Flight delays, cancellations & denied boarding

What you may be entitled to

When a flight is badly delayed, cancelled, overbooked, or your baggage goes missing, you may be entitled to one or more of: care (meals, communication, and accommodation during long waits), a refund or re-routing, compensation in defined situations, and a baggage claim for loss, delay or damage.

Exactly what applies depends on the flight and the rules that govern it. We tell you honestly whether your situation is likely to carry a claim — and we never promise an amount or an outcome.

Situations we cover

Common disruptions where passengers may have rights — yours may differ, but the approach is the same:

• Long delayA flight delayed well beyond its scheduled time, sometimes triggering care and, in defined cases, compensation.
• CancellationA cancelled flight, usually carrying a right to a refund or re-routing, and sometimes compensation.
• Denied boarding (overbooking)Being refused boarding on a flight you held a confirmed seat for, against your will.
• Missed connectionA delay on the first leg causing you to miss a connecting flight on the same booking.
• DowngradeBeing moved to a lower class than you paid for.
• Baggage problemsLuggage lost, delayed or damaged — handled under the Montreal Convention for international carriage.

Your rights as a passenger

• To be informed clearly about what is happening and why.
• To care during long waits — meals, a means to communicate, and accommodation where an overnight is needed.
• To a refund or re-routing when a flight is cancelled (and in some delay situations).
• To compensation in the situations the applicable rules define.
• To pursue a baggage claim for loss, delay or damage.

The detail of each right depends on the governing regime and your specific flight.

What to do — and what not to do

How a claim works

• Gather evidenceYour booking, boarding pass, the reason given, receipts, and any baggage report.
• Claim to the airlineA claim is put to the carrier setting out what is owed under the applicable rules.
• Escalate if refusedIf the airline refuses or underpays, the matter can be taken to the appropriate consumer or judicial forum.
• OutcomeA refund, compensation or settlement where the claim succeeds — we are honest up front about the prospects.

Claims are subject to time limits, which differ by regime — it is best not to wait.

Who we help

• Tourists and residents flying to or from IST / SAW
• Passengers delayed, cancelled on, or denied boarding
• Travellers who missed a connection on one booking
• Passengers with lost, delayed or damaged baggage
• Families and groups disrupted together
• Business travellers out of pocket for a disruption

How we help

1. 1
   AssessWe look at your flight and the facts and tell you honestly whether there is a claim worth pursuing.
2. 2
   Identify the ruleWe work out which framework applies — SHY-Yolcu, Montreal or EU261 — and what it gives you.
3. 3
   PursueWe put the claim to the airline and, where it is refused, take it to the appropriate forum.
4. 4
   Keep you informedWe explain each step and the realistic range of outcomes — no inflated promises.

We are independent attorneys registered with the İstanbul Barosu. We do not promise an amount or a result; we explain your options and the fee before any work begins.

Key terms

Denied boarding

Being refused a seat on a flight you held a confirmed booking for, against your will — often due to overbooking.

Care / assistance

Meals, communication and accommodation an airline may owe during long disruptions.

Extraordinary circumstances

Events outside the airline’s control that can remove a compensation entitlement (but not always care or refunds).

PIR (Property Irregularity Report)

The report filed at the airport when baggage is lost, delayed or damaged.

SHY-Yolcu

Türkiye’s air passenger-rights regulation.

Montreal Convention

The international treaty governing carrier liability, including baggage and delay.

Frequently asked questions