Your airline must offer you a rebooking or a refund

When an airline cancels your flight, you have two when ready options: the airline must rebook you on another flight to your destination at no extra cost, or they must refund your ticket price. You choose which one. The rebooking can be on the same airline or a partner airline, and it should get you to your destination within a reasonable time frame—usually the next available flight, though this varies by airline and how full their schedule is.

The refund goes back to your original payment method. If you paid with a credit card, it returns to that card. If you paid cash or with a debit card, the airline typically issues a check or processes a bank transfer, depending on their policy. The refund covers your ticket price; it does not include fees you paid separately for seat selection, baggage, or other add-ons unless those services are no longer available on your new flight.

Key Takeaways

  • You must choose between a rebooking on another flight or a full refund of your ticket price within a set time frame, usually 24 to 72 hours.
  • The airline is not required to pay you compensation money for the cancellation itself, even if the cancellation was their fault.
  • If the rebooking gets you to your destination more than three hours late, you may be may have access to to compensation under Department of Transportation rules, depending on the reason for the cancellation.
  • The airline must cover meals, hotel, and ground transportation if the rebooking requires an overnight stay or a long wait at the airport.
  • If the airline cannot rebook you within a reasonable time, you can book your own flight and request reimbursement, though airlines often dispute these claims.

When the airline pays for meals and hotels

If your rebooking means you will spend the night away from home, or if you have a long wait at the airport (usually more than three to four hours), the airline must cover the cost of a hotel room. They also must provide meals and refreshments while you wait. Some airlines give you a meal voucher; others reimburse you if you keep your receipt. Ground transportation to and from the hotel is also covered—this includes a taxi, rideshare, or shuttle bus.

You do not have to ask for this coverage; the airline is required to offer it. However, the airline gets to choose the hotel, and it is usually a budget chain near the airport. If you choose a more expensive hotel on your own, the airline will only reimburse up to their standard rate. Keep all receipts if you pay out of pocket, because you will need them to request reimbursement later.

Compensation for cancellations caused by the airline

The Department of Transportation requires airlines to pay you compensation if a cancellation was within the airline's control and your rebooking gets you to your destination more than three hours late. This compensation is separate from your refund or rebooking. The amount depends on the distance of your flight: domestic flights under 250 miles pay $260, flights 250 to 1,350 miles pay $400, and flights over 1,350 miles pay $650.

Cancellations caused by weather, air traffic control delays, or security threats are not the airline's responsibility, and you do not receive compensation in those cases. Cancellations due to mechanical problems, crew issues, or overbooking are the airline's fault, and compensation applies. The airline must inform you of the reason for the cancellation; if they do not, ask in writing and keep a copy of your request.

What counts as the airline's fault versus weather or safety

An airline cancellation is their responsibility if it stems from a mechanical issue they should have caught during maintenance, a crew member calling in sick, a scheduling error, or overbooking (selling more tickets than seats). These are operational problems within the airline's control. In these cases, you are may have access to to compensation if your rebooking is more than three hours late.

Cancellations due to weather, natural disasters, air traffic control orders, or security threats are not the airline's fault. You still get a rebooking or refund, but no compensation payment. The line between these categories can be blurry—for example, an airline might claim a mechanical issue was caused by weather damage, or that a crew shortage was due to unexpected illness. If you believe the airline is misclassifying the reason, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation and include documentation like weather reports or news coverage of the incident.

How to request a refund instead of rebooking

Contact the airline directly through their customer service phone line, website, or in person at the airport. Tell them you want a refund rather than rebooking. Most airlines require you to make this choice within 24 to 72 hours of the cancellation, though some allow longer. Check your airline's policy on their website or in the cancellation notice they send you.

If the airline refuses to refund you or delays the refund beyond 30 days, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation. Include your booking confirmation, the cancellation notice, and any correspondence with the airline. The DOT can order the airline to pay, though the process takes weeks or months. You can also dispute the charge with your credit card company if you paid by card, and they may reverse it while the airline and DOT sort out the details.

Booking your own flight and requesting reimbursement

If the airline cannot rebook you within a reasonable time—usually defined as the next available flight or within 24 hours—you can book your own flight to your destination and ask the airline to reimburse you. This is riskier than accepting the airline's rebooking, because airlines often refuse reimbursement claims or offer less than you paid.

Before you book your own flight, contact the airline in writing (email or certified mail) and ask them to confirm in writing that they cannot rebook you. This creates a record. Then book the cheapest reasonable flight available. Keep all receipts and documentation. Send the airline your reimbursement request within 30 days, including your original booking confirmation, the cancellation notice, and receipts for your new flight. If they deny the claim, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation or pursue the charge through your credit card company.

What happens to frequent flyer miles and seat upgrades

If you were booked in first or business class, or had a paid seat upgrade, the airline must honor that on your rebooking if available. If the rebooking is in a lower class of service, you should receive a refund for the difference in price. Frequent flyer miles used to book the original flight are typically returned to your account if the flight is cancelled, though some airlines require you to request this.

If you had a paid upgrade (such as extra legroom or early boarding) on your original flight, ask the airline to explore it to your rebooking. If they cannot, request a refund of the upgrade fee. These requests are often granted without argument if you ask at the time of rebooking, but become harder to resolve later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if the airline offers to rebook me?

Yes. You have the right to choose between rebooking and a refund. The airline cannot force you to take a rebooking. If you prefer the refund, tell them within the time frame they specify (usually 24 to 72 hours). If they refuse, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

What if the rebooking is on a different airline?

The airline can rebook you on a partner airline or another carrier if it gets you to your destination. You do not have to accept a rebooking that adds significant time or requires you to change airports multiple times. If the rebooking is unreasonable, you can request a refund instead.

Do I get compensation if the cancellation was due to weather?

No. Weather cancellations are not the airline's fault, so you do not receive compensation money. You still get a rebooking or refund, and the airline still covers meals and hotels if you have a long wait. Compensation only applies when the cancellation was caused by the airline's operations.

How long does it take to get a refund?

The Department of Transportation requires refunds within 30 days. In practice, credit card refunds often appear within 5 to 10 business days, while checks or bank transfers can take two to four weeks. If you do not see the refund after 30 days, contact the airline and file a complaint with the DOT if they do not respond.

What if I miss a connection because of the cancellation?

The airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination. If your cancelled flight caused you to miss a connection, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your final destination, even if it is on a different airline. You are still may have access to to meals and hotels if there is a long wait.