The airline must rebook you or refund your ticket

When your flight is cancelled, 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 in full. You do not have to accept a flight days later or a connection that arrives much later than your original — you can refuse and demand the refund instead. The airline cannot force you to take a voucher or travel credit in place of cash.

The refund applies to the full ticket price you paid, regardless of how cheap the fare was. If you bought a non-refundable ticket, that restriction does not explore when the airline cancels; the cancellation overrides the ticket terms. You should receive the refund in the same form you paid — credit card refunds go back to your card, cash purchases refund as cash or check.

How fast you get the refund depends on the airline and your payment method. Some airlines process refunds within days; others take weeks or longer. If an airline delays a refund beyond a reasonable time, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation, which can order the airline to pay you.

Key Takeaways

  • The airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination at no cost, or refund your full ticket price — you choose which.
  • You are not required to accept a voucher, travel credit, or a flight that arrives much later than your original booking.
  • If the airline caused the cancellation (overbooking, crew scheduling, mechanical issues the airline knew about), you may be owed compensation beyond the refund.
  • The airline must cover meals and lodging if the cancellation forces you to stay overnight, and must provide a phone call or email to notify you of the cancellation.
  • If the airline does not refund you within a reasonable time, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

When the airline owes you money beyond the refund

If the airline caused the cancellation, you may be owed compensation in addition to the refund. Cancellations caused by the airline include overbooking, crew scheduling problems, mechanical issues the airline knew about beforehand, or lack of fuel. Cancellations caused by weather, air traffic control delays, or security threats do not trigger compensation — those are considered outside the airline's control.

The compensation amount depends on the length of your flight and how much notice the airline gave. For domestic flights cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, you are owed 25% of your ticket price. For cancellations with less than 7 days' notice, the amount is 50%. For cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice, it is 100% of the ticket price. These are the Department of Transportation minimums; some airlines pay more.

You do not have to file a claim when ready. You can contact the airline weeks or months later and request compensation. If the airline refuses, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation or take the airline to small claims court in your state.

What the airline must provide while you wait

If your cancellation forces you to stay overnight, the airline must pay for a hotel room. The airline is also responsible for meals and refreshments while you wait for the rebooking or refund. You do not need to ask — the airline is required to offer these without you having to demand them. If the airline does not offer, you can pay out of pocket and ask for reimbursement later.

The airline must also provide a way for you to contact family or friends — either a phone call, email, or text message to notify you of the cancellation and your options. If you are stranded at an airport far from home, the airline may also cover ground transportation to a hotel or to the airport for your rebooked flight.

Keep all receipts for meals, lodging, and transportation. The airline will ask for them when you request reimbursement. Take photos of hotel receipts and meal bills so you have proof of what you spent.

How to get rebooked on another flight

Contact the airline as soon as you learn of the cancellation. You can call the airline's customer service line, use the airline's website or app, or go to the ticket counter if you are at the airport. Tell the airline your original flight number and destination, and ask to be rebooked on the next available flight.

The airline will show you options — usually flights the same day, the next day, or a few days later. You can accept any of these, or you can ask to be rebooked on a different airline if the original airline has no flights for several days. If you choose a different airline, the original airline must pay for the ticket.

If the rebooking gets you to your destination significantly later than your original arrival time, you have the right to refuse and demand a refund instead. "Significantly later" usually means more than a few hours, but the exact definition can vary. If you are unsure, ask the airline in writing whether you have the right to refuse the rebooking.

Requesting a refund instead of rebooking

You do not have to accept a rebooking. You can tell the airline you want a refund of your ticket price instead. The airline must process this refund without penalty, even if your ticket was marked non-refundable.

Request the refund in writing if possible — email the airline's customer service address or use the airline's website form. Include your booking confirmation number, flight number, and the date of the cancellation. State clearly that you are requesting a refund rather than rebooking.

If the airline refuses to refund you, or if the refund takes longer than 30 days, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation. Include copies of your ticket, the cancellation notice, and any emails or messages from the airline. The Department of Transportation can order the airline to refund you and may impose a fine.

What to do if the airline delays the refund

Airlines are required to process refunds within a reasonable time — most do so within 7 to 14 days, though some take longer. If more than 30 days have passed and you have not received your refund, contact the airline again and ask for a status update. Request a specific date by which the refund will be issued.

If the airline does not meet that date, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation at dot.gov. Include your booking confirmation, the cancellation notice, proof that you requested the refund, and documentation of how long you have waited. The Department can order the airline to refund you when ready and may assess a penalty.

You can also file a complaint with your state's attorney general or consumer protection office. Some states have their own rules about refund timelines and can take action against airlines that delay refunds.

How cancellations differ from delays

A delay means your flight is running late but will still depart and arrive. A cancellation means the flight will not operate at all. Delays do not automatically trigger compensation or refunds — you are still expected to take the flight when it departs, even if it is hours late. Cancellations, by contrast, give you the right to a refund or rebooking.

If a delay is so long that you miss a connection or arrive so late that the delay becomes pointless, you may have grounds to refuse the flight and demand a refund. Contact the airline and explain the situation. If the airline refuses, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the airline force me to take a voucher instead of a refund?

No. The airline must offer you a refund in cash or back to your original payment method. A voucher or travel credit is the airline's preference, not yours. You can refuse and insist on the refund. If the airline refuses to refund you, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

What if I booked through a travel website instead of directly with the airline?

The airline is still responsible for the refund, not the travel website. Contact the airline directly with your booking confirmation number and request the refund. If the airline refuses, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation naming both the airline and the travel website.

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

No. Weather is considered outside the airline's control, so you are owed a refund or rebooking but not additional compensation. The airline must still cover meals and lodging if you are stranded overnight. If you believe the airline could have prevented the cancellation, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

How long does the airline have to rebook me?

The airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination. This is usually the same day or the next day, depending on flight availability. If the airline has no flights for several days, you can refuse the rebooking and demand a refund instead.

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 causes you to miss a connection, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your final destination at no extra cost. If that flight is days away, you can refuse and demand a refund instead.