Flight cancellations are rising, but the reasons vary by season and airline

Flight cancellations happen more often than they did ten years ago, but there is no single cause. The number of canceled flights changes month to month depending on weather, staffing levels at specific airports, mechanical issues, and air traffic control delays that cascade into cancellations. Summer and winter see more cancellations than spring and fall because thunderstorms and snow create unpredictable conditions. Some airlines cancel more flights than others — you can check an airline's cancellation rate before you book by looking at Department of Transportation data, which is public.

A cancellation is different from a delay. When a flight is canceled, it does not fly that day at all. When it is delayed, it still flies but leaves later. The rules for what the airline owes you are different for each situation, and knowing which one you are facing matters for what you do next.

Key Takeaways

  • Weather, staffing shortages, and mechanical problems cause most cancellations, and cancellation rates vary by airline and season.
  • The airline must rebook you on the next available flight at no extra cost, or refund your ticket if you do not want to fly.
  • You are not owed money compensation for a cancellation caused by weather or air traffic control, but you may be owed it for mechanical failures or airline staffing problems.
  • Check your airline's website or call them directly to learn about your flight is canceled — do not wait for an email or text.
  • Keep your receipt and any boarding pass or confirmation number so you can prove you had a ticket if the airline disputes your claim later.

What causes most flight cancellations

Weather is the single largest reason flights are canceled. Thunderstorms, snow, ice, and high winds make it unsafe or impossible for planes to take off or land. During summer, afternoon thunderstorms in the Southeast and Midwest cancel hundreds of flights a day. In winter, snow and ice at major hubs like Denver, Chicago, and Boston shut down runways for hours. These cancellations are not the airline's fault under federal law, which means you get a rebooking but not cash compensation.

Staffing shortages cause the second wave of cancellations. When an airline does not have enough pilots, flight attendants, or ground crew scheduled, it cancels flights rather than delay them. This happens most often during holidays and summer vacation when call-outs spike. Unlike weather, staffing problems are the airline's responsibility, and you may be owed compensation depending on how much notice they gave you.

Mechanical problems — an engine issue, a broken door latch, a faulty navigation system — ground individual planes. If a plane breaks down and there is no spare aircraft available, the airline cancels the flight. Mechanical cancellations are the airline's fault, and compensation rules explore. Air traffic control delays can also cascade into cancellations when planes cannot land in time to turn around for the next flight.

How to learn about your flight is canceled

Do not wait for the airline to contact you. Check your airline's website or app the morning of your flight, or the night before if you are flying early. Type in your confirmation number and last name, and the system will show you the current status. Most airlines also let you set up text or email alerts, but these sometimes arrive late or not at all.

If the website shows your flight as canceled, call the airline's customer service line right away. Have your confirmation number and ticket number ready. The phone line will be busy, so call early in the morning or late at night when fewer people are calling. If you cannot reach anyone by phone, use the airline's website or app to rebook yourself on the next available flight to your destination.

If you are already at the airport and your flight is canceled, go to the airline's ticket counter. Do not leave the airport. The airline is required to rebook you on another flight, and the counter staff can do that faster than the phone line.

What the airline must do when your flight is canceled

The airline must rebook you on the next flight to your destination at no extra cost. That flight can be on the same airline or a different airline, depending on what is available. If the next available flight is more than three hours after your original arrival time, the airline must also provide a meal voucher and hotel room if you need to stay overnight. Some airlines provide these automatically; others require you to ask.

If you do not want to take the rebooking, you can ask for a refund of your ticket price. The airline must refund you within a set time — usually seven to ten business days, though some airlines take longer. The refund goes back to the payment method you used to buy the ticket.

The airline does not have to pay you cash compensation for a cancellation caused by weather or air traffic control. However, if the cancellation was caused by a mechanical problem, crew scheduling, or another reason within the airline's control, you may be owed compensation. The amount depends on how long your delay is and how much notice the airline gave you. For a cancellation with less than 14 days' notice, compensation can range from $250 to $1,350 depending on flight length.

When you are owed money compensation

The Department of Transportation rule on compensation applies only to cancellations that are the airline's fault. Weather, air traffic control delays, and security issues are not the airline's fault, so no compensation is owed. Mechanical problems, crew scheduling failures, and airline operational issues are the airline's fault.

If your flight was canceled and you were not rebooked on a flight that arrived within three hours of your original arrival time, you may be owed compensation. The amount is $250 for flights of 250 miles or less, $500 for flights between 250 and 1,350 miles, and $1,350 for flights over 1,350 miles. The airline can reduce the compensation by 50 percent if it rebooked you on a flight that arrived no more than one hour after your original arrival time.

To claim compensation, contact the airline in writing with your confirmation number, ticket number, original flight time, and the flight you were rebooked on. Keep copies of everything. If the airline refuses to pay, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation or take the airline to small claims court.

How to prepare for a possible cancellation

Book your flight at least two days before you need to travel if you can. This gives you more options if your flight is canceled, because there will be other flights that day. If you book a flight that leaves very early in the morning or very late at night, you have fewer rebooking options if something goes wrong.

Avoid connecting flights if your schedule is tight. If your first flight is canceled and you miss your connection, you may end up stranded. A direct flight or a connection with several hours between flights gives you a buffer.

Keep your confirmation number and ticket number written down or saved in your phone. Take a screenshot of your booking confirmation. If the airline's system goes down or you lose your phone, you will still be able to prove you had a ticket.

What to do if the airline refuses to rebook you

If the airline says it cannot rebook you on another flight for several days, ask to be rebooked on a competing airline. The airline is required to do this if it cannot get you to your destination within a reasonable time. Competing airlines are those that fly the same route.

If the airline refuses to rebook you or refund your ticket, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation. You can file online at the DOT website using your confirmation number and ticket number. The DOT will contact the airline and ask for an explanation. If the airline cannot justify its refusal, the DOT may order it to pay you.

You can also pursue the claim in small claims court in your home state. Bring your ticket, confirmation number, boarding pass if you have it, and any written communication with the airline. The airline may settle rather than appear in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get money back if my flight is canceled because of bad weather?

No. Weather is not the airline's fault under federal law, so you are not owed cash compensation. The airline must rebook you on the next available flight and provide meals and a hotel if you are delayed overnight, but no money payment is required.

What if I booked a non-refundable ticket and my flight was canceled?

A non-refundable ticket becomes refundable when the airline cancels the flight. You can ask for a refund of your ticket price, or you can accept a rebooking on another flight. The non-refundable restriction no longer applies once the airline cancels.

Can the airline charge me extra to rebook me on a different flight?

No. The airline must rebook you at no extra cost. If it tries to charge you a change fee or a higher fare, refuse to pay and file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

How long do I have to claim compensation for a canceled flight?

There is no federal time limit, but airlines often use state law limits as a defense. Most states allow claims within two to three years. Do not wait. Send your claim to the airline in writing as soon as possible, and keep a copy for your records.

What if my flight was canceled and I missed an important event?

The airline is not responsible for the cost of the event you missed, even if it was a wedding or funeral. You can only recover the cost of your ticket and any meals or hotel the airline was required to provide. If you want to cover the cost of missing the event, you would need travel insurance that covers cancellations.