A delayed or canceled flight is frustrating enough.
Trying to figure out what the airline owes you while standing in a crowded terminal makes it worse.
The rules are not identical in every situation, but there are a few important rights every U.S. traveler should know before heading to the airport.
If your airline cancels your flight and you choose not to travel, you are generally entitled to a refund — even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket.
The same applies when an airline makes a qualifying significant change to your itinerary and you decide not to accept the alternative transportation offered. Department of Transportation
The important distinction is this:
If you accept the rebooked flight and travel, you generally give up the right to a refund for the original ticket under these rules. Department of Transportation
For refund purposes, the Department of Transportation defines several situations as significant changes.
Examples include:
There are also protections involving accessibility-related itinerary changes. Department of Transportation
If you're entitled to a refund and decline the airline's alternative, the airline generally must return the money to your original form of payment rather than forcing you to accept a voucher.
For qualifying refunds, DOT says credit-card refunds generally must be provided within seven business days, while other payment methods generally have a longer window. Department of Transportation
This is where things get more complicated.
Meal vouchers, hotel rooms and transportation are not automatically guaranteed in every disruption.
They often depend on:
For example, when the disruption is considered controllable by the airline — such as certain maintenance, crew or operational issues — many major U.S. carriers have committed to providing meals after extended waits and hotel accommodations for qualifying overnight disruptions. Department of Transportation
Weather disruptions are different.
That's why it helps to check the Department of Transportation's Airline Customer Service Dashboard when things go wrong.
All of the major U.S. airlines listed on DOT's dashboard commit to rebooking passengers on their own airline at no additional cost after qualifying controllable disruptions.
But not every airline commits to putting you on another carrier.
Some do. Some don't. Department of Transportation
That distinction can matter enormously when flights are full.
If your trip starts unraveling, save:
Documentation makes it much easier to resolve a dispute later.
If your checked bag is significantly delayed, you may be entitled to a refund of your checked-bag fee after filing the appropriate mishandled baggage report.
DOT currently considers a domestic bag significantly delayed if it hasn't been delivered within 12 hours after the flight arrives. Different timing applies to international travel. Department of Transportation
Before your next trip:
You may never need any of it.
But if your flight gets canceled at 9 p.m., you'll be very glad you already know your options.
Know your rights. Know your options. Then decide what's best for your trip.