What to Do Right Now When Your Flight Gets Canceled

Your immediate steps when the airline tells you the flight is canceled

When an airline cancels your flight, you have three concrete options: rebook on another flight at no cost, request a refund to your original payment method, or accept a travel credit. You do not have to choose immediately. Write down your confirmation number, the cancellation reason if given, and the date and time you were notified — this matters for what you can recover later.

Do not leave the airport or close the airline's app until you understand what the airline is offering. Some airlines automatically rebook you on the next available flight; others wait for you to request it. If the airline offers a flight that gets you to your destination within a few hours, taking it may be your fastest option. If the next available flight is tomorrow or later, or if it requires a connection that adds significant time, you have stronger grounds to request a refund instead.

If you booked through a third-party site like Kayak, Expedia, or Google Flights, contact both the airline and the booking site. The airline controls the rebooking and refund decision, but the booking site may have its own dispute process and can sometimes push the airline faster than you can alone.

Key Takeaways

• You can request a cash refund, a rebooked flight, or a travel credit — the airline cannot force you to accept one option over another.
• The airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination at no extra cost, even if it is on a competitor airline.
• If the airline cannot get you there within a reasonable time, you can refuse the rebooked flight and demand a refund instead.
• Keep all receipts for meals, hotels, and transportation while stranded — you may recover these costs depending on the reason for cancellation and your ticket type.
• Document everything in writing: send emails to the airline with your confirmation number, the cancellation time, and what you are requesting.

Requesting a refund instead of rebooking

You have the right to a refund to your original payment method if you do not want to fly on the rebooked flight. This is true regardless of the reason for cancellation — weather, mechanical issues, crew problems, or anything else. The airline cannot force you to accept a travel credit or a flight on a different date.

Refunds typically take 7 to 30 days to appear in your account, depending on your bank and the airline's processing speed. If the airline does not process the refund within this window, contact your credit card company or bank and file a dispute. The airline's delay in refunding is not your problem to solve.

Some airlines make refunds difficult by burying the option or claiming they can only issue travel credits. This is false. If the airline refuses a refund, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) at dot.gov/airconsumer. Include your confirmation number, the cancellation date, and proof that you requested a refund in writing.

What the airline must pay for while you are stranded

If your flight is canceled and the airline cannot get you to your destination the same day, the airline must cover meals and lodging. This applies to cancellations caused by the airline's own actions — mechanical problems, crew scheduling, maintenance, or overbooking. It does not apply to weather or other circumstances outside the airline's control, though some airlines cover these costs anyway as a courtesy.

You do not need to ask permission first. Buy the meal or book the hotel, keep the receipt, and submit it to the airline later. Most airlines have a form on their website for reimbursement claims, or you can email the receipt to their customer service address. Include your confirmation number and a brief explanation of why you incurred the cost.

The airline is not required to reimburse you for entertainment, phone calls, or transportation to the airport (though some do). They must cover food, lodging, and ground transportation to and from the airport if you need it to reach the hotel or to get to your rebooked flight. Keep receipts for all of these — the airline will ask for them.

Rebooking on another airline or a much later flight

If the airline cannot get you to your destination within a reasonable time on its own flights, it must rebook you on a competitor airline at no extra charge. This is called involuntary rerouting. You do not have to accept a flight that arrives more than a few hours after your original flight, and you do not have to accept a connection that adds significant travel time if a direct option exists.

If the airline offers you a flight on another carrier, ask whether the ticket price is the same as what you paid originally. If the competitor airline charges more, the original airline absorbs the difference. If the competitor airline charges less, you do not get a refund for the difference — the original airline keeps it.

If the only available rebooked flight is days away, you can refuse it and demand a refund instead. The airline cannot penalize you for refusing a rebooked flight that is unreasonably delayed. Document your refusal in writing: send an email to the airline stating that you are refusing the offered flight and requesting a refund, and include the confirmation number and the reason (for example, "the rebooked flight arrives 36 hours after my original flight").

Travel credits and vouchers — what you should know

Airlines often offer travel credits or vouchers as compensation for cancellations. These are not the same as a refund. A travel credit is a promise to let you fly with that airline in the future; it does not put money back in your bank account. You should only accept a travel credit if you actually plan to fly with that airline again.

If you accept a travel credit, check the expiration date. Some credits expire within one year; others last longer. Write down the credit number and the expiration date in a separate place — do not rely on email alone, because airline emails get lost and customer service representatives sometimes cannot find old credits in the system.

Travel credits often come with restrictions: you may not be able to use them for basic economy fares, you may have to pay a change fee to use them, or they may not be transferable to another person. Read the terms before you accept. If the airline offers you a credit but you would rather have a refund, say so clearly. The airline must provide a refund if you request one.

Filing a complaint if the airline refuses to help

If the airline refuses to rebook you, refuses to refund you, or does not reimburse you for meals and lodging, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Go to dot.gov/airconsumer and select "File a Complaint." You will need your confirmation number, the flight details, the date of cancellation, and a description of what happened and what the airline refused to do.

The DOT investigates complaints and can fine airlines for violations. Your complaint does not get you money directly, but it creates a record. If many passengers file complaints about the same airline's behavior, the DOT is more likely to take enforcement action. Include copies of emails, receipts, and any written communication from the airline.

You can also file a chargeback with your credit card company if you paid by card. Tell your bank that the airline canceled your flight and refused to refund you. The bank will contact the airline and ask for proof that you authorized the charge. If the airline cannot prove you agreed to a travel credit instead of a refund, the bank will reverse the charge.

What happens if you booked a connecting flight

If your canceled flight was the first leg of a connection, the airline must rebook you on a flight that gets you to your final destination, not just to the connection city. If the airline tries to rebook you on a flight that arrives at the connection city but leaves you stranded there, refuse it and request a refund or a flight that actually completes your journey.

If you miss your connection because of the cancellation, the airline is responsible for getting you on the next available flight to your final destination. You do not have to pay a change fee. If the airline tells you that you have to rebook the second flight yourself, push back — the airline must handle the entire itinerary.

Keep all boarding passes and receipts from both flights. If you had to buy a new ticket for the second leg because the airline failed to rebook you, submit that receipt for reimbursement along with proof that the airline did not rebook you automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the airline make me accept a travel credit instead of a refund?

No. You have the right to choose a refund, a rebooked flight, or a travel credit. If the airline pushes back on a refund, send an email stating clearly that you are requesting a refund to your original payment method. If they still refuse, file a complaint with the DOT or contact your credit card company.

What if the airline says the cancellation was due to weather and they do not have to pay for meals?

Weather is one of the few reasons airlines are not required to cover meals and lodging. However, many airlines do cover these costs anyway. If the airline refuses, you can still request a refund or rebooked flight. Weather does not excuse the airline from rebooking you or refunding you — it only exempts them from meal and hotel reimbursement.

How long do I have to request a refund after the cancellation?

There is no legal time limit, but the sooner you request it, the sooner you will receive it. Airlines sometimes claim that refund requests must be made within a certain window — this is false. Request your refund in writing and keep a copy of your request. If the airline does not process it within 30 days, escalate to the DOT or your credit card company.

What if I already paid for a hotel or rental car because of the cancellation?

Submit those receipts to the airline for reimbursement. Include your flight confirmation number and a brief explanation of why you incurred the cost. If the airline refuses, file a complaint with the DOT. Some airlines will reimburse these costs; others will not, but you have nothing to lose by asking.

Can I get compensation money on top of a refund?

U.S. law does not require airlines to pay compensation for cancellations, even if the cancellation was the airline's fault. Some airlines offer compensation as a gesture, but it is not mandatory. You can request a refund, meals, and lodging reimbursement, but not a separate cash payout. European law is different and does require compensation for most cancellations.