Airline Refund Deadlines & Your Right to Payment
The DOT sets firm deadlines for airline refunds. If your money hasn't arrived, you have the right to demand it — and to escalate to a federal complaint.
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.
Required refunds must be issued within seven business days for credit-card purchases, or 20 calendar days for debit cards, cash, checks, and other payment methods.
This rule applies to canceled flights, significantly changed itineraries where you chose not to travel, and some significant delays.
Accepting a travel voucher or credit is voluntary — if the original disruption qualifies for a cash refund, you can still demand one even if you were previously offered a credit.
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.
Identify when your refund became due, including rejection of alternatives or another automatic-refund trigger, and cite the applicable seven-business-day or 20-calendar-day deadline.
State explicitly: 'This refund is overdue under DOT regulations and I am requesting it be processed immediately.'
If you were previously offered a voucher and accepted it under pressure, note that you were not informed of your right to a cash refund.
Avoid: Do not accept a travel credit or voucher as a substitute for a cash refund unless you genuinely prefer it — a refund means money back to your original payment method.
Avoid: Do not let the airline cite internal processing timelines that exceed the DOT-mandated deadlines — their internal processes do not override federal rules.
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