The airline must rebook you or refund your ticket

When an airline cancels your flight, 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. You do not have to accept a flight that arrives more than three hours after your original scheduled time — if the airline offers one and you refuse it, you can then demand a refund instead. The refund must be issued to your original payment method within a set timeframe, usually seven to ten business days.

The airline's obligation depends on the reason for the cancellation. If the airline caused the cancellation — mechanical failure, crew scheduling, maintenance — you are may have access to to a rebooking or refund. If the cancellation was caused by weather, air traffic control, or a security threat, the airline still must rebook you or refund you, but you do not receive additional compensation beyond that. The distinction matters because it affects whether you can claim money damages, not whether you get home.

You should contact the airline when ready after learning of the cancellation. Most airlines now send notifications by text or email, but do not wait for them to contact you. Call the airline's customer service line, use their website, or go to the ticket counter if you are already at the airport. Have your confirmation number and ticket information ready. Ask specifically whether they are offering a rebooking or a refund, and on what flight they propose to rebook you.

Key Takeaways

  • The airline must either rebook you on another flight at no cost or refund your full ticket price within seven to ten business days.
  • You can refuse a rebooking that arrives more than three hours late and demand a refund instead.
  • If the airline caused the cancellation, you may be may have access to to compensation of $400 to $800 depending on the flight length, but weather and security issues are exceptions.
  • Contact the airline directly by phone, website, or ticket counter as soon as you learn of the cancellation — do not wait for them to reach out.
  • Keep all receipts for meals, hotels, and transportation while stranded, because you may be able to recover those costs if the airline caused the cancellation.

When you can claim money damages beyond the rebooking

Federal law allows you to claim compensation of $400 to $800 per person if the airline cancelled your flight and the cancellation was within the airline's control. The amount depends on how far you were flying: $400 for flights of 250 miles or less, $400 for flights between 250 and 1,350 miles, and $800 for flights over 1,350 miles. This compensation is separate from your ticket refund — you get both.

The catch is that the airline does not have to pay if the cancellation was caused by weather, a security threat, air traffic control, or an airport closure. These are called "extraordinary circumstances," and the airline is not liable for them. A mechanical problem that the airline could have prevented or detected beforehand is not an extraordinary circumstance. A crew member calling in sick is not an extraordinary circumstance. The airline's own scheduling error is not an extraordinary circumstance. If the airline says the cancellation was weather-related, ask for documentation — the National Weather Service records, airport closure notices, or official statements from the airport authority.

You do not have to accept the airline's first offer. If they deny your compensation claim, you can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation or pursue the claim in small claims court. Keep copies of your ticket, the cancellation notice, any rebooking offer, and any communication from the airline about the reason for the cancellation. These documents are your evidence.

Meals, hotels, and other costs while you are stranded

If the airline cancels your flight and you are stranded overnight, the airline must provide you with meals and a hotel room at no cost. If you are stranded during the day and the next flight is more than a few hours away, the airline should provide meals. The airline is also responsible for ground transportation — a shuttle, taxi, or ride-share — between the airport and the hotel, and between the hotel and the airport the next day.

The airline's obligation to pay for these costs applies only if the cancellation was the airline's fault. If the cancellation was weather-related or caused by an extraordinary circumstance, the airline is not required to pay for your hotel or meals, though many airlines do so anyway as a customer service gesture. If you pay for these costs yourself because the airline refused or was unreachable, keep all receipts. If you later win a compensation claim, you may be able to recover those costs as part of your damages.

Some airlines have agreements with specific hotels near major airports. When you contact the airline, ask whether they have a hotel partnership and whether they will book the room for you directly. If they do not, ask for a hotel voucher or a reimbursement code. If the airline offers nothing, book the hotel yourself and save the receipt. Take photos of your hotel confirmation and your meal receipts if possible — these make reimbursement claims easier to process later.

How to rebook yourself if the airline's options are bad

The airline is required to rebook you on their own flights, but they are also required to rebook you on a competing airline's flight if that is the only way to get you to your destination in a reasonable time. If the airline offers you a flight that arrives three or more hours after your original time, you can refuse it and demand a refund instead. You can also refuse the airline's rebooking and buy your own ticket on another airline, then submit a receipt to the airline for reimbursement — but this works only if the airline caused the cancellation and only if you act quickly and reasonably.

Before you buy your own ticket, contact the airline in writing — email is fine — and tell them that their rebooking option is unacceptable and that you are purchasing a ticket on another airline. State the reason: the rebooking arrives too late, it requires an unreasonable connection, or it does not serve your destination. Keep a copy of this email. Then buy the cheapest reasonable ticket you can find on another airline. When you submit your receipt to the airline, include a copy of your email explaining why you had to rebook yourself. The airline may push back, but you have a stronger case if you documented your reasoning in advance.

This approach carries risk: the airline might refuse to reimburse you, and you would then have to pursue the claim in small claims court or with the Department of Transportation. Use it only if the airline's rebooking is genuinely unreasonable — not just inconvenient — and only if you have already asked the airline directly and they have refused to offer a better option.

Filing a complaint with the Department of Transportation

If the airline refuses to rebook you, refuses to refund your ticket, or denies your compensation claim without a valid reason, you can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection Division. You can file online at the DOT website, by mail, or by phone. The DOT does not resolve individual disputes, but it tracks complaints and can investigate patterns of violations. A complaint on file creates a record that may help you if you pursue a claim in court.

When you file, include your ticket number, confirmation number, the flight number and date, the airline's name, a description of what happened, and copies of all relevant documents — your ticket, the cancellation notice, any rebooking offer, and any communication from the airline. Be specific about what the airline did or did not do. "The airline was rude" is not actionable; "The airline refused to provide a refund or rebooking" is. The DOT will send your complaint to the airline, and the airline has 30 days to respond. You will receive a copy of their response.

Filing a DOT complaint does not prevent you from suing the airline in small claims court. In fact, the DOT complaint can strengthen your case by creating an official record of the airline's conduct. Small claims court is usually the faster and cheaper route if the amount in dispute is under your state's small claims limit — typically $5,000 to $10,000.

What to do if the airline goes bankrupt

If an airline cancels flights and then files for bankruptcy, your ticket may become worthless. The airline is no longer required to rebook you or refund you because the company no longer exists. You become an unsecured creditor in the bankruptcy proceeding, which means you are at the back of the line behind employees, secured lenders, and the government. You may recover a small percentage of your ticket price, or nothing at all.

Your best protection is to use a credit card to purchase your ticket. If the airline fails to deliver the service — either by cancelling and not rebooking you, or by going bankrupt — you can dispute the charge with your credit card company. The credit card issuer can reverse the charge and refund your money, even if the airline is bankrupt. This is called a chargeback, and it is one of the few ways to recover money from a failed airline. Debit cards and direct bank transfers offer less protection, so avoid them for airline tickets if you can.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get compensation if the airline cancels my flight because of bad weather?

No. Bad weather is an extraordinary circumstance, and the airline is not liable for compensation. However, the airline still must rebook you on another flight or refund your ticket. If you incur costs for meals or a hotel while stranded, the airline is not required to pay for them, though many do as a courtesy.

Can I get a refund if the airline offers me a flight that arrives only two hours late?

No. Federal law allows you to refuse a rebooking only if it arrives three or more hours after your original scheduled time. A two-hour delay is within the airline's acceptable range, and you must accept it or forfeit your right to a refund.

What if I already bought a non-refundable ticket?

The airline's cancellation overrides the non-refundable ticket restriction. You are may have access to to a refund or rebooking regardless of the ticket type. Non-refundable terms explore only if you cancel the flight yourself, not if the airline cancels it.

How long does the airline have to refund my money?

The airline must issue a refund within seven to ten business days if you paid by credit card, debit card, or bank transfer. If you paid cash or by check, the timeline may be longer. Contact the airline's customer service to confirm the status of your refund.

Can I sue the airline for the cost of a missed connection or a ruined vacation?

Probably not. Federal law limits airline liability to the ticket price and direct costs like meals and hotels. You cannot recover damages for a missed business meeting, a ruined vacation, or emotional distress. Some state laws offer broader protection, but federal law is the baseline.