Your airline must rebook you or refund your ticket

When your flight is cancelled, the airline's legal obligation depends on where you are and what caused the cancellation. In the United States, the Department of Transportation requires airlines to offer you either a refund of your ticket price or a rebooking on the next available flight to your destination at no extra cost. You do not have to accept a flight that arrives more than three hours after your original scheduled time if you do not want to.

The airline must present both options clearly — rebooking and refund — and let you choose. Many airlines will try to rebook you first, but you have the right to ask for a cash refund instead. If the cancellation was caused by weather, mechanical failure, or crew issues, you are still may have access to to one of these two options, though compensation rules differ depending on the cause.

Key Takeaways

  • Your airline must offer you a refund or a rebooking on the next available flight at no additional cost when your flight is cancelled.
  • You can refuse a rebooking that arrives more than three hours late and demand a refund instead.
  • If the airline caused the cancellation (mechanical failure, crew shortage, overbooking), you may be may have access to to compensation of $400 to $800 depending on how late you arrive.
  • Weather and certain other circumstances may exempt the airline from paying compensation, though they still must rebook or refund you.
  • Request your refund in writing through the airline's website or customer service, and keep all documentation of the cancellation and your request.

When you are may have access to to cash compensation beyond a refund

The Department of Transportation distinguishes between cancellations the airline controls and those it does not. If the airline caused the cancellation — a mechanical problem, crew shortage, overbooking, or a scheduling error — you are may have access to to compensation. The amount depends on how late you end up arriving at your final destination: $400 if you arrive one to two hours late, or $800 if you arrive more than two hours late.

This compensation is separate from your refund or rebooking. You get the refund or new flight, and you also get the cash payment. The airline must offer this compensation automatically; you should not have to ask, but many do not volunteer it. If your airline does not mention compensation, contact their customer service department in writing and reference 14 CFR Part 259, which is the regulation that covers this.

Weather, air traffic control delays, and security threats are typically considered outside the airline's control, so you would not receive compensation in those cases. However, the airline still must rebook you or refund your ticket. The distinction matters: you always get one of those two options, but compensation only applies when the airline caused the problem.

How to request a refund instead of rebooking

When the airline offers to rebook you, you can decline and ask for a refund instead. Go to the airline's website and look for a customer service or cancellation page — most major carriers have a dedicated section for cancelled flights. You can also call their customer service line, but written requests create a record and are harder for the airline to ignore or delay.

State clearly that you want a refund of your ticket price, not a rebooking. Include your confirmation number, the original flight number, the date of cancellation, and your name as it appears on the ticket. If you paid with a credit card, the refund will go back to that card. If you paid cash or with a debit card, ask whether the airline will issue a check or credit to your account instead.

The airline is required to process refunds within seven business days, though many take longer. If you do not receive your refund within two weeks, follow up in writing again and reference the date of your original request. Keep copies of every message you send and every response you receive.

What to do if the airline offers a voucher instead of cash

Some airlines will offer you a travel voucher or credit toward a future flight instead of a refund. Under Department of Transportation rules, you can refuse this offer and insist on a cash refund. A voucher is not the same as money back — it locks you into flying with that airline again, often with restrictions on when you can use it or what routes it covers.

If you accept a voucher, read the terms carefully. Many vouchers expire after one year, cannot be transferred to another person, and cannot be used during peak travel times. If you need your money back now rather than a future flight, tell the airline representative that you do not accept the voucher and request a refund instead. Put this in writing if the airline pushes back.

Compensation for meals, hotels, and rebooking delays

If your rebooking means you will arrive more than a few hours after your original flight, the airline may be required to cover meals and a hotel room. The rules vary by airline and by how long the delay is. Some airlines cover these costs automatically; others require you to ask. Keep all receipts for food and lodging and submit them to the airline with your confirmation number and the original flight details.

If the airline books you on a flight that leaves the next day or later, ask about hotel accommodations before you leave the airport. If the airline does not offer one, you may be able to book a room yourself and request reimbursement, but confirm the airline's policy first — some will only reimburse hotels they have pre-arranged.

What happens to your baggage during a cancellation

If you are rebooked on another flight, your checked baggage will be transferred to the new flight at no cost. You do not need to collect it and recheck it yourself. The airline is responsible for getting your bags to your final destination on the same flight you are on, or on the next available flight if there is not room.

If you decide to take a refund instead of rebooking, you will need to collect your checked baggage at the airport. The airline cannot hold your bags hostage or charge you to retrieve them. If your bags were already loaded onto the cancelled flight, ask the airline to retrieve them for you before you leave the airport.

If the airline cancels multiple flights and you cannot get home

During widespread cancellations — bad weather, system outages, or staffing crises — airlines may not have another flight to your destination for several days. In this case, you still have the right to a refund, and you can use that money to book a flight with a different airline. The original airline is not required to pay for a competitor's flight, but you can spend your refund however you choose.

If you are stranded overnight or longer, document all expenses: hotels, meals, ground transportation. Some airlines will reimburse these costs if the cancellation was their fault, though you may have to pursue this through small claims court or a credit card chargeback if they refuse. Keep every receipt and photograph of your boarding pass and the cancellation notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the airline force me to take a flight that arrives three hours late instead of giving me a refund?

No. If the rebooking arrives more than three hours after your original scheduled time, you can refuse it and demand a refund instead. The airline must present both options and let you choose.

What if the airline says the cancellation was weather and refuses to pay compensation?

Weather is typically considered outside the airline's control, so compensation does not explore. However, the airline still must rebook you or refund your ticket. If you believe the airline is lying about the cause, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation, but proving the airline's negligence is difficult.

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

Airlines are required to process refunds within seven business days. In practice, many take two to four weeks. If you do not see the refund after two weeks, contact the airline again in writing with your original request date and confirmation number.

If I accept a rebooking, can I still ask for compensation?

Yes. Accepting a rebooking does not waive your right to compensation if the airline caused the cancellation. You get the new flight and the cash payment. You must request the compensation separately if the airline does not offer it automatically.

What should I do if the airline refuses to give me a refund?

File a complaint with the Department of Transportation at dot.gov/airconsumer. You can also dispute the charge with your credit card company if you paid by card. Keep all documentation of the cancellation, your refund request, and the airline's responses.