for the approval date, then check card posting separately.Does accepting a voucher waive a cash refund?It can affect your position, depending on the rule and the terms you accepted. Save the offer and consent screen; do not assume a voucher is mandatory when a cash refund right applies.Can I recover the unused part of a voucher?Check the voucher's balance, expiration, cash-out terms and the rule behind its issue. A remaining balance is not automatically refundable in every jurisdiction.Who handles a refund if I booked through an OTA?Check who issued the ticket and charged your payment method. The online travel agency may be the refund channel, while the operating airline should still confirm the cancellation and rerouting options.How can I check an OTA refund-fee deduction?Request a breakdown separating the airline fare rule, airline charge, agency service fee and any unused taxes. Compare it with the terms shown when you booked.What happens to the return leg if only one flight is canceled?Ask the airline or seller to confirm the status of every remaining segment before accepting a partial refund. A change to one leg can affect linked reservations.Do award tickets have different refund and claim rules?Miles, taxes and carrier-imposed charges can be returned through different processes. A disruption-related compensation rule may still need its own scope check.Does a three-hour EU delay always pay €600?No. €600 is a conditional long-distance reference, not a universal award. Scope, final-arrival delay, distance, extraordinary circumstances and possible reductions all matter.Does EU261 cover Korean Air departing South Korea?An inbound flight from outside the EU normally requires an eligible EU operating carrier for EU261 to apply. Korean Air's branding or a round-trip ticket alone does not establish coverage.What about an Air France flight from Korea to France?An EU operating carrier arriving in the EU can bring EU261 into scope. Confirm the actual operating carrier, itinerary, date and the reason for the disruption.Does a flight departing the UK use EU261 or UK261?A UK departure should be checked under UK passenger-rights rules. A complex connection may involve more than one legal question, but double recovery should not be assumed.Does a five-hour US domestic delay require cash compensation?US federal rules do not impose a general EU-style fixed cash payment for an ordinary delay. A significant change may create a refund choice if you decline the trip; airline commitments are separate.Why do Canadian airline compensation amounts differ?Canada's APPR uses different fixed amounts for large and small airlines when all compensation conditions are met. Carrier size is only one condition; responsibility and arrival delay also matter.Is a Korean domestic delay based on the whole ticket price?Do not use a package total or unrelated fees as the fare base without checking the current Korean standard and ticket breakdown. Carrier responsibility and exceptions also matter.Is Montreal Convention delay damage the same as a fixed award?No. Convention damages concern proven loss and causation, subject to defenses and a liability limit. A jurisdiction's fixed passenger-rights payment is a separate analysis.Should each family member file a separate claim?Check whether the airline form permits a group claim and whose ticket and expenses are covered. Identify each passenger and keep per-person fares separate from group expenses.Do infant tickets follow the same compensation rules?Age and fare conditions can matter under the applicable rule. Check whether the infant occupied a seat, paid a fare and is within that rule's passenger definition.Can I claim a hotel bill caused by a flight delay?Possibly, if the applicable rule or policy covers necessary lodging and the amount is reasonable. Ask for help first when possible and keep receipts and the airline's response.Can I claim meal costs without the receipt?You can ask, but proof is much stronger with an itemized receipt. Preserve alternative evidence such as card transactions while checking the airline's documentation rules.Can taxi or airport-bus expenses be reimbursed?It depends on the rule, reason and necessity of the trip. Keep the route, date, amount and airline instructions, and claim transport separately from meals or lodging.What if I bought a replacement ticket myself?Do not assume every self-purchased ticket is reimbursable. Record the airline's offered rerouting, urgency, price and reason you could not use its option before asking for repayment.Can I claim a prepaid hotel I could not use?This is a separate documented-loss or insurance question, not an automatic flight-refund item. Check the hotel contract, package terms, applicable law and causation.Can I claim wages or missed business plans?Lost earnings or business loss requires specific proof of amount, causation and legal basis. Do not treat an estimate of inconvenience as guaranteed damages.Can I claim fixed compensation after the airline gave me a hotel?Possibly. Hotel care and fixed compensation are different remedies. Confirm the flight's rule, arrival delay, notice and exemption before deciding.Can travel insurance and airline compensation both pay?They may cover different things, but the same documented expense can be subject to coordination or offset terms. Keep every payment and pending claim itemized.How much is a Montreal Convention SDR in dollars?SDR is a changing IMF unit. Convert the applicable amount using the relevant date and official rate; the liability ceiling is not the amount you automatically receive.Do international delay damages always reach the maximum?No. A liability limit is a ceiling under specified conditions. The traveler still needs to show actual loss and causation, and carrier defenses may apply.Is the airline responsible for a missed protected connection?A single ticket can support rerouting and final-destination delay claims under some rules. Verify the booking structure, operating carriers and actual final arrival.What if the first of two separate tickets is delayed?A self-transfer may not be protected as one itinerary. Contact the second carrier immediately about no-show terms and preserve both bookings for any insurance claim.Should a codeshare claim go to the seller or operator?Check the actual operating carrier for disruption compensation and the ticket issuer for some refund steps. A marketing flight number alone may point to the wrong form.Does moving departure one hour earlier allow a free refund?The answer depends on jurisdiction and ticket terms. US DOT significant-change examples use larger timing thresholds, while other changes can also matter.What is a significant schedule change under US DOT rules?DOT lists material changes including a three-hour domestic or six-hour international shift and certain airport, connection or cabin changes. The traveler must also decline the changed trip or alternative.Can I recover a fare difference after a cabin downgrade?Ask for the applicable refund of the difference in service, with the original receipt and replacement cabin evidence. The exact remedy depends on governing law and ticket conditions.What should I do after involuntary denied boarding?Ask for a written reason, rerouting and the applicable compensation notice. Keep your check-in proof and distinguish involuntary bumping from a voluntary seat offer.Can I claim more after volunteering to give up my seat?The terms of the voluntary agreement matter. Read the voucher or cash offer and any release before accepting, and keep a copy of the final agreement.Who pays ground transport after an airport change?Ask the airline how it will get you to the original destination or another agreed point. Keep the replacement airport, transport offer and receipts.Who handles a canceled flight in a package trip?The package seller and operating airline may have different duties. Preserve the travel contract and separate the flight fare from hotel and other package services.What documents support a flight compensation claim?Start with the ticket, original and changed itinerary, disruption notice, actual arrival, carrier reason and prior claim number. Add itemized receipts for expenses.Can I claim without a flight-delay certificate?Often you can begin with notices, boarding records and actual-time evidence. Ask the airline for a certificate if an insurer or claim process requires one.What if I cannot find the airline's official claim form?Use the carrier's official contact or complaints hub, state the remedy requested and ask for the correct form. Keep a dated copy and reference number.When must I send a flight compensation claim?Deadlines vary by jurisdiction and claim type. For Canada APPR fixed compensation, the usual written request window is one year; check other rules separately.Must I contact the airline before a Canada APPR complaint?Yes, the official process normally starts with a written airline claim. Keep the airline's reply or the record of no response before using the CTA complaint channel.Where can I escalate an unanswered EU261 claim?After contacting the operating airline, check the relevant national enforcement body or approved ADR route. Their power to order an individual payment can differ.How are Korean consumer redress and mediation different?An initial consumer-redress request and a formal dispute-adjustment process are distinct steps. Keep the airline's answer and use the Korea Consumer Agency's current procedure.How should I reply to a denied claim?Identify the disputed fact or rule, attach missing evidence and ask the airline to explain its reason, exemption and calculation in writing.What fees should I check before using a claim agency?Compare the fee percentage, VAT, litigation or withdrawal charges, payment timing and the agency's authority. You can first use the airline's official free channel.What if the airline approved but has not paid?Record the approval date, amount, payment method and case number. Ask for a written payment timeline and follow up separately from the original eligibility dispute.
Your route and travel date may change the answer. Check the linked official rule.