Are you experiencing a last-minute flight cancellation?
Did Croatia Airlines cancel your flight at the last minute?
Having a flight cancelled can cause significant hassle, particularly if you’re dealing with connecting flights or have other travel plans. However, passengers are protected in such circumstances by EU/UK law and the Croatia Airlines flight cancellation policy. What that means is that, if your Croatia Airlines flight is cancelled, the airline must provide assistance and offer an appropriate resolution.
1. Croatia Airlines Flight Cancellation: Last-Minute Flight Cancellation
Croatia Airlines has a responsibility to look after you if your flight is cancelled.
- If flight cancellation leads to an extended wait at the airport, you have the right to care from Croatia Airlines. For instance, should your wait stretch to 3 hours, you will receive a coupon for a complimentary meal, while an overnight wait warrants free hotel accommodation and transport.
- If you opt not to accept the replacement flight Croatia Airlines offers, you should receive a full refund from Croatia Airlines. This refund can be either deposited into your bank account or provided as a Croatia Airlines voucher.
- Provided it’s a last-minute flight cancellation (e.g., flight cancelled no more than 2 weeks prior to the original departure date), and the cancellation occurred due to a fault of Croatia Airlines, you can also apply for flight cancellation compensation.
If a cancellation of your Croatia Airlines flight led to a missed connection, you could be eligible for compensation. For further details, refer to our Croatia Airlines missed connection compensation guide.
In essence, the regulations are similar to those applicable to flight delays. You need to calculate how much later you arrived at your destination compared to your original scheduled arrival time.
These compensation rules are applicable to all Croatia Airlines flights departing from or arriving in Europe. Rules are the same also with UK flights.
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.
2. What to Do if Your Flight Is Cancelled Last-Minute?
When your flight is suddenly cancelled right before departure, what happens next depends on where you are: at the airport or still at home.
2.1 If You Are Still at Home or Hotel
When at home or in a hotel and you learn that your flight has been cancelled, the best place to stay is where you are. Contact Croatia Airlines’ customer service for guidance on the next steps.
Croatia Airlines have to be committed to assisting you. Your options will be communicated by the airline. You might be rescheduled for the same day or the next – this largely hinges on the availability of flights. It is also worth noting that you have the option to request a flight with a different airline.
If the flight was cancelled as a result of extraordinary conditions, you are entitled to a care package, an alternative flight to your destination, or you could choose a refund. If the flight was cancelled due to airline’s fault, you will also be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.
2.2 If You Are Already at the Airport
If you find yourself already at the airport when your flight gets cancelled, do not advance through airport security. A new flight will be arranged for you. This means that you have to retrieve a new boarding pass by undergoing the check-in process again. If you have any luggage, you will need to check it in again and proceed to passport control.
If you’ve already gone through security, attempt to return to the landside part of the airport (public access part of the airport), to check-in desks.
It’s important to contact Croatia Airlines representatives at the airport. They’ll provide assistance, such as arranging an alternative flight to your destination (or a full refund) and care.
3. Croatia Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation (Last-Minute Flight Cancellation)
There are specific flight compensation regulations established by the EU/UK.
If your flight gets cancelled less than 2 weeks prior to the scheduled departure date, it is regarded as a last-minute flight cancellation, and you may be entitled to compensation.
Your flight is cancelled 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:
- You opt for a new flight offered by Croatia Airlines, which departs no more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your final destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this case, you are not eligible for compensation.
- In other cases, you are entitled to compensation.
Your flight is cancelled less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:
- You select a new flight offered by Croatia Airlines, which leaves no more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you get to your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this scenario, you are not entitled to compensation.
- In other situations, you are entitled to compensation.
Conditions to file a compensation claim:
- Flight cancelled due to Croatia Airlines’ fault;
- Flight is to/from/within Europe;
- Flight cancelled at last minute (less than 14 days before departure).
Read more: Croatia Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation
4. Croatia Airlines Flight Cancellation Refund
For all cancelled Croatia Airlines flights, passengers have to be provided with the option of either a different flight to their designated destination or a full refund. The refund can be issued as a transfer to your bank account or given in the form of a Croatia Airlines voucher, depending on what suits your needs and future travel plans (yes, you have a right to choose what works the best for you).
Your refund from Croatia Airlines should be processed within a week.
It’s crucial to understand that the right to compensation and the right to a refund are two distinct rights under the UK/EU flight compensation regulations. Even if a refund is your chosen option, you may still qualify for compensation depending on the specifics of your flight cancellation.
Read more: Your Croatia Airlines Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?
4.1 What If You Cancel a Flight?
If you, the passenger, decide to cancel your flight, the terms for receiving a refund are different. Generally speaking, Croatia Airlines’ refund policy is dictated by the type of ticket you bought.
Tickets that are fully flexible are usually refundable, whereas lower cost, non-flexible tickets might not be. It is advisable to check the precise conditions of your ticket or seek clarification from Croatia Airlines’ customer service. If your travel insurance policy covers cancellations, you might be able to secure a refund via your insurance provider.
5. How to Claim Croatia Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation? Cancellation Refund?
If a refund for your ticket is what you seek, you can lodge a refund request through the “My Bookings” section by choosing “Flight Details”. You can find out more information on Croatia Airlines website. In most situations, the refund amount will be returned via the same payment method you used during the ticket purchase.
What about flight cancellation compensation?
If your flight gets cancelled, you may be entitled to receive compensation from Croatia Airlines. The most crucial action you need to take is filing a claim. Neglecting to do so will mean you receive no compensation. You can submit your claim via Croatia Airlines customer service.
Remember, it is your right to receive compensation, and you are under no obligation to accept travel vouchers as compensation. As per EC Regulation 261, compensation for flight disruptions within the EU should be directly paid into your bank account. The compensation you can claim is fixed and ranges from 250 to 600 euros.
Alternatively, you could choose legal representation for a stress-free process.
With this choice, all matters are handled by a flight compensation company on your behalf. They will file a compensation claim and oversee the process from start to finish.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
Last-minute flight cancellation – have you ever experienced that? How did the airline solve that? Do you still have questions about Croatia Airlines compensation policies? Ask in the comments.