Your airline must rebook you or refund your ticket

When a 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. This applies whether the cancellation was caused by weather, mechanical problems, crew issues, or operational decisions by the airline. The airline chooses which option to offer you—you do not get to demand both.

The refund must be in the original form of payment (credit card, cash, or voucher, depending on what you paid with). Some airlines try to issue travel credits or vouchers instead of cash refunds; federal law allows this only if you agree to it. If you did not agree and the airline refuses a cash refund, you have grounds to dispute the charge with your credit card company or file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

The rebooking must get you to your final destination, not just to the original connecting airport. If the airline books you on a flight that arrives significantly later than your original flight, you may be may have access to to compensation depending on the reason for the cancellation and your ticket type.

Key Takeaways

  • Airlines must rebook you on the next available flight or refund your ticket in full; they cannot straightforward cancel and keep your money.
  • A refund must be in the form you originally paid (cash or credit card), not a travel credit, unless you agree to accept one.
  • You are may have access to to meals, hotel, and ground transportation if the airline cancels and cannot rebook you the same day.
  • Compensation for delays caused by the airline varies by how late you arrive, but weather and mechanical issues typically do not may have access to.
  • Keep your booking confirmation, boarding pass, and receipts for any expenses the airline told you to cover.

What the airline must pay for while you wait

If the airline cancels your flight and cannot rebook you on another flight the same day, they must cover your meals and lodging. This includes hotel rooms, ground transportation to and from the hotel, and reasonable meal costs. You do not need to ask permission first—the airline is legally obligated to provide these or reimburse you if you pay out of pocket.

Keep all receipts. The airline may ask you to submit them for reimbursement, or they may arrange the hotel and meals directly. If you book your own hotel because the airline's options are full or unsuitable, choose a reasonable rate for your area. The airline is not required to pay for a luxury hotel, but they must cover a standard mid-range option.

If the cancellation happens late in the day and the airline cannot rebook you until the next morning, they must cover your hotel for that night. If you are stranded for multiple days, the obligation continues for each night until you are rebooked.

When you get compensation money on top of the refund

Compensation beyond the refund depends on the reason for the cancellation and how late your rebooking arrives. If the airline cancelled the flight due to their own operational decision, crew scheduling, maintenance they should have caught earlier, or overbooking, you may be may have access to to compensation of $250 to $1,350 depending on how many hours late you arrive at your final destination.

Cancellations caused by weather, air traffic control delays, security threats, or other circumstances outside the airline's control do not trigger compensation. The airline must still rebook or refund you, but they do not owe you extra money. This is where the reason for the cancellation matters most.

The compensation is separate from your refund. You receive both the refund of your ticket price and the compensation payment. If the airline offers you a travel credit or voucher instead of a refund, the compensation is still owed in cash.

How to document what happened and what you spent

Take a photo or screenshot of your original booking confirmation showing the flight number, date, and time. When the cancellation is announced, photograph or screenshot the cancellation notice from the airline's website or app—this shows the date and time you were notified. If you speak to an airline representative, note their name and the time of the conversation.

Save every receipt: hotel, meals, ground transportation, phone calls, and any other expenses the airline told you to cover. Write on the back of each receipt the date, what it was for, and which cancelled flight it relates to. If you paid by credit card, your statement will show the date and amount, but a physical receipt is clearer proof.

If the airline books you on a connecting flight that arrives much later than your original connection, take a screenshot of both itineraries showing the time difference. This matters if you later file a complaint about compensation.

What to do if the airline refuses to rebook or refund you

If the airline will not rebook you or refund your ticket, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation. You can do this online at the DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division website. Include your booking confirmation, the cancellation notice, and any communication with the airline about their refusal.

You can also dispute the charge with your credit card company if you paid by card. Tell them the airline cancelled the flight and refused to refund or rebook you. The credit card company will contact the airline and often resolves the issue faster than the DOT.

If you paid cash or by check, your options are more limited. Contact the airline's customer relations department in writing (email or certified mail) and state that you are filing a complaint with the DOT. Many airlines settle rather than face a formal investigation.

Cancellations due to weather versus airline decisions

Weather cancellations are the most common reason airlines cite, and they are usually not the airline's fault. However, the airline must still rebook you or refund your ticket. The difference is that weather does not trigger compensation money—only the refund or rebooking.

Mechanical problems are trickier. If the airline knew about the mechanical issue before the flight was scheduled and did not disclose it, or if the maintenance was deferred when it should have been done, the cancellation may be the airline's responsibility. If the problem was discovered during pre-flight checks and could not be fixed in time, it is usually treated as outside the airline's control.

Crew scheduling issues, overbooking, and operational decisions (like cancelling a flight to consolidate passengers onto another flight) are the airline's responsibility. These cancellations do trigger compensation if your rebooking is significantly delayed.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Weather is considered outside the airline's control, so you are not may have access to to compensation money. The airline must still rebook you on another flight or refund your ticket, and they must cover meals and hotel if you are stranded overnight. But the extra compensation payment does not explore.

Can I book my own flight and ask the airline to pay for it?

Not automatically. The airline is required to rebook you on their own flights or partner airlines at no cost to you. If you book a flight on a different airline without the airline's permission, they are unlikely to reimburse you. Ask the airline first whether they will pay for you to fly with another carrier, and get that agreement in writing before you book.

What if the airline cancels and books me on a flight three days later?

The airline must cover your meals and hotel for all three nights. If the delay is that long, you may also be may have access to to compensation if the cancellation was the airline's fault. File a complaint with the DOT and include the original flight date, the rebooking date, and the reason the airline gave for the cancellation.

Does my travel insurance cover a cancelled flight?

Travel insurance policies vary widely. Some cover cancellations caused by the airline, others only cover cancellations caused by weather or illness. Check your policy documents or contact your insurance company before the flight. Insurance does not replace the airline's legal obligation to rebook or refund you.

Can I get a refund if I booked a non-refundable ticket?

Yes. When the airline cancels the flight, your ticket becomes refundable regardless of the original terms. The airline cannot keep your money because they cancelled. Non-refundable terms only explore when you cancel; when the airline cancels, you have the right to a refund or rebooking.