Turkish Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation

Turkish Airlines flight cancellation refund.

Turkish Airlines flight cancellation compensation. What are the differences between the two? In what situations can you receive both? These are two of the main topics we are going to talk about in this guide. Because, yes, even though Turkish Airlines is not a European airline, in some situations you can receive both — a refund from Turkish Airlines and compensation up to €600.

With Turkish Airlines it applies to flights from the EU, and the UK.

There are two ways you can claim flight cancellation compensation.

1. Turkish Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation: EU Regulations

What happens if your Turkish Airlines flight is cancelled?

Will the airline give you a new flight? Can you request a refund? In what situations can you get Turkish Airlines flight cancellation compensation?

According to EU law, flight cancellation procedures are very specific.

If you are notified of the cancellation 7 – 14 days before the departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

If you are notified of the cancellation less than 7 days before the departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

Could you be entitled to Turkish Airlines compensation? 

Yes, if the following conditions are met:

• It’s a cancellation due to the fault of Turkish Airlines;
• It’s a last-minute flight cancellation (up to 14 days);
• It’s a flight departing from Europe.

Turkish Airlines is a Turkish company. Accordingly they have to comply with the European regulations only on their flights departing from Europe.

By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

Sometimes reasons for flight cancellations are out of the airline’s control.

Situations like these are known as extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, you aren’t entitled to flight cancellation compensation no matter how last-minute is the cancellation. It isn’t airline’s fault, hence you can’t receive flight compensation.

If your flight is cancelled due to bad weather, nationwide strike, terrorism threat or other security issues at the airport, you can’t get compensation for cancellation. Speaking of strikes, the exemption applies only to strikes that aren’t airline staff strikes. If it’s a Turkish Airlines strike, you will be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.

And, yes, make sure to double check what you’re told.

Because not always airlines are telling you the truth. To avoid paying compensation, airlines may try to make things look worse. Sometimes, for example, they call things like technical problems with an airplane extraordinary circumstances — but that’s not true. Most technical problems with an airplane are considered airline’s fault, not extraordinary circumstances.

Feeling stuck? Your case is going nowhere?

Fill in a claim form on our website. A team of professionals will check your flight and claim compensation on your behalf.

1.2 Right to Care

Your Turkish Airlines flight is cancelled last-minute.

Now you have to wait at the airport for a new flight.

In this case, if your flight is from Europe, you have a right to care from the airline. Thanks to the EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and the UK Regulation UK261, if you have to wait 3 or more hours at the airport, you have a right to certain services for free.

Turkish Airlines must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If your new flight is leaving only on the next day, a free hotel stay (including free transfer) must be offered.

It doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.

1.3 Turkish Airlines Flight Cancellation Refund, Turkish Airlines Refund Policy

And again, in Europe the rules are very specific.

Besides, they aren’t affected by Turkish Airlines refund policy. As long as your flight departs from Europe you are protected by European Regulation No 261/2004 and Regulation UK261. If your flight is cancelled (any reason), Turkish Airlines should offer you either a new flight or a full refund. You don’t have to agree to a Turkish Airlines voucher refund. You have a right to choose whatever suits you the best.

If you choose a refund, it must be paid within 7 days.

Apart from that, you may still have a right to compensation.

Here’s an excerpt from the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004:

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 5

Cancellation

In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall: (a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 8

Right to reimbursement or re-routing

Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between: (a) – reimbursement within seven days (b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.

It doesn’t cover cases when you yourself cancel a Turkish Airlines flight.

2. How to Claim Turkish Airlines Compensation?

How to claim Turkish Airlines flight cancellation compensation?

There are two ways how you can do it.

One of the options is to contact Turkish Airlines directly. Call, message or e-mail Turkish Airlines and request cancellation compensation. The most important thing is to contact Turkish Airlines, and better — to do it as soon as possible. Refer to European flight compensation laws.

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

This is the easiest option. In this case you are working with a flight compensation company. You submit Turkish Airlines claim once, and the company does the rest on your behalf. You can use the links below, if you prefer this option — our partners offer such services.

Read more:

• How to Claim Turkish Airlines Compensation?
• Your Turkish Airlines Refund Is Taking Forever. How Can You Expedite It?
• Turkish Airlines Missed Connection Compensation

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

On average — at least 2 to 3 months.

But that’s if you are lucky. If you aren’t lucky, the airline will refuse your claim, and then it takes longer. Then it is necessary to take the claim to a national enforcement body or even court, both of which usually add another 2-3 months, sometimes 6+ months, to the whole process.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount in Europe go up to €600 per person.

Here is how you can calculate your Turkish Airlines compensation:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 Turkish Airlines Voucher Refund or Cash?

What if you are offered a voucher instead of compensation?

Many airlines were offering coupons and vouchers during the COVID crisis. You may have experienced that yourself. Turkish Airlines also offers coupons once in a while. Do you have to accept a Turkish Airlines compensation voucher, or can you say no?

You can say no. You don’t have to accept it.

However, as with everything we have talked here, this applies only to Turkish Airlines flights departing from Europe. On other flights you may not have a choice.

4. What Happens If a Flight Is Cancelled?

What to do if your Turkish Airlines flight is cancelled?

First of all, contact Turkish Airlines. You may have already received an email from them, explaining the whole situation and your options. If you are already at the airport, the most important thing is not to proceed through airport security. If a flight is cancelled, you will get a new flight, and you will have to check in for that new flight. If you are at the airport, contact the airline. It’s the airline’s responsibility to handle the situation, no matter why the flight is cancelled. 

In most cases, you’ll be given a choice between a new flight and refund. If the flight is from Europe, you can also ask for a refund yourself, if you don’t want to fly anymore. You can do the same also with other Turkish Airlines cancellations.

If it’s a flight from Europe, and it’s cancelled less than 2 weeks before the date of departure, you may also have a right to European flight cancellation compensation.

Do you need to be on time for another flight? If it’s a Turkish Airlines connecting flight, don’t worry. If you miss your connection because your previous flight was delayed or cancelled, the airline will book you on another flight free of charge. It’s their responsibility.

But if it’s a self transfer (separately booked flights), it’s your responsibility.

If you miss something, you have to take care of that yourself.

Turkish Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation and Refund: FAQ

Turkish Airlines Refund

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists From Abroad

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received Turkish Airlines flight cancellation compensation? Do you still have questions about Turkish Airlines compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.

Featured photo by Kürşat Kuzu from Pexels