Going through a flight cancellation is never fun, especially when you have places to be. With Europe’s air traffic control strikes causing flight cancellations left and right, there’s a good chance that your Air France travel plans will be affected as well. Luckily for you, according to EC 261, which also covers Air France, you should be able to get a refund for your flight disruptions.
But how exactly can you get an Air France flight refund, and are all flights covered? What is their policy when giving your money back, and what can you do if they resist your claims? This article will help you see what your next step should be.
Air France’s Policy on Refunds
Air France has two options for giving out tickets: refundable and non-refundable. If you have a non-refundable ticket and choose to cancel your trip, chances are high that you will not get your money back unless you cancel within 24 hours of booking. If you have a refundable ticket, that window of opportunity becomes bigger, but the amount you get can become smaller the closer you get to departure day.
Things change if the cancellation occurs due to an Air France mishap. If the flight is canceled on the day of departure (or less than 14 days before), you are entitled to either a refund or an alternative flight. If the alternative they give you reaches the destination with a delay longer than 3 hours, then EC 261 entitles you to file an Air France compensation claim.
Knowing Your Options
When your flight with Air France gets canceled, you are usually given three alternatives. This can include the following:
- Ticket Refund
Depending on the type of ticket that you hold, you might be eligible for a refund. While Air France is not in the habit of giving out money on non-refundable tickets, you can still get your money if it happens on short notice. For instance, if you have less than 14 days before your flight, not only should they refund Air France ticket, but you could also become eligible for compensation. Bear in mind that they could still try to fight you on this, so a good idea is to collaborate with a professional flight claim company.
- Voucher
Like many other airlines, Air France will try to hold onto your money for as long as possible. As a result, instead of giving it back to you and damaging their cash flow, they will try to push travel vouchers your way. These can be used for up to one year, so if you plan to travel anytime soon, you may as well take it if it suits you. However, keep in mind that if you are eligible for compensation, this could prevent you from accessing it later. Cash refunds are also required by federal law now, especially if the flight cancellation was caused by a delay.
- Rebooking
If the flight gets canceled, you have one more option ahead of you: postponing your flight. With this, you can change the date and the destination, and Air France will waive your change fee. Remember that you will have to pay a price difference if that flight is more expensive. Air France will try to get you to give in, but resisting their offer could entitle you to more compensation.
How to Get Your Refund
When getting your Air France ticket refund, there are certain steps that you will have to go through to maintain eligibility. This can include the following:
- Don’t Accept Rebooking
When your flight gets canceled, the airline’s first course of action won’t be to give your money back. They’ll try to rebook you on the next flight out or another day you choose. Remember that if you accept their offer for rebooking, you give away your right to a refund and perhaps even compensation.
- Find Out the Reason for the Cancellation
Next, you need to find out why the flight has been canceled in the first place. Was it something under the airline’s control, which could have been prevented through maintenance? Knowing this is essential because the airline might try to wiggle their way out of some fees and push for “extreme circumstances.” You can still get your hands on some refund money, but it could only be partial.
- Gather the Documentation
Your air passengers rights make you eligible for a refund on your ticket, but you need to prove that you were supposed to be on the canceled flight. Your travel documents can confirm that. First, you need to get your booking references and other services you may have selected (e.g., a window seat, special seat with leg space, etc.). Next, you should find your boarding pass and receipts if the flight was canceled while you were at the airport. This could help you get extra compensation.
- File for the Refund
With all the documents in order, it is time to file for a refund. Air France gives you the option to do it through them, but it’s never really recommended to go down that path. As previously stated, airlines will try to pull every string possible not to give you all the money back (if any), turning it into a waste of effort. It’s much better to do this through a company specializing in Air France compensation claims, such as StopDelay, as they are knowledgeable enough not to get swayed or tricked.
The Bottom Line
Getting an Air France canceled flights’ refund is not as difficult as you may think. If the airline is the reason your flight was canceled, there’s a good chance you can get a full refund. You just need to grab the opportunity and file for it!
