Travel guides / When things go wrong

Flight delayed or cancelled: your rights and refunds

When a flight is cancelled or changed a lot, you may be owed a refund, even on a non-refundable ticket. Here is what US rules say and what to do.

US rule: refunds for cancellations and big changes

Under a US Department of Transportation rule in effect since October 28, 2024, airlines flying to, from or within the US must give a refund, if you ask for it rather than accepting a new flight or credit, when:

• your flight is cancelled, or
• it has a significant change, such as departing or arriving more than 3 hours late on a domestic flight or 6 hours on an international flight, a change of airport, or more connections.

The refund is in the original form of payment, within 7 business days for credit cards and 20 days for other payments. Parts of the rule have been under review since 2025, so check the DOT's page for the latest.

Delays

US rules do not require airlines to pay cash compensation for delays. Many airlines promise meals or hotels for delays within their control; the DOT publishes an airline customer service dashboard showing what each one commits to.

Flights in Europe

EU rules (EU261) can give compensation for long delays and cancellations on flights leaving the EU, or arriving in the EU on an EU airline, unless the cause was extraordinary, such as bad weather.

What to do

• Use the airline's app to rebook quickly; lines at the desk are long.
• If you don't want the new flight, ask for a refund in writing rather than accepting a voucher.
• Keep receipts for meals and hotels.
• If the airline won't help, file a complaint with the DOT.

Handy tools

• Flight arrival time calculator

Keep reading

• Lost or stolen passport abroad: what to do
• Lost, delayed or damaged baggage: what to do
• REAL ID: do you need one to fly in the US?

Sources

• U.S. DOT: Aviation consumer protection (refunds, delays, dashboard)
• European Commission: Air passenger rights

Rules, fees and processing times change. Check the official sources above before you travel. Last checked October 2026.