What is Re-routing?

Re-routing is the airline’s obligation after disruption to get the passenger to the booked final destination, if necessary by another route.

Also called: Rebooking.

How it works#

The entitlement is to the destination rather than to a particular flight, under comparable conditions and at the earliest opportunity. Whether another airline can be used depends on an interline agreement. Airlines usually offer their own next flight first; asking for an earlier connection on a partner is legitimate and routine.

Not to be confused with#

Re-routing is not the same as a refund: re-routing delivers the passenger to the destination, a refund ends the contract against repayment.

In German#

The German term is Ersatzbeförderung. German version of this term

Related terms#

• Cancellation: A cancellation is the withdrawal of a scheduled flight; a diversion or substantial rescheduling can legally count as one too.
• Interline agreement: An interline agreement is a contract between two airlines to accept each other’s tickets, transfer baggage and rebook passengers during disruption.
• Rebooking on another airline: Rebooking on another airline is transferring a ticket to a different carrier so the passenger reaches the destination sooner after disruption.

Articles that use this term#

• When must an airline rebook you on a competitor?
• What do US airlines owe you when your flight is cancelled?
• What do you do first when your flight is cancelled?
• How do you get into an airport lounge without a business class ticket?
• When airline elite status gets you nothing
• Why you get turned away from a lounge you have access to