Flight canceled but missed check-in: Is it still possible to get compensation?

If your flight was canceled and all the criteria for compensation are met, but you missed your check-in, the situation can become more complex. In the European Union, for example, the rules for compensating passengers for canceled flights are governed by Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004. However, to be eligible for compensation or other forms of support in the event of a flight cancellation, passengers must meet certain conditions imposed by the airline, such as checking in on time for their flight.

Here’s what you need to know in such a situation:

– One of the criteria to qualify for compensation or support (such as accommodation or rerouting) in the event of a flight cancellation is to have complied with the airline’s check-in guidelines.

– If you missed check-in, even if flight cancellation is confirmed and the compensation conditions are otherwise met, the airline could argue that you did not make yourself available for the flight as required.

– If you may have failed to check-in on the flight in question due to extraordinary circumstances beyond your control (for example, transportation problems arriving at the airport), the air carrier may consider your case more favorably. However, this will largely depend on their policy and the evidence you can provide. At best, it could agree to reimburse your ticket, without offering you compensation.