Delays and Cancellations
You have important rights if your flight is delayed or cancelled, however, those rights will vary depending on your circumstances and whether you are travelling with a TCI carrier or a non-TCI carrier.
Regulation prescribes what airlines must provide their passengers in the event that a flight is delayed or cancelled. This information is usually found in the airlines small print and so it might be useful to print out this section from your airlines terms and conditions and take it with you along with your travel documents. Some airlines don't include it in their terms and conditions at all, but this does not mean that they are not obliged to provide you with what you are entitled to.
In addition to knowing your rights, there are a number of things to bear in mind before you travel:
- Your rights are prescribed in the Turks and Caicos Islands via UK law, so even if your airlines terms and conditions do not tell you about your rights, you are still entitled to them.
- If you have been advised in advance of the departure date that your flight is going to be delayed or cancelled, and the alternatives offered by the airline are not acceptable, you may be entitled to a refund.
- Check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport. If it is delayed or cancelled, you can contact the airline to find out more information, as the airline might advise you to stay in the comfort of your own home, particularly if you have children or you are a passenger who may require special assistance.
- Do you have travel insurance? If your flight is delayed or cancelled and you opt for a refund (where you are entitled to this right), your insurance may cover you for any consequential losses you may incur, for instance for cancelling your hotel booking, where you may have purchased these separately. This will depend on the type of policy you have taken out.