How to find out which airlines are cancelling flights today

The fastest way to see which airlines are cancelling flights is to check the FAA's Flight Delay Information System at faa.gov/air_traffic/delays. This page shows real-time cancellations and delays by airline, updated every few minutes. You can filter by airline name or airport code to see whether your carrier is affected.

Your airline's own website or app will also show cancellations for your specific flight. Log in with your confirmation number or ticket number, and you will see your flight status marked as "cancelled," "delayed," or "on time." Most airlines send email or text alerts to passengers on cancelled flights, though checking directly is faster than waiting for the notification to arrive.

FlightAware.com and FlightRadar24.com are independent tracking sites that show cancellations across all airlines. These sites pull data from the FAA and from airlines themselves, so they update in real time. You can search by flight number, route, or airline to see what is happening across the network.

Key Takeaways

  • The FAA's Flight Delay Information System shows cancellations by airline and airport, updated every few minutes, and is the official source for real-time data.
  • Your airline's website or app will show whether your specific flight is cancelled, and most airlines send alerts by email or text when a cancellation happens.
  • Independent tracking sites like FlightAware and FlightRadar24 let you search by flight number or route to see cancellations across all carriers at once.
  • Cancellations happen for different reasons — weather, mechanical issues, crew shortages, or air traffic control problems — and the reason affects what your airline must do next.
  • If your flight is cancelled, contact your airline within hours to rebook on the next available flight, because seats fill quickly on alternate routes.

Why airlines cancel flights and when it happens most

Airlines cancel flights for five main reasons: severe weather, mechanical problems, crew unavailability, air traffic control delays, and staffing shortages. Weather is the most common cause — thunderstorms, snow, ice, and high winds can ground entire fleets at an airport for hours. Mechanical issues range from minor repairs that delay a flight to major problems that force a cancellation.

Crew shortages have become more frequent since 2022. When a pilot or flight attendant calls in sick, or when a crew is stuck at another airport due to a previous delay, the airline may cancel rather than delay further. Air traffic control delays — when the FAA restricts flights into a busy airport — sometimes lead to cascading cancellations later in the day as planes and crews fall out of position.

Cancellations spike during winter months (November through March) because of snow and ice, and during summer thunderstorm season (June through August). Holiday travel periods also see more cancellations because airports are busier and there is less flexibility in the schedule. Early morning flights are less likely to be cancelled than evening flights, because delays earlier in the day have time to ripple through the schedule.

Which airlines have the highest cancellation rates

Cancellation rates vary by month and by route, so there is no single airline that always cancels more than others. However, the Department of Transportation publishes monthly reports showing which carriers cancelled the most flights. In recent years, regional carriers operating under major airline brands (like SkyWest flying as United Express) have had higher cancellation rates than the major carriers themselves.

Budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier tend to have tighter schedules with less buffer time, which means a single delay is more likely to cascade into a cancellation. However, they do not necessarily cancel more flights overall — they just have less flexibility to absorb disruptions. Major carriers like Delta, United, American, and Southwest have different cancellation patterns depending on the season and which airports they serve.

The best way to predict cancellation risk for your specific flight is to check historical data on FlightAware. Search your flight number and date, then scroll back through the past month to see how often that exact flight has been cancelled. A flight that has been cancelled three times in the past four weeks is more likely to be cancelled again than one with a clean record.

What to do when ready if your flight is cancelled

As soon as you see your flight is cancelled, contact your airline directly — do not wait for them to contact you. Call the phone number on your ticket or go to the airline's website and use the "manage my booking" tool. The airline will offer you a rebooking on the next available flight to your destination, usually on the same airline but sometimes on a partner airline.

Rebooking happens in order of when you contact the airline, so calling within the first hour gives you a much better chance of getting on a flight the same day. If you wait several hours, most seats on alternate flights will already be taken. Have your confirmation number ready, and be prepared to accept a flight at a different time or even a different airport if that is what is available.

If the airline cannot rebook you on a flight within a reasonable time, ask about your options: a refund, a travel credit, or a hotel and meal voucher if you are stranded overnight. The airline's obligation depends on the reason for the cancellation — weather and air traffic control issues are considered "acts of God" and airlines have fewer obligations, while mechanical problems and crew issues are the airline's responsibility.

Getting a refund versus rebooking on another flight

If your flight is cancelled, you have the right to a refund of your ticket price, but most airlines will push you toward rebooking instead. A refund takes weeks to process and comes back to your original payment method. Rebooking gets you to your destination faster, though possibly at an inconvenient time.

Request a refund in writing through the airline's website or by calling and asking the agent to note your request in the booking. Some airlines will offer you a travel credit (good for future flights) instead of a cash refund — this is not the same thing. A travel credit expires after a set period (usually one to three years) and can only be used with that airline, while a refund is money back to your card.

If the airline cancels your flight and cannot rebook you on another flight to your destination within a reasonable time, you are may have access to to a refund under Department of Transportation rules. "Reasonable time" is not defined precisely, but most airlines interpret it as the same day or the next morning. If they offer you a flight three days later, you can refuse and demand a refund instead.

Checking cancellation patterns before you book

Before you purchase a ticket, you can research how often a specific flight route gets cancelled. Go to FlightAware.com, enter your departure and arrival airports, and look at the "route statistics" tab. This shows you the on-time performance and cancellation rate for that route across all airlines over the past month or year.

Early morning flights (6 a.m. to 9 a.m.) have lower cancellation rates than evening flights because there is less time for delays to accumulate. Nonstop flights are cancelled less often than connecting flights, because a connection adds another opportunity for something to go wrong. Flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday is statistically safer than flying on a Monday or Friday, when airports are busier.

If you are flying during winter or summer storm season, book a flight that departs early in the day and arrives before evening. This gives you a buffer — if your flight is cancelled, you have time to rebook on another flight the same day rather than being stuck overnight. Avoid the last flight of the day to a destination, because if it is cancelled, you have no backup options until the next morning.

What happens to your luggage if your flight is cancelled

If your flight is cancelled and you are rebooked on another flight, your checked luggage will be transferred to the new flight automatically — you do not need to collect it and recheck it. The airline's baggage system is linked to your booking, so when your flight changes, your bags follow. Tell the rebooking agent where your bags are currently located (usually still at the departure airport) and confirm they will be on your new flight.

If you are rebooked on a flight that departs the next day or later, ask the airline whether your bags will be held overnight or delivered to your hotel. Some airlines will deliver bags to your hotel at no charge if you are stranded; others will hold them at the airport and you must collect them yourself. Get this in writing or have the agent note it in your booking.

If you decide to take a refund instead of rebooking, you will need to collect your checked bags from the airline's baggage office at the airport. Bags are usually held for several days, but do not leave them unclaimed for more than a week or the airline may dispose of them. Carry-on bags stay with you, so take those with you when you leave the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if the airline cancels my flight because of weather?

The Department of Transportation does not require airlines to refund tickets for weather-related cancellations, because weather is considered outside the airline's control. However, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight at no charge, or offer you a refund if you ask. Some airlines will also offer a travel credit as an alternative to a refund.

What if I miss my connection because my first flight was cancelled?

If your first flight is cancelled and the airline cannot rebook you on a connecting flight that gets you to your final destination on time, the airline is responsible for getting you there on the next available flight. You do not have to pay for a new ticket. If you miss your connection because of the cancellation, contact the airline when ready and ask for a rebook on the next flight.

How long does it take to get a refund after a cancellation?

Refunds typically take two to four weeks to appear back on your credit card or bank account, depending on your bank's processing time. The airline must issue the refund within a certain timeframe set by the Department of Transportation, but the actual deposit into your account depends on your financial institution. Check your airline's website for the refund status using your confirmation number.

Will my airline rebook me on a competitor's flight if mine is cancelled?

Most airlines will rebook you on their own flights first, but if they cannot get you to your destination within a reasonable time, they may book you on a competitor's flight at no extra charge. This is more common with major carriers that have partnerships. Budget airlines are less likely to rebook you on another airline, so ask specifically whether that option is available.

Can I get compensation money if my flight is cancelled?

The United States does not have a compensation requirement for cancelled flights, unlike Europe. You are may have access to to a refund or a rebook, but not cash compensation. However, if the cancellation was caused by the airline's negligence (not weather or air traffic control), you may be able to file a claim with the airline or pursue legal action, though this is rare and difficult to win.