Turkish Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation Request
On 12.08.2023 at 13:00, I had a flight ticket for my family of four from Istanbul Airport to Erzurum. Since I live in a city center 200 km away from Istanbul, we came to Istanbul the night before and stayed with a relative as a precaution.
On the morning of the flight day, at 08:30, we received a message that the flight was canceled. We were offered a free rescheduling option, but there were no available flights to Erzurum or nearby cities on the same day or the next day, so we rescheduled our tickets for the flight on 14.08.2023.
Later, we decided to return to our home as we couldn't wait for two days, and when the flight day arrived, we went to Erzurum, arriving two days later than planned. Up to this point, we didn't find the situation too problematic.
Afterward, I contacted THY to request compensation for the expenses incurred due to the short-notice cancellation of the flight. The only compensation I requested was the fuel cost for the 200+200 km round trip from my home to the airport.
Despite numerous correspondences, proving that I reside in this city, that the vehicle used for the trip belongs to me, and even sending the fuel receipt from Istanbul after the flight cancellation along with all other necessary documents, the final response I received was that these are not mandatory expenses and they will not be compensated.
You notify about the cancellation just 3 hours before the flight. To be ready at that time, I arrive early. First, they expected me to bring my family with two children by bus and provide tickets, and when I documented the fuel cost, they said it was not a mandatory expense. You cancel the flight for reasons beyond my control.
The earliest option is two days later, and you consider my round trip as a non-mandatory expense. What should I have done, walked to the airport? If I don't get a resolution here, I will pursue legal action. There is a corporate issue; you didn't inform me initially that this damage wouldn't be compensated.
After obtaining every document you requested with great difficulty, you said it wouldn't be accepted. This attitude doesn't align with the corporate identity of a company like THY. You forced me to correspond multiple times without concluding. I expect a response from here as well.
