Flight Cancellation Refunds & Rights
Canceled flight? You are legally entitled to a prompt, full cash refund—even on non-refundable tickets. Don't settle for a voucher.
Your Rights Under US Rules
What US Department of Transportation rules and airline commitments say for this situation. Use it to frame your request and escalate if needed.
A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline cancels a flight, regardless of the reason, and the passenger chooses not to travel.
Refunds go to the original form of payment within 7 business days for credit cards, or 20 calendar days for debit cards, cash and other payment methods.
Most airlines offer free rebooking under their policies; DOT does not universally require rebooking on the next available flight.
Cancelled flight refund · American · Delta · United · Southwest · DOT complaint
Sources: DOT: Refunds · DOT: Fly Rights · DOT: Airline Customer Service Dashboard · 14 CFR Part 260
Last reviewed October 6, 2026. General information, not legal advice; rules and airline commitments change.
What to say to the airline
Keep the request factual, specific, and supported by the records you saved.
If you want to be rebooked, explicitly ask to be endorsed to another carrier if your airline has no availability.
If you choose not to travel, firmly state: 'Under DOT regulations, I am requesting a cash refund for my canceled flight to my original form of payment.'
Keep all receipts for incidental expenses if the cancellation leaves you stranded away from home.
Avoid: Do not click 'Accept' on an email offering a flight credit without reading the fine print.
Avoid: Do not let them tell you the ticket was 'non-refundable'. Cancellations override non-refundable clauses.
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