What Are Your Rights When Turkish Airlines Cancels Your Flight?

Regardless of when or why Turkish Airlines cancels your flight, you are always entitled to choose between:

• A full refund of the price paid for your unused ticket, returned within 7 days; or
• Rerouting to your final destination at the earliest available opportunity under comparable transport conditions; or
• Rerouting at a later date of your choosing, subject to seat availability

If the cancellation means that your outbound flight is now pointless for example, you were on a return journey, you are also entitled to a return flight to your original point of departure.

These rights apply regardless of whether the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances. Turkish Airlines cannot withhold your right to a refund or rebooking, even in cases of severe weather or other events outside its control.

When Is Turkish Airlines Required to Pay Cancellation Compensation?

In addition to a refund or rerouting, you may be entitled to financial compensation depending on how much notice Turkish Airlines gave you before the cancellation:

• 14 days or more before departure: No cash compensation — refund or rerouting only
• Between 7 and 14 days before departure: Compensation if rerouted flight departs more than 2 hours earlier or arrives more than 4 hours later than original
• Less than 7 days before departure: Compensation if rerouted flight departs more than 1 hour earlier or arrives more than 2 hours later than original
• Less than 14 days & no suitable reroute offered: Full compensation: £220, £350, or £520 depending on distance

If you are rerouted and your revised arrival time is close to the original, Turkish Airlines may only owe 50% of the standard compensation amount. The exact percentage depends on the notice period and how significantly your arrival time differs from the original schedule.

What Care Must Turkish Airlines Provide After a Cancellation?

If Turkish Airlines cancels your flight and you are at the airport or notified on the day of travel, the airline must provide:

• Meals and refreshments appropriate to the waiting time
• Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes to allow you to make alternative arrangements
• Hotel accommodation and airport transfers if an overnight stay becomes necessary
• Written notification of your rights under EC261 or UK261

These care obligations apply whether or not you are entitled to financial compensation, and whether or not the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances.

When Can Turkish Airlines Avoid Paying Cancellation Compensation?

Turkish Airlines is exempt from paying financial compensation, but not from providing a refund or rerouting, if it can prove one of the following:

• The cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures taken; or
• You were notified of the cancellation more than 14 days before departure

When Does Denied Boarding Compensation Apply?

You are entitled to denied boarding compensation from Turkish Airlines if all of the following apply:

• You held a valid, confirmed reservation on the flight
• You presented yourself at the check-in desk or boarding gate no later than 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time
• You possessed all required travel documents, including a valid passport, visa, and any health documentation
• Turkish Airlines denied you boarding involuntarily that is, you did not voluntarily agree to give up your seat

You are not entitled to denied boarding compensation if:

• You voluntarily surrendered your seat in exchange for benefits offered by Turkish Airlines
• You were denied boarding for reasons of health, safety, or security
• You did not have the required travel documentation
• You checked in late or failed to present at the gate within the required timeframe

What Must Turkish Airlines Do Before Denying Boarding Involuntarily?

Before Turkish Airlines can involuntarily deny boarding to any passenger, the airline is legally required to first ask for volunteers who are willing to give up their seats in exchange for agreed benefits. This process must be conducted openly and transparently.

Volunteers who agree to surrender their seats are entitled to:

• The agreed benefits negotiated with Turkish Airlines (such as vouchers, upgrades, or future travel credits)
• A full refund of their unused ticket; or rerouting to their destination at the earliest opportunity under comparable conditions

Only if Turkish Airlines cannot find enough volunteers is it permitted to deny boarding to passengers involuntarily. All passengers involuntarily denied boarding must then be offered all compensation and assistance rights in full.

What Assistance Must Turkish Airlines Provide After Denying You Boarding?

In addition to financial compensation, Turkish Airlines must provide immediate practical assistance to all passengers who have been involuntarily denied boarding:

• Choice of refund or rerouting — a full refund of your ticket at the price paid, or rerouting to your final destination at the earliest opportunity or at a later date of your choice
• Meals and refreshments appropriate to the waiting time
• Hotel accommodation and transfers if an overnight stay is required
• Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes
• Written notification of your rights

What If Turkish Airlines Places You in a Different Class?

If Turkish Airlines reroutes you in a higher class of travel than your original booking, it may not charge you any additional fee. If you are placed in a lower class, Turkish Airlines must reimburse you a percentage of your ticket price within seven days:

• 30% reimbursement for flights up to 1,500 km
• 50% reimbursement for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and all other flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km
• 75% reimbursement for all other flights over 3,500 km