The Guide to Turkish Airlines Cancellation Policy

Most flights operate as expected, with the plane taking off and landing as scheduled. However, sometimes there are delays and cancellations.

When flying with an international carrier, like Turkish Airlines, the process may feel more complex since they are based outside of the United States. Here’s what you need to know about the Turkish Airlines cancellation policy.

Before heading to the airport or while waiting to board your plane, it’s a good idea to check the status of your flight. With Turkish Airlines, you can sign up to receive text and email alerts or look up the flight’s status through the airline’s website or mobile app.

At the airport, you can search for your flight on the airport’s departure board or speak with a customer service agent. Other options include third-party websites or apps such as TripIt and FlightAware.

» Learn more: Things to know before flying Turkish Airlines

Airlines cancel flights for many reasons, including weather, maintenance and staffing issues. Regardless of why Turkish Airlines canceled a flight, it can help if you are able to act quickly to secure the best outcome and reduce the impact to your trip.

If your Turkish Airlines flight has been canceled, follow these steps:

1. Gather your flight confirmation details. Having your flight confirmation number, departure and destination cities and other information speeds up the process for the agent to find your flight so they can rebook you quickly.

2. Know your rights. Depending on which cities your flight departs and arrives from impacts the benefits you’re entitled to if Turkish Airlines cancels flights. For example, flights within and departing from the European Union are covered by EU-261.

3. Find the nearest Turkish Airlines agent or call customer service. It is important to get in line as soon as possible. The canceled flight also impacts your fellow travelers, who will also be looking to rebook their flights. Empty seats on flights are increasingly rare, so acting quickly can determine whether or not you grab one of those limited seats. When speaking with the agent, have a good idea of your ideal scenario — rebooking on the next flight, being rerouted, getting a refund or something else.

4. Know your coverages. Unfortunately, Turkish Airlines may not be able to get you on the next flight, and you may have to wait several days to make it to your destination. By knowing your coverages from credit card travel benefits and travel insurance policies, you may be able to book a ticket on another airline and get reimbursed for it.

5. Be flexible. Flexibility is often key to saving your trip. If you are willing to change your arrival, layover, or departure city, you can get rebooked more easily. Similarly, you'll have more options if you can take a late-night, red-eye, or early morning flight.

6. Take notes and save related documents. It is important to save all notes and documents related to the cancellation to file claims with the airline, your credit card, or the travel insurance company. This includes emails or app notifications, notes you take and receipts for flights, hotels and other expenses incurred due to the cancellation.

7. Keep your cool. Remember that the Turkish Airlines employee you’re speaking with (most likely) didn’t cause your flight to get canceled. Their job is to help you the best they can, and getting angry with them or releasing your frustration at them won’t solve the issue. In fact, it could make them less likely to go out of their way to help you.

8. File your claim as soon as possible. No matter who you’re filing a claim with, there’s generally a time limit to submit your information. Submitting quickly beats the deadline, and you're less likely to forget important details or lose your receipts and other documentation.

» Learn more: Contact Turkish Airlines Customer Service

The Turkish Airlines cancellation policy states that passengers can change their flight or get a refund when their flight is canceled. Although it may be frustrating when a Turkish Airlines flight cancellation occurs, most travelers want to continue with their journey rather than get a refund. To rebook your flight, follow these steps.

In-person

If you're at the airport, contact a Turkish Airlines gate agent or check-in clerk. They'll be able to reroute your ticket based on the available flights. For passengers with access to the Turkish Airlines airport lounges, speak with a receptionist inside the lounge to rebook your flight.

Online or mobile app

Turkish Airlines canceled flights can also be rebooked through the airline's website or mobile app (Apple, Google). Using these online tools can speed up booking another flight rather than waiting in a long line to speak with someone.

Remember that you must check in at least 60 minutes before your scheduled departure time on international flights (and 45 minutes for domestic flights) in order to benefit from the Turkish Airlines cancellation policy.

The process for getting a refund from a Turkish Airlines canceled flight depends on your ticket type and where you're traveling. Review the scenarios below to determine which one matches your situation.

Nonrefundable tickets

Normally, when you buy a nonrefundable ticket, you cannot get your money back if you try to cancel or change your ticket. However, when the airline cancels the flight, you are entitled to a refund.

Refundable tickets

Buying a refundable ticket provides flexibility for travelers who need to change or cancel their flights for any reason. The Turkish Airlines cancellation policy provides for a full refund if you do not wish to be rebooked on another flight.

Award tickets

For people traveling on an award ticket, you can get a refund when Turkish Airlines cancels your flight. You can speak with a customer service agent or request a refund using the airline's website or mobile app.

If you need to cancel a Turkish Airlines award flight booked with Miles&Smiles miles, you can do so online or by calling the Turkish Airlines U.S. call center at 800-874-8875.

To get your miles redeposited, you must pay a fee of:

• 150 Turkish lira ($4.66) for domestic flights.

• $70 for international flights.

In case of a no-show, you can get your miles back as well for the following fee:

• 200 Turkish lira ($6.21) for domestic flights.

• $150 for international flights.

Depending on how many Turkish Airlines miles you redeemed, the fees to get them back in your Miles&Smiles account aren’t terribly high.

Tickets booked in the U.S.

For flights booked within the U.S., the Turkish Airlines 24-hour cancellation policy from the U.S. Department of Transportation applies.

This policy allows any traveler to cancel any flight without penalty within 24 hours of booking, so long as it is at least seven days before departure. When you cancel within this 24-hour risk-free cancellation period, you’re entitled to a full refund back to your original form of payment.

Many travel credit cards include travel protections in case your flight is canceled, interrupted or delayed. These benefits cover prepaid, nonrefundable reservations paid for with an eligible card.

A few travel credit cards that offer trip cancellation insurance are:

Keep in mind that not all credit card travel protections are the same. Compare coverage benefits and exclusions when choosing which card to use to book your flight.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Travel insurance can be a worthwhile purchase to protect your business trip or vacation. Policies offer a variety of benefits, coverage levels and premiums to match your budget. If you have multiple trips planned, compare prices on an annual plan versus buying individual policies for each trip.

Premiums are typically based on the total cost of your trip and cover prepaid, nonrefundable expenses. To keep costs down, exclude refundable tickets and reservations you can cancel without penalty.

The Turkish Airlines cancellation policy outlines the options available to travelers in case the airline cancels a flight. In general, you can either rebook your seat on the next available flight or get a refund.

Travelers can rebook their flight or get a refund by speaking with a customer service agent or through the airline's website or mobile app.

Unexpected cancellations can throw a wrench into your travel plans. While Turkish Airlines can rebook your flight, your hotel reservations, concert tickets and other activities may still be affected. When this happens, your credit card travel protections or a travel insurance policy can reimburse you for eligible prepaid, nonrefundable expenses.