The Way. The Truth. The Life.

My Flight Was Cancelled…Now What?

Recently, we have seen an increase in flight cancellations and interruptions. This last year alone, we have seen more flight interruptions than we have in over 40 years.  If you experience flight cancellations, knowing these steps can alleviate frustration.

We recommend that you always buy Travel Insurance through 206 Tours prior to your pilgrimage! This is crucial to protect your financial investment (for tours or cruises that you paid for in conjunction with the affected flight) and you can have peace of mind knowing that most other additional costs will be reimbursed.

If your flight is cancelled or delayed, we first encourage you to stay calm and say a prayer. Even though you may be upset, please do not take your anger out on the airline agent or 206 Tours as we will always do everything in our power to help you. While our team can assist you with looking up flight alternatives, it is the airline who must ultimately reissue, endorse, or revalidate your ticket. Rather than becoming angry, the best course of action is to wait until you can write a letter to the CEO of the airline and U.S. Department of Transportation to share your experience.

It is important that you know your rights in this situation. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, if your flight is cancelled, the airline agent must rebook you, for free, on the next available flight. However, this might be a challenge as during peak travel season many flights are sold out. If this happens, the airline agent may offer to rebook you on an alternative connecting flight. Even if it is not an ideal connection, we encourage you to accept their offer as it is unknown when the next flight will be available. If the airline representative is not being helpful, it is best to ask if you can speak to their manager.

If you are at the airport and are notified that your flight has been cancelled, get in line for the customer service desk as quickly as possible. Hundreds of passengers will flood the desk within minutes and cause wait times that are hours long. While you are in line, you may also call the airline (always opt for international desk as they have authority in rebooking and reissuing your tickets). Check your airline’s website for the phone number to reach their customer service team.

If your flight is rebooked but is not scheduled to leave until the next day, ask the airline representative to provide you with an overnight hotel and meals. Please note that this is not always a guarantee as each airline has its own policies about what they provide to customers whose flights are cancelled. Once your flight is rebooked, we encourage you to send an email to 206 Tours (sales@206Tours.com) letting us know your status and the time of your new flight arrival.

If you wish to cancel your trip after an official airline cancellation, you may be entitled to a refund for your airline ticket. (Note: This refund applies only to your plane ticket, and not to your pilgrimage tour.) Lastly, remember to take photos and save your receipts so that if you have purchased travel protection, you can file a claim by contacting Travel Insured International at 1-855-752-8303.

You can also file a claim through their website (https://www.travelinsured.com/claims-guest/create/start /) using your name and the policy number that is listed on your invoice.

View the Full 206 Tours Pilgrimage Directory: www.206tours.com/pilgrimages