Cancel flight: How to get your money back

If you have to cancel your flight, you will definitely get back at least part of your money. You can find out how this works and what you have to watch out for in this practical tip.

Cancel flight: You can request this money back

It's worth taking a look at the small print: Some airlines exclude the right of termination in the terms and conditions. Although this is legal, you can always request some costs back.

• Book a flight, sign a contract with the airline. In principle, you can cancel this contract at any time.
• If you cancel your flight, the airline does not incur costs such as airport fees and taxes and must therefore be reimbursed to you.
  
• You pay a few surcharges when buying a ticket. These include, for example, fuel or kerosene surcharges. The plane also needs fuel when you are not on board. However, you can also reclaim these surcharges.
  
• If the airline has excluded the cancellation in its terms and conditions, you are not entitled to reimbursement of the ticket price.
• It looks different if the airline has given the seat to another passenger. In this case, you would be entitled to up to 95 percent of the price you paid for the ticket.
  
• However, this path is not easy. Many airlines are reluctant to replace the ticket costs. In some cases, only the way through a lawyer helps - and even then success is not guaranteed.
  
• It has not yet been clearly clarified whether airlines can charge a cancellation fee. A court decision is still pending.
  
• Incidentally, no airline will automatically reimburse costs if you cancel a flight. So you have to take action yourself.
• Some airlines allow you to apply for reimbursement online. If this is not possible, you can use the sample letter from the consumer advice center to apply for reimbursement.
  
• It is best to send the letter as a registered letter with a return receipt. If the airline does not reimburse the costs without hesitation, you should consult a lawyer. By the way, you have some time to make your claims. The limitation period is 3 years.
  
• There is another option: Using the Money-for-Flight.com website, there is a possibility that you can cancel a flight and get your money back.