What to Do When Your Flight Gets Canceled

What the airline owes you when a flight is canceled

When a U.S. airline cancels your flight, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination at no extra cost, or give you a refund. The refund covers the full ticket price plus any ancillary fees you paid (baggage, seat selection, etc.) if you no longer need those services. You get the refund in the original form of payment — credit card, cash, or airline credit, depending on what you used to buy the ticket.

The airline does not owe you money beyond the ticket price unless the cancellation was their fault. If weather, a mechanical issue the airline could have prevented, or an operational decision caused the cancellation, you may have grounds for a compensation claim, but that is separate from the refund or rebooking. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) does not mandate cash compensation for cancellations the way some countries do — it only requires rebooking or a refund.

If the airline offers you a voucher or travel credit instead of a refund, you have the right to refuse it and demand cash back. Many airlines will push the voucher first because it keeps the money in their system. Insist on the refund if that is what you want.

Key Takeaways

• The airline must rebook you on the next available flight at no cost or refund your full ticket price in the original payment method.
• Refunds must include ancillary fees (baggage, seat selection) if you paid for them and no longer need them.
• You can refuse a voucher or travel credit and demand a cash refund instead.
• The airline must provide meals and hotel if the cancellation strands you overnight, unless the cancellation was caused by weather or another event outside the airline's control.
• File a DOT complaint if the airline refuses to rebook or refund you within a reasonable time.

When the airline must pay for meals, hotels, and phone calls

If the cancellation leaves you stranded overnight, the airline must provide a hotel room and meals. This applies only if the cancellation was within the airline's control — mechanical problems the airline should have caught, crew scheduling errors, or operational decisions. If the cancellation was caused by weather, a security threat, or an air traffic control issue, the airline does not have to pay for lodging or food.

The airline must also reimburse reasonable phone calls, emails, or transportation to the hotel. Keep receipts for everything. If the airline does not offer the hotel directly, you can book it yourself and submit the receipt for reimbursement, but call the airline first to confirm what they will cover — some airlines have limits on hotel price per night.

If you are stranded for more than a few hours during the day, ask the airline for a meal voucher even if you will not be overnight. Many airlines provide these without being asked, but you have to request it. If they refuse and the delay is their fault, you can submit the receipt for a meal you bought yourself to the airline's customer service team and request reimbursement.

How to get your refund from the airline

Contact the airline directly through their website, phone line, or airport customer service desk. Most airlines now have a cancellation and refund section on their website where you can enter your confirmation number and request a refund. This is usually faster than calling. If you booked through a travel website like Expedia or Kayak, you can request the refund through them, but the airline is ultimately responsible for issuing it.

The airline has different timelines depending on the refund method. Refunds to credit cards typically process within 7 to 10 business days. Refunds to debit cards may take longer — up to 30 days in some cases — because the bank has to accept the money back into the account. If you paid cash at the airport, the airline should issue a check or process it as a credit card refund.

If the airline does not process your refund within 30 days, file a complaint with the DOT. Include your confirmation number, the cancellation date, proof of payment, and documentation of your refund request. The DOT will contact the airline and require them to respond. You can file at dot.gov/airconsumer.

Rebooking on another airline or a later flight

If the airline cannot rebook you on their own flights within a reasonable time, they must rebook you on a competing airline at no cost. "Reasonable time" usually means the next available flight, but if that is days away and another airline has a flight the same day, the airline must book you on the competitor's flight. You do not have to accept a flight that arrives much later than your original flight if other options exist.

If you accept a rebooking on a later flight, you are still may have access to to meals and a hotel if the new flight does not depart until the next day. The airline cannot charge you for the rebooking or for any difference in ticket price if the new flight costs more.

If you decide not to take the rebooking and want a refund instead, you can refuse the rebooked flight and request the refund. The airline cannot force you to accept a rebooking if you prefer your money back.

What counts as the airline's fault versus weather or other exceptions

The airline is responsible for cancellations caused by mechanical problems, crew issues, maintenance that was not performed on schedule, or operational decisions like overbooking. These are within the airline's control. In these cases, you get a refund or rebooking plus meals and hotel if you are stranded overnight.

The airline is not responsible for cancellations caused by severe weather, lightning, snow, or hurricanes. They are also not responsible for security threats, air traffic control decisions, or airport closures ordered by government agencies. In these cases, you still get a refund or rebooking, but the airline does not have to pay for meals or hotel.

The line between these categories can be unclear. If the airline says weather caused the cancellation but you suspect it was a maintenance issue, ask for documentation. Request the airline's official reason in writing. If you believe the airline is misclassifying the cause, you can file a DOT complaint and include your evidence — weather reports, news articles, or statements from other passengers on the same flight.

Disputing a denied refund or rebooking

If the airline refuses to refund you or rebook you, send a written request to their customer service department. Include your confirmation number, ticket number, the cancellation date, and a clear statement of what you are requesting. Send it by email if possible so you have a record. Give the airline 14 days to respond.

If the airline does not respond or refuses your request, file a complaint with the DOT. The DOT has authority over U.S. airlines and can order them to issue refunds. Include copies of your ticket, the cancellation confirmation, your refund request, and the airline's response (or proof that they did not respond). File at dot.gov/airconsumer. The DOT will investigate and contact the airline. Most complaints are resolved within 60 days.

You can also dispute the charge with your credit card company if you paid by card. The card issuer can reverse the charge while the airline investigates. This does not replace the DOT complaint, but it can speed up getting your money back while the formal process moves forward.

Cancellations due to overselling and involuntary bumping

If the airline cancels your flight because they overbooked and need to reduce the number of passengers, that is different from a standard cancellation. The airline must first ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for compensation. If enough volunteers step forward, the flight operates as scheduled for the remaining passengers.

If not enough volunteers come forward, the airline will involuntarily bump passengers. Bumped passengers are may have access to to compensation: 200% of the one-way ticket price (up to $775) if the airline rebooks you to arrive within one hour of your original arrival time, or 400% of the ticket price (up to $1,550) if the rebooking arrives more than one hour late. You also get a refund or rebooking as usual.

The airline must inform you of your compensation rights before you leave the airport. If they do not, you can still claim the compensation later by contacting the airline or filing a DOT complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to accept the airline's rebooking, or can I just get a refund?

You can choose either one. If the airline offers to rebook you and you prefer a refund, you can refuse the rebooking and request the refund instead. The airline cannot force you to take the new flight.

What if the airline cancels my flight and I miss a connection?

The airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination. If they rebook you on a flight that misses your connection, they must rebook you again on a flight that makes the connection, or refund you. If you had to buy a new ticket to reach your final destination, keep the receipt and submit it to the airline for reimbursement.

Can I get compensation beyond the refund if the cancellation was the airline's fault?

The DOT does not require airlines to pay cash compensation for cancellations, even if the airline caused it. You are may have access to to the refund or rebooking and meals/hotel if stranded overnight. Some airlines offer additional compensation (travel credits, miles) as a goodwill gesture, but it is not required by law.

How long does the airline have to issue my refund?

The airline should process refunds within 7 to 30 days depending on the payment method. Credit cards are faster (7-10 days). If 30 days pass with no refund, file a DOT complaint. The DOT can order the airline to refund you immediately.

What if I booked through a travel website like Expedia?

Contact the travel website first, as they may process the refund faster. If they do not refund you within 14 days, contact the airline directly. The airline is ultimately responsible for issuing the refund, even if you booked through a third party. You can also file a DOT complaint naming both the airline and the travel website.