Your airline must rebook you or refund your ticket

When your flight is canceled, the airline is required by federal law to either put you on another flight to your destination at no extra cost, or refund your ticket price. The airline chooses which option to offer first—they will typically rebook you on their next available flight rather than issue a refund. If the rebooking gets you to your destination within one hour of your original arrival time, the airline has met its obligation; if it's later than that, you may be may have access to to compensation.

The refund must be issued to the original payment method within a set timeframe. If you paid with a credit card, the refund appears as a credit to that card. If you paid cash or with a check, the airline issues a check to you. You do not have to accept a travel credit or voucher if you want your money back—you can insist on a cash refund, though some airlines will push back on this.

Key Takeaways

  • Your airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination at no cost, or refund your full ticket price.
  • If the rebooking gets you there more than one hour late, you may be may have access to to compensation of $400 to $800 depending on the flight distance.
  • You can refuse a travel voucher and demand a cash refund instead, though the airline may take time to process it.
  • If the airline cannot rebook you within a reasonable time, you can book your own flight and ask the airline to reimburse you, though they may refuse.
  • Keep your boarding pass, cancellation notice, and receipts for any meals or hotels—you may need them to document what the airline owes you.

When you are may have access to to compensation money

Federal rules require airlines to pay you compensation if a cancellation is within their control and they do not rebook you on a flight that arrives within one hour of your original time. The amount depends on how far you were flying. For flights of 250 miles or less, the compensation is $275. For flights between 251 and 1,450 miles, it is $400. For flights over 1,450 miles, it is $800. The airline pays this on top of rebooking or refunding your ticket.

However, the airline does not have to pay compensation if the cancellation was caused by weather, air traffic control delays, security threats, or mechanical problems that were not discovered until after the plane was supposed to depart. These are called "extraordinary circumstances." If the airline knew about a mechanical problem before the flight was scheduled and canceled because of it, that is the airline's responsibility and you get compensation. The difference is whether the airline could have prevented the problem by maintaining the plane properly.

The airline will not volunteer this compensation—you have to request it. Send a written demand to the airline's customer service department with your booking confirmation, boarding pass, and a copy of the cancellation notice. Include the flight distance and the amount you are owed. If the airline refuses or does not respond within 30 days, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation or pursue the claim in small claims court.

What the airline must provide while you wait

If your cancellation means you will be delayed more than a few hours, the airline must provide meals and refreshments while you wait for the rebooking. If the delay extends into the evening or overnight, the airline must also pay for a hotel room and ground transportation to and from the airport. You do not have to ask for these—the airline is required to offer them. If they do not, keep your receipts and submit them to the airline for reimbursement.

The airline's obligation to pay for meals and hotels applies only if they are rebooking you on a later flight. If you choose to book your own flight instead, the airline is not required to reimburse those costs, though some airlines will do so if you ask. If you decide to cancel your trip entirely and take a refund instead, the airline does not owe you meals or hotel costs.

How to get reimbursed for your own expenses

If the airline does not provide meals, a hotel, or ground transportation, or if you paid for these things yourself before the airline could arrange them, you can request reimbursement. Send the airline an itemized list of what you spent, along with receipts. Include your booking confirmation number and the date of the cancellation. Send this by email or certified mail to the airline's customer service address so you have proof of delivery.

Airlines often deny reimbursement requests for expenses they did not directly cause or authorize. If the airline refuses, you can escalate the complaint to the Department of Transportation. The DOT cannot force the airline to pay, but a complaint on record can pressure them to reconsider, and it creates a paper trail if you decide to sue in small claims court. Keep copies of everything you send and every response you receive.

Rebooking on another airline or booking your own flight

If your airline cannot rebook you on another of their flights within a reasonable time—usually the same day or the next morning—you can ask them to rebook you on a competing airline at no extra cost. Most airlines will do this if their own schedule is too full. You do not have to accept a flight that arrives much later or requires a connection if a direct flight is available on another airline.

If the airline refuses to rebook you on another carrier and you decide to book your own flight instead, keep the receipt. Send it to the airline along with a request for reimbursement of the difference between what you paid and what your original ticket cost. The airline may refuse, especially if your new ticket was more expensive. In that case, you can pursue the claim in small claims court, though you will need to prove the airline acted unreasonably in not rebooking you.

What to do if the airline cancels multiple flights

During weather events or system failures, airlines sometimes cancel dozens of flights in a single day. When this happens, rebooking becomes difficult because the airline's own flights are full and other airlines are also dealing with cancellations. You may be told the earliest available flight is days away. In this situation, you have the right to refuse the rebooking and take a full refund instead. You do not have to wait for a flight that arrives three days late.

If you choose to rebook on a much later flight, the airline still must provide meals and hotel accommodations for the wait. If they tell you they have no hotel rooms available, ask them to pay you a daily rate instead—typically $100 to $200 per night depending on the city. Get this agreement in writing before you book your own hotel, or keep receipts if you pay out of pocket.

How to file a complaint if the airline does not comply

If the airline refuses to rebook you, denies you compensation, or does not reimburse your expenses, you can file a formal complaint with the Department of Transportation. Go to the DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division website and submit a written complaint that includes your booking confirmation, the cancellation notice, and a description of what the airline did or did not do. Include copies of any correspondence with the airline.

The DOT investigates complaints and can fine airlines for violations, though the fine goes to the government, not to you. The complaint creates an official record that can help if you later sue in small claims court. You can also contact your state's attorney general office, which sometimes pursues complaints on behalf of consumers. Small claims court is an option if the amount owed is within your state's limit—usually $5,000 to $10,000—and you are willing to represent yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to accept a travel voucher instead of a refund?

No. You have the right to a cash refund of your ticket price. The airline may offer a voucher first because it keeps the money in their system, but you can insist on a refund to your original payment method. If the airline refuses, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

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

Weather is an "extraordinary circumstance" that exempts the airline from paying compensation, but they still must rebook you or refund your ticket. If you believe the airline could have prevented the cancellation—for example, by discovering a mechanical problem earlier—you can dispute their claim. File a complaint with the DOT and include evidence of what caused the cancellation.

Can I book a flight on a different airline and make the original airline pay for it?

You can book your own flight and request reimbursement, but the airline is not required to pay more than the original ticket price. If your new ticket costs more, you may have to cover the difference yourself. The airline is only required to rebook you at no extra cost on their own flights or a partner airline.

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

Federal rules require refunds within a set timeframe, typically 20 days for credit card refunds and longer for checks. In practice, airlines often take several weeks. If you do not receive your refund within 30 days, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation and contact your credit card company if you paid by card.

What if I miss a connection because of the cancellation?

If your canceled flight caused you to miss a connecting flight, the airline that canceled the first flight is responsible for rebooking you on the entire trip at no cost. If the connecting flight was on a different airline, contact that airline as well—they may also rebook you. Keep documentation of both cancellations and all rebooking offers.