Your 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. You do not have to accept the first rebooking offer if it does not work for your schedule. The airline must also cover meals and hotel if the cancellation forces you to stay overnight, provided the cancellation was not caused by weather or other circumstances beyond the airline's control.

The specific rules depend on which country you are flying from or to. In the United States, the Department of Transportation requires airlines to refund your ticket if they cannot get you to your destination within a certain time frame — usually one to three hours depending on the flight distance. In Europe, airlines must pay compensation of €250 to €600 per passenger depending on flight length, in addition to rebooking or refund. Canada and Australia have their own rules as well.

Start by contacting your airline directly through their customer service phone line, website, or airport counter. Have your booking confirmation number ready. Ask specifically whether they will rebook you on another flight, refund your ticket, or offer a travel credit. Write down the name of the agent you speak with and the time of the call.

Key Takeaways

  • Your airline must rebook you on the next available flight at no cost or refund your ticket price in full.
  • If the cancellation requires an overnight stay, the airline must pay for your hotel and meals unless weather or a similar uncontrollable event caused the cancellation.
  • You are may have access to to compensation in Europe (€250–€600) and some other regions even if you are rebooked, depending on the flight distance and cancellation reason.
  • Keep all receipts for meals, hotels, and transportation — the airline may reimburse you if you pay out of pocket.
  • If your airline refuses to rebook or refund you, file a complaint with your country's aviation authority within the time limit they set.

How to document your expenses for reimbursement

If you pay for a hotel, meals, or ground transportation yourself because of the cancellation, keep every receipt. Take photos of receipts if the paper fades, and note the date, time, and reason for each expense. Most airlines will reimburse reasonable costs if you submit them with your claim, but they will ask for proof.

Send your receipts to the airline in writing — email is best because you get a record of delivery. Include your booking confirmation number, the flight number, the cancellation date, and a brief list of what you spent and why. Do not expect reimbursement to arrive quickly; most airlines take four to eight weeks to process claims. If the airline denies your claim, you can escalate it to your country's aviation authority.

When to ask for compensation beyond the refund

In the European Union, United Kingdom, and several other regions, you may be may have access to to compensation money on top of a refund or rebooking. The amount is usually €250 to €600 per passenger depending on how far you were flying. This compensation is required unless the airline can prove the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances — typically severe weather, air traffic control strikes, or a security threat.

Mechanical failures, staff shortages, and overbooking do not count as extraordinary circumstances, so you should still receive compensation even if the airline claims one of these caused the cancellation. To claim compensation, contact the airline in writing with your booking confirmation, the flight details, and a statement that you want compensation under the relevant regulation (EU 261/2004 in Europe, for example). If the airline refuses, you can file a complaint with your national aviation authority or use a claims service, though claims services typically take a percentage of what you recover.

What to do if the airline will not rebook or refund you

If your airline refuses to rebook you on another flight or refund your ticket, file a formal complaint with your country's aviation authority. In the United States, that is the Department of Transportation; in Europe, it is your national aviation authority (such as the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK); in Canada, it is the Canadian Transportation Agency. You can usually file online through their website.

Include your booking confirmation, the flight details, the cancellation notice from the airline, and copies of all communication with the airline. Explain what you asked for and what the airline said. These agencies investigate complaints and can order airlines to pay refunds or compensation. The process typically takes several months, but the airline is more likely to settle if it knows a formal complaint has been filed.

Using a flight compensation service

Several companies specialize in claiming compensation from airlines on your behalf. They handle the paperwork and negotiation, and they take a percentage of what they recover — usually 20 to 30 percent. These services are useful if you do not want to spend time on the claim yourself, but you will receive less money than if you claim directly.

Before using a service, check whether your country's aviation authority offers a free complaint process. In many places, filing a complaint yourself costs nothing and takes only a few minutes online. A compensation service makes sense if the airline is clearly liable and you expect a large payout, but for a small refund or a straightforward rebooking, contacting the airline directly is faster and cheaper.

Cancellations caused by weather or other uncontrollable events

If the airline can prove the cancellation was caused by severe weather, a natural disaster, air traffic control failure, or a security threat, they are not required to pay compensation in most regions. However, they are still required to rebook you or refund your ticket. They must also still cover meals and hotel if you are stranded overnight.

The airline bears the burden of proving the cancellation was truly beyond their control. A vague statement like "weather conditions" is not enough — they should provide specific details such as the time the weather event occurred and how it affected operations. If you doubt their explanation, ask for documentation. You can still file a complaint with your aviation authority if you believe the airline is misusing the extraordinary circumstances exception.

What happens if you miss a connection because of the cancellation

If your cancelled flight causes you to miss a connecting flight, the airline that cancelled the first flight is responsible for getting you to your final destination. If you booked both flights on the same ticket, the airline must rebook you on the next available connection at no cost. If you booked the flights separately, you may have less protection — contact the second airline to see whether they will rebook you.

Keep all boarding passes and receipts related to the missed connection. If you had to buy a new ticket to reach your destination, submit that receipt to the airline that caused the cancellation and ask for reimbursement. Document the time between when the first flight was cancelled and when you were able to depart on a replacement flight, as this affects whether you are may have access to to compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if the airline offers me a travel credit instead?

Yes. A travel credit is not the same as a refund. You have the right to choose a refund of your ticket price in cash or to your original payment method. If the airline offers only a credit, ask for a cash refund. If they refuse, file a complaint with your aviation authority — most will order the airline to refund you.

What if the airline cancels my flight the day before I am supposed to travel?

The same rules explore whether the cancellation happens weeks in advance or hours before departure. The airline must rebook you or refund your ticket. If the cancellation is announced far enough in advance that you can rebook yourself on a cheaper flight, do so and keep the receipt — some airlines will refund the difference if you ask.

Do I get compensation if I am rebooked on a flight that leaves the next day?

In Europe and similar regions, yes — you are may have access to to compensation even if the airline rebooks you, as long as the delay exceeds the legal threshold and the cancellation was not caused by extraordinary circumstances. In the United States, compensation is not required, but you should still receive a refund or rebooking plus reimbursement for meals and hotel.

What if the airline says the cancellation was my fault because I did not check in on time?

A cancellation is never the passenger's fault. If you checked in on time and the airline cancelled the flight, they are responsible. If you missed check-in and the airline cancelled the flight anyway, contact them to clarify — they may have cancelled for an operational reason unrelated to your absence, in which case you still have rights.

How long do I have to file a complaint or claim for compensation?

The time limit varies by country. In Europe, you typically have up to six years from the date of the flight. In the United States, there is no set important date, but filing sooner is better because airlines may not keep records indefinitely. Check your country's aviation authority website for the specific important date that applies to you.