Was your Bulgaria Air flight cancelled last minute?
If you experience a last-minute flight cancellation, it can cause a lot of problems, especially if you have other travel plans or connecting flights. However, do keep in mind that according to EU law and Bulgaria Air’s cancellation policy, you have the right to receive protection and assistance from the airline. It’s important to remember that finding a suitable alternative is the airline’s responsibility and they are obligated to help you out in such a situation.
1. Bulgaria Air Flight Cancellation: Last-Minute Flight Cancellation
If Bulgaria Air cancels your flight at the last-minute, they must take care of you.
- If the last-minute flight cancellation results in a long wait at the airport, you have the right to care from Bulgaria Air. If it’s a 3 hour-long wait, you are entitled to a coupon for a free meal, if it’s an overnight wait — a free hotel accommodation and transfer to the hotel (and back to the airport).
- If you decide not to take the replacement flight offered by Bulgaria Air, you can opt for a full refund. This refund may be either transferred to your bank account, or issued as a refundable Bulgaria Air voucher.
- As long as it’s a last-minute flight cancellation (i.e., flight cancelled up to 14 days before departure), and the cancellation is due to fault of the airline (not something unavoidable), you can claim flight cancellation compensation from Bulgaria Air.
If your flight gets canceled and causes you to miss your connection, you could be entitled to compensation. To learn more about the compensation policy, check out our Bulgaria Air missed connection compensation guide. Essentially, the guidelines for compensation are the same as for flight delays. It’s important to calculate the time difference between your scheduled arrival time and your actual arrival time at your final destination.
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?
If your flight is cancelled at the last minute, the steps you should take depend on whether you’re already at the airport or still at home.
2.1 If You Are Still at Home or Hotel
Is your Bulgaria Air flight cancelled last minute, while you are still at home?
It is best to stay put for now. Get in touch with Bulgaria Air’s customer service to understand your next steps. The airline will explain the available options. Depending on the availability of flights, you could leave either the same or the next day. Also, keep in mind that you have the option of requesting a flight with another airline.
If your flight was cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances, you have the right to receive care, a free replacement flight to your destination, or a full refund if you choose to cancel your trip.
If your flight was cancelled due to the airline’s fault, you may also request flight cancellation compensation from the airline.
2.2 If You Are Already at the Airport
If your flight is cancelled and you’re already at the airport, don’t go through security.
You will be given a new flight and will need to check in again to get a new boarding pass. If you have checked baggage, you will need to check it in again.
If you’ve already gone through security, try to go back to the public area of the airport.
The airline will also provide care and support as you have a right to care. If your new flight departs only on the next day, the airline has to provide you with a free hotel stay + airport transfer. If the wait is shorter (at least 3 hours), you can get free food vouchers.
Contact Bulgaria Air if nothing is being offered to you.
3. Bulgaria Air Flight Cancellation Compensation
Flight compensation laws have been set by the EU.
In case your flight gets cancelled 0-14 days before the scheduled departure date, it is considered a last-minute cancellation. You may be eligible for compensation in such instances.
Your flight is cancelled 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:
- You choose a new flight offered by Bulgaria Air, 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.
Your flight is cancelled less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:
- You choose a new flight offered by Bulgaria Air, 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.
There are a few conditions for claiming flight cancellation compensation:
- Flight must be cancelled due to the fault of Bulgaria Air (not due to something unavoidable);
- Flight must be to/from/within Europe;
- It must be a last-minute flight cancellation (14 days before departure, or less).
Read more: Bulgaria Air Flight Cancellation Compensation
4. Bulgaria Air Flight Cancellation Refund
If a Bulgaria Air flight is cancelled, passengers are entitled to either a rescheduled flight to their intended destination or a complete refund. The choice between a refund or a rescheduled flight would typically depend on individual circumstances and future travel plans.
Bulgaria Air commits to processing your refund within 7 days.
It’s crucial to distinguish between the right to compensation and the right to a refund, as they are two separate entitlements under UK/EU flight compensation regulations. Therefore, even if you choose the refund, you may still be eligible for compensation, subject to the specifics of the flight cancellation.
4.1 What Happens If You Cancel a Flight?
The refund conditions differ if you, as the passenger, decide to cancel your flight. Generally, Bulgaria Air’s refund policy is influenced by the type of ticket you have purchased.
Depending on the fare conditions, fully-flexible tickets are typically refundable, whereas low-cost, non-flexible tickets might not be. It’s always recommended to review the specific conditions related to your ticket or contact Bulgaria Air’s customer support for additional clarification. If your travel insurance includes cancellation coverage, you may be able to secure a refund through your insurance provider.
5. How to Claim Bulgaria Air Flight Compensation / Refund?
Bulgaria Air flight cancelled last minute, and you don’t want to fly anymore?
It’s possible to get a refund. You can request a refund from Bulgaria Air via email. For more information visit the website of Bulgaria Air.
If Bulgaria Air cancels your flight, you may be entitled to compensation. To receive compensation, it’s important to file a claim. Not filing a claim means you won’t receive any compensation. You can get in touch with Bulgaria Air customer service to submit your claim.
It’s important to know that you have a right to be compensated for flight disruptions, and you’re not obligated to accept travel vouchers from Bulgaria Air. EC Regulation 261 states that in the EU, compensation for these disruptions must be directly sent into your bank account. The predetermined compensation amount ranges from 250 to 600 euros.
You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.
When you choose this option, everything is handled by a flight compensation company. They will make a compensation claim and complete the process on your behalf.
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.
Read more:
- Is Your Bulgaria Air Flight Compensation Claim Denied? What’s Next?
- Your Bulgaria Air Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?
6. Why Do Flights Get Canceled Last-Minute?
Flights can be cancelled last-minute for a variety of reasons.
Some common causes include weather conditions, technical issues with the aircraft, crew scheduling, and air traffic control delays.
In certain situations, flights can be cancelled due to security concerns or emergencies that may arise. These situations may include security threats, suspicious packages, or even airspace restrictions caused by geopolitical events.
Additionally, airlines may cancel flights due to low passenger demand or restructuring their schedules. It’s always a good idea to check with your airline for updates and information on any cancellations or delays to avoid any inconvenience.
Last-minute flight cancellation – have you ever experienced that? How did the airline solve that? Do you still have questions about Bulgaria Air compensation policies? Ask in the comments.