Your flight just got canceled and everything feels chaotic. Dont panic, the first minutes are the most important. Heres what you should do right away.

First thing, head straight to the airline counter or the gate where your flight was supposed to depart. Try to speak with a staff member as soon as possible. Explain the situation calmly and ask for written confirmation of the cancellation including the reason. This paper or email will be very useful later.

While youre waiting, remember that you have certain rights. If the wait is going to be long, usually more than two hours, the airline should provide you with food and drinks. In case the cancellation means you have to stay overnight, they are also responsible for arranging a hotel and transportation to it. Dont be shy to ask for these things clearly.

Its smart to take photos of the departure board showing your canceled flight. Keep all your boarding passes and any documents they give you. These small details can help a lot when you need to claim compensation or reimbursement afterwards.

If the queue at the counter is too long or the staff is not very helpful, you can also check for alternative flights yourself using the airline website or their mobile app. Sometimes finding a good option on your own and proposing it to them works faster than waiting.

One more important thing, if you already have travel insurance, contact them as soon as you can because some policies cover extra costs caused by cancellations.

Stay at the airport until you have a confirmed new flight or proper accommodation arranged. Leaving without any solution can make things much more complicated.

The situation is stressful but acting quickly and keeping all proofs usually gives you better chances to get things sorted with minimum losses.