Key Points about “Rebook flights”
- Explains the reasons for flight rebooking and cancellation.
- Discusses airline responsibilities and options for rebooking or refunding.
- Offers advice for passengers to stay informed and flexible.
- Discusses passenger rights to compensation for rebooking or cancellations.
- Provides tips for working with airlines and third-party services to rebook or refund flights.
You had a flight delay or a flight cancellation? Check your rights now and increase your chances of compensation
Whether you want to rebook your flight or have been involuntarily rebooked by the airline, there are a few things to consider. What you have to do to rebook your flight, and what rights you have, is the topic of this blog article.
Can my flight be easily rebooked?
A flight rebooking by an airline is almost always an unpleasant situation for air travelers. In most cases, airlines rebook passengers when the originally booked flight has been overbooked, meaning that not all passengers can board the plane. In principle, the rebooking of individual passengers is permitted under Article 4 of the EU Passenger Rights Regulation. For this purpose, however, an airline must first seek volunteers for the rebooking. Only if no volunteers can be found, other rebooking measures may be taken, i.e. passengers may be rebooked involuntarily.
Flight rebooking by tour operators:
It sometimes happens that tour operators rebook passengers on another flight long before the original departure date without asking. But even in the case of a long-term rebooking, air travelers are entitled to compensation. The amount of the compensation payment depends on the direct distance between the departure and destination airports and can be up to €600 per person.
Flight rebooking in case of delay:
As a general rule, if you were not informed of a change in flight time at least two weeks before departure, you are entitled to compensation in the event of a flight rebooking. However, this only applies if you are not offered an adequate replacement flight.
Compensation in case of flight rebooking – The rights in case of rebooking:
In the event of denied boarding, passengers are entitled to a compensation payment in accordance with Article 7 of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation, as well as assistance and support services.
The amount of the compensation payment is based on the direct distance between the departure and destination airports.
| Short distance up to 1500 km | Medium distance up to 3500 km | Long distance from 3500 km |
| e.g. London – Edinburgh | e.g. London – Athens | e.g. London – Tokyo |
| 250€ | 400€ | 600€ |
How can I rebook my flight?
The first step is to check whether you purchased your flight ticket at a travel agency or directly from the airline.
If you bought the flight from a travel agency, you must also contact the travel agency. Generally speaking, the travel agency can then make the rebooking, cancellation, or even the name change.
If you have booked directly through the airline, you must also contact them. The rebooking can usually be ordered directly via the customer hotline. With some airlines, you also have the option of rebooking a flight via the app or via the airline’s website. Rebooking at the counter is also possible, although not very practical.
Such forced rebookings are often the airline’s response to delays, cancellations, and overbookings.
If you are rebooked on another flight without your consent, you may be entitled to financial compensation. If you are rebooked at very short notice, affected passengers are entitled to up to €600 compensation based on the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation.
How much does a flight change cost?
Airline tickets are offered by airlines at different rates and may or may not be rebooked or cancelled. For this reason, you should also take a closer look at airlines’ special offers before buying. Such tickets can usually only be rebooked for a fee. The rebooking costs are often significantly lower for more expensive tickets compared to so-called cheap flights. Here, in the worst case, the costs for a rebooking may even amount to 100% of the original ticket price.
But what if the airline rebooks your flight, and what can a flight rebooking due to delay cost?
In fact, it is not called a rebooking if the airline changes the times of its flight. Only if the flight number also changes, it is a rebooking. A rebooking initiated by the airline should, of course, not incur any costs. On the contrary. From a delay of 3 hours, passengers may be entitled to compensation. According to the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation, you can claim between € 250 and € 600 compensation, depending on the route.
Is it possible to transfer a ticket?
Transferring an airline ticket to another person is possible in principle, but often very expensive. In reality, the fees for this are often even more expensive than simply booking a new ticket. It is therefore advisable to cancel the ticket in this case.
The situation is different with package tours. If you cannot take a package tour, it is possible and sometimes advisable to send someone else on the trip. However, this can also be associated with high costs.
Your rights in case of flight rebooking:
You can transfer your flight ticket to another person. However, this is often more expensive than cancelling the ticket and booking a new one, so be sure to find out about potential costs beforehand.
Flight rebooking compensation:
If the rebooking is not your fault, but the airline’s, and you were not informed of a flight time change at least two weeks before departure, you have the right to compensation.
Rebooking a flight – What do you have to pay attention to?
If you have to wait at the airport because of a rebooking, the airline must provide you with snacks and drinks. In addition, the airline must allow you two phone calls and two faxes or emails. If your replacement flight does not depart until the next day, the airline must put you up in a hotel and also provide transportation to get there. This is especially important in the event that your return flight is affected by the rebooking. If the rebooking causes an extension of your stay at the destination, the airline must provide for your accommodation in a hotel.
If the airline does not provide these care services or even refuses to provide them, you can claim back the costs incurred for food, accommodation, and transport from the airline. In addition, you may be entitled to compensation of between EUR 250 and EUR 600 from the airline (less commission).
How can Flightright help you?
You caught a cheap flight, but now it has been rebooked? Your flight is overbooked, delayed, or canceled?
Tip: Flightright helps you enforce your air passenger rights! With us, you can check your claims free of charge in two minutes. ✔️Easy, ✔️fast & without ✔️risk
According to the EU Passenger Rights Regulation, passengers are entitled to compensation in the event of a delay, cancellation, overbooking, or missed connection. You can claim up to 600 euros of compensation per person (minus commission fee). This compensation is independent of the ticket price. Flightright enforces your right for you. If necessary also in court.
As experts on the subject of air passenger rights, we enforce your right to compensation against the airline! Flightright’s air passenger rights experts are also happy to help you with ticket reimbursements