Your airline must rebook you or refund your ticket

When your flight is canceled, the airline is required by law to either put you on another flight to your destination at no extra cost, or refund your ticket price. You do not have to accept a flight three days later or a connection through a city you did not book. You can ask for the next available flight, even if it is on a competing airline, and the original airline must pay for it.

The refund option means the airline returns the full ticket price to your original payment method. This takes five to seven business days in most cases. You keep any frequent flyer miles you earned, but you lose the trip itself.

Start by contacting your airline directly—call the phone number on your confirmation email, not the general customer service line. Have your confirmation number ready. The airline's system may already show you available rebooking options on the spot.

Key Takeaways

  • Your airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination or refund your full ticket price within five to seven business days.
  • You can request a flight on a different airline if the original airline has no seats available that day, and they must pay for it.
  • If you are stranded overnight, the airline must cover a hotel room and meals under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, though some airlines dispute this for weather cancellations.
  • Check your airline's website and confirmation email for automatic rebooking offers before calling, as many airlines now rebook passengers without requiring a phone call.
  • If your flight was canceled due to weather or an airline staffing shortage, the reason affects what compensation you can request beyond the rebooking.

How to find out what flights are available right now

Your airline's website usually shows rebooking options when ready after a cancellation is announced. Log in with your confirmation number and look for a "Manage My Booking" or "Rebook" button. Many airlines automatically place you on the next available flight and send a new boarding pass to your email without you taking any action.

If the website does not show options, or if you want to see flights on other airlines, call the airline's customer service line. Have your confirmation number, passenger name, and destination ready. Tell the agent you want to know every available flight that day, including flights on partner airlines if the original airline has no seats.

If no flights are available that day, ask about the next morning. Airlines often have more seats available on early flights. If you are willing to drive or take a train instead, mention that too—some airlines will refund your ticket if you choose ground transportation.

When the airline must pay for your hotel and meals

If your flight is canceled and the airline cannot rebook you on another flight until the next day or later, the airline must provide a hotel room and meals under U.S. Department of Transportation rules. This applies to flights within, to, or from the United States. The hotel must be reasonable—a standard chain hotel, not a luxury property—and the airline must arrange transportation between the airport and the hotel.

Airlines often dispute whether they owe this for weather cancellations, claiming weather is "beyond their control." The rule technically says they do owe it even for weather, but enforcement is inconsistent. If your flight was canceled due to weather, ask the airline in writing whether they will cover the hotel. If they refuse, you can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation, though this does not recover money when ready.

For cancellations caused by the airline itself—a mechanical problem, crew shortage, or overbooking—the hotel and meals are not negotiable. Keep your receipts if you pay out of pocket; the airline must reimburse you.

Compensation beyond rebooking depends on the reason

The airline's reason for the cancellation determines whether you can request money beyond the rebooking. If the cancellation was caused by the airline—a maintenance issue, crew not showing up, or a scheduling error—you may be owed compensation of $400 to $800 depending on how long the delay is once you are rebooked. This is separate from the refund or rebooking itself.

If the cancellation was caused by weather, a security threat, or air traffic control problems, the airline does not owe compensation money, only the rebooking and hotel. Ask the airline in writing what caused the cancellation. Their answer will determine what you can request next.

Some airlines offer travel vouchers or miles as a gesture, especially if you are stranded for more than a few hours. These are optional—you can refuse a voucher and request a cash refund instead. Do not accept a voucher if you are not sure you will use it.

What to do if the airline will not rebook you

If the airline says they cannot rebook you for several days, or if they offer only a refund when you want to reach your destination, you have the right to book your own flight and ask the original airline to pay for it. This is called "rebooking at airline expense." You must book the lowest available fare to the same destination, and you must tell the airline you are doing this before you buy the ticket.

Call the airline and say: "I am requesting rebooking at airline expense. I will book the next available flight to [destination] and send you the receipt. Please confirm you will reimburse me." Get the name and employee ID of the person you speak to, and ask them to send a written confirmation by email.

Book the flight when ready after you have confirmation. Keep the receipt and all documentation. Send the receipt to the airline's customer service email address within 48 hours. They typically reimburse within two weeks.

If you miss a connection because of the cancellation

If your canceled flight was a connection and you miss your second flight as a result, the airline that canceled the first flight is responsible for getting you to your final destination. They must rebook you on their own flights or pay for a ticket on another airline. You do not have to pay for the second flight yourself.

Tell the airline agent that you had a connection and missed it because of the cancellation. Provide your original itinerary showing both flights. The airline will rebook you on the next available flight to your final destination, not just to the connection city.

Keeping records and filing a complaint

Save every email, text, and confirmation number related to the cancellation. Take a screenshot of the airline's website showing the cancellation notice and the date and time it was posted. If you paid for a hotel, meals, or transportation out of pocket, keep those receipts.

If the airline does not rebook you or refuses to refund your ticket within a reasonable time, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation. You can file online at the DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division website. Include your confirmation number, the cancellation date, and what the airline told you. The DOT investigates complaints and can fine airlines that violate the rules.

You can also file a complaint with your state's attorney general office or consumer protection agency. Some states have additional rules beyond federal law. Keep copies of all correspondence with the airline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get money back if I booked through a travel website instead of the airline directly?

The airline is still responsible for rebooking or refunding you, even if you booked through a third-party site like Expedia or Kayak. Contact the airline directly using your confirmation number—do not go back through the travel website. The travel website cannot force the airline to rebook you faster. Once the airline refunds you, the refund goes to the travel website first, and they send it to you, which adds a few days.

What if the airline cancels my flight and I decide not to travel at all?

You can request a full refund of your ticket price instead of rebooking. The refund goes back to your original payment method within five to seven business days. You lose any frequent flyer miles you earned on the booking. If you paid with a credit card, the refund appears as a credit on your card statement.

Do I get compensation if the airline cancels my flight due to bad weather?

No, you do not get compensation money for weather cancellations. The airline must still rebook you or refund your ticket, and must cover your hotel if you are stranded overnight. But the airline does not owe you $400 or $800 for the inconvenience. Compensation money is only owed when the airline itself caused the cancellation.

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

Most airlines process refunds within five to seven business days. If you paid with a credit card, the refund appears as a credit on your statement. If you paid with a debit card, it may take longer because the bank has to process it. If you do not see the refund after two weeks, contact the airline and ask for a reference number for the refund request.

Can I get a refund and also ask the airline to pay for a hotel?

Yes. If you choose a refund instead of rebooking, and the cancellation means you cannot travel until the next day, the airline still owes you a hotel room and meals for that night. Request both the refund and the hotel reimbursement in writing so you have documentation.