Airline passengers on flights to, from or within the United States are owed a full refund, including taxes and extra fees, when the airline cancels or significantly changes their flight and they choose not to travel, and the refund is due within 7 business days on a credit card. U.S. law still requires no cash compensation for delays, after the Department of Transportation withdrew its compensation proposal in November 2025.
When an Airline Owes You a Refund
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s refund rule, 14 C.F.R. Part 260, took effect for ticket refunds on October 28, 2024, and Congress wrote the core of it into federal law in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 42305). It applies to U.S. and foreign airlines on flights to, from and within the United States, and it covers nonrefundable tickets.A full refund of the fare, taxes and any extra fees is owed when the airline cancels a flight or makes a significant change, and the passenger does not accept the new flight, a rebooking, or a voucher or other compensation. The refund becomes due when:
• the airline offers no alternative flight or compensation;
• the passenger rejects what the airline offers;
• the passenger does not respond to a rebooking and the flight leaves without them; or
• the passenger does not respond to a voucher offer by the departure date.
A “significant change” under § 260.2 means any of the following:
• departure 3 or more hours earlier, or arrival 3 or more hours later, on a domestic itinerary — 6 hours on an international one;
• a different departure or arrival airport;
• more connections than the original itinerary;
• a downgrade to a lower class of service;
• for a passenger with a disability, a different connecting airport or a substitute aircraft without an accessibility feature the passenger needs.
DOT is currently not enforcing one piece of the rule. Since December 2025 it has declined to enforce the refund requirement when an airline only renumbers a flight and rebooks the passenger on it with no significant change, and in July 2026 it extended that policy to July 7, 2027 while it works on a further rulemaking. A renumbered flight that also departs or arrives hours off schedule still counts.
How Fast the Money Comes Back, and in What Form
The deadlines run from the date the refund becomes due:• 7 business days for tickets bought with a credit card;
• 20 calendar days for cash, check, debit or other forms of payment.
The refund goes back to the original form of payment unless the passenger agrees to something else, and the airline may not keep a processing fee. A voucher or travel credit replaces a refund only if the passenger affirmatively accepts it; ignoring an offer is not acceptance. Any voucher offered in place of a refund must be valid for at least five years, and the offer has to say plainly that a refund is available instead. When a travel agency or booking site was the merchant of record for the ticket, the agency owes the refund.
Bag Fees and Paid Extras
Checked bag fees are refundable when a bag is lost or significantly delayed, as long as the passenger files a Mishandled Baggage Report with the airline:• more than 12 hours after arrival on a domestic itinerary;
• more than 15 hours on an international itinerary whose nonstop segment to or from the U.S. is 12 hours or less;
• more than 30 hours when that segment is longer than 12 hours.
Fees for other paid services — Wi-Fi, a seat assignment, an upgrade — must be refunded when the airline does not provide the service through no fault of the passenger. The bag fee refund is separate from the airline’s liability for a lost or damaged bag itself, which is capped by regulation on domestic trips and by treaty on most international ones.
Delays: No Cash Compensation Under U.S. Law
Unlike Europe, the United States does not require airlines to pay cash compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight. DOT proposed such a rule in December 2024 and withdrew the proposal on November 17, 2025, concluding that the 2024 FAA law only authorized it to direct airlines to set their own reimbursement policies.What passengers do get comes from airline commitments. DOT’s cancellation and delay dashboard currently tracks nine large U.S. airlines — Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest and United — each of which has written promises into its customer service plan. According to the dashboard, all nine commit to rebooking on the same airline at no extra cost and to a meal or meal voucher when a disruption within the airline’s control leaves the passenger waiting 3 hours or more, and eight of the nine (all but Frontier) commit to a hotel and ground transportation for a controllable overnight disruption. None commits to cash compensation. Federal rules require airlines to follow their own plans (14 C.F.R. 259.5), which makes the commitments enforceable. DOT’s cancellation and delay dashboard lists each airline’s promises. In December 2025 DOT said it would not enforce those commitments when a disruption is caused by unscheduled maintenance required by a non-deferrable FAA airworthiness directive.
Tarmac delays have hard limits. Under 14 C.F.R. 259.4, passengers must be given the chance to get off the plane before 3 hours on a domestic flight or 4 hours on an international one, with exceptions for safety, security and air traffic control. Food and water must be provided within 2 hours, working lavatories and medical attention throughout, and status updates every 30 minutes.
Bumped From a Flight
Involuntary denied boarding is the one situation where federal law requires cash compensation. Under 14 C.F.R. Part 250, with limits in effect since January 22, 2025:• Domestic flight, substitute arrives 1 to 2 hours late: 200% of the one-way fare, up to $1,075.
• Domestic flight, substitute arrives more than 2 hours late or no substitute is arranged: 400%, up to $2,150.
• International flight from the U.S.: 200% up to $1,075 for a delay of 1 to 4 hours, and 400% up to $2,150 beyond 4 hours.
• Less than 1 hour late: no compensation.
Compensation must be offered in cash or by check. An airline may offer travel vouchers instead only if it tells the passenger that cash is available.
Cancelling Your Own Ticket
The refund rule covers flights the airline cancels or changes, not trips the passenger decides to skip. For those, three rules matter:• The 24-hour rule (14 C.F.R. 259.5(b)(4)): for a booking made at least seven days before departure, the airline must either hold the reservation at the quoted fare without payment or allow cancellation without penalty for at least 24 hours. The airline chooses which.
• Serious communicable disease (14 C.F.R. Part 262): a passenger barred from travel by a government order, or advised by a licensed treating medical professional not to fly during a public health emergency or because they are contagious, can be entitled to a transferable travel credit valid for at least five years. The airline may require documentation.
• Otherwise, the fare rules and the airline’s own change and cancellation policy decide what comes back.
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When the Airline Won’t Pay
DOT enforces the refund rule. Complaints go through DOT’s aviation consumer complaint process, and the 2024 FAA law raised the maximum civil penalty to $75,000 per violation. DOT’s enforcement record on refunds is substantial: in November 2022 it announced that six airlines — Frontier, Air India, TAP Portugal, Aeromexico, El Al and Avianca — had paid more than $600 million in required refunds, and it assessed more than $7.25 million in civil penalties against them for refund delays. In December 2023 it assessed a $140 million civil penalty against Southwest Airlines over the 2022 holiday meltdown under a consent order, with most of that amount credited toward compensation for passengers; a December 2025 amendment kept the $140 million assessment but credited the final $11 million Treasury installment toward Southwest’s investment in its operations.A credit card offers a second route. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act and Regulation Z, a charge for services not delivered as agreed is a billing error. A written dispute must reach the card issuer within 60 days of the first statement showing the charge, and the issuer must resolve it within two billing cycles and no more than 90 days. For debit card disputes, a separate set of rules applies; see credit and debit card dispute deadlines.
Refund Lawsuits and Why They Are Hard to Win
Federal law limits what passengers can claim in court. The Airline Deregulation Act preempts state laws relating to airline prices and services, so state consumer-protection claims are generally barred (Morales v. Trans World Airlines, 1992). In American Airlines v. Wolens (1995), the Supreme Court held that passengers can still sue for breach of an airline’s own promises, which is why refund cases are usually framed as breach of contract.The COVID-era refund cases show the range of outcomes. A consolidated case against Delta in federal court in Atlanta settled, with final approval in October 2023. A similar case against United was not certified as a class action in March 2024, and a group of cases against Frontier was dismissed in 2021. A class settlement over Turkish Airlines’ pandemic refund delays closed its claim process in 2023, and in Australia, Qantas agreed to a $105 million AUD flight credit settlement.
Newer cases focus on what passengers paid extra for. A proposed class action alleges Delta issued expiring e-credits on fully refundable tickets instead of returning the money, and attorneys are investigating whether American Airlines did the same. Both are allegations; neither airline has been found liable. Separately, passengers who bought domestic tickets between 2011 and 2018 can register for the $60 million domestic airline price-fixing settlement.
Flying to or From Europe
Europe’s rules are more generous. EU Regulation 261/2004 covers flights departing an EU airport on any airline, and flights into the EU on an EU airline. Passengers whose flight is cancelled, or who arrive 3 or more hours late, can be owed €250, €400 or €600 depending on distance. Exceptions apply, including extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather and, for cancellations, enough advance notice and an acceptable rerouting. The United Kingdom kept a parallel version after Brexit. The EU adopted a revision in 2026, Regulation (EU) 2026/2202, published in the Official Journal on October 2, 2026. It keeps the 3-hour threshold and the €250, €400 and €600 amounts, lists the events that count as extraordinary circumstances, and requires airlines to tell eligible passengers within 96 hours how to claim compensation. The revision applies from October 23, 2027; until then, the current rules govern.What to Save When a Flight Goes Wrong
• The original confirmation and receipt, showing the fare, taxes and every extra fee.• Every schedule-change or cancellation notice, with the time it arrived.
• Screenshots of the airline app or site showing the new times, and of any voucher offer and its terms.
• Written record of declining a rebooking or voucher, and the date the refund was requested.
• For bags: the Mishandled Baggage Report number and the time the bag was delivered.
• Receipts for meals, hotels and transportation during a controllable delay, to claim under the airline’s commitments.
• Any written reason the airline gave for the delay or cancellation, since commitments depend on whether it was within the airline’s control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do airlines have to refund a cancelled flight?
Yes, for flights to, from or within the United States. When an airline cancels a flight and the passenger does not accept a rebooking, a voucher or other compensation, the airline owes a full refund of the fare plus taxes and fees, even on a nonrefundable ticket. The rule is in 14 C.F.R. Part 260 and 49 U.S.C. 42305.
Do I get a refund if my flight is delayed?
Only when the delay or change is significant and the passenger chooses not to travel. Under DOT’s rule that includes a departure 3 or more hours early or an arrival 3 or more hours late on a domestic itinerary (6 hours on an international one), a change of airport, more connections, or a downgrade to a lower class of service.
How long does an airline have to refund my ticket?
Seven business days when the ticket was bought with a credit card, and 20 calendar days for other forms of payment, counted from when the refund becomes due under the rule.
Can an airline give me a voucher instead of a refund?
Only if the passenger affirmatively agrees to take it. Doing nothing does not count as accepting a voucher, and a voucher or credit offered in place of a refund must be valid for at least five years.
Do airlines owe compensation for delayed flights in the U.S.?
Federal law does not require cash compensation for delays or cancellations. DOT withdrew a proposal to require it on November 17, 2025. The nine large U.S. airlines on DOT’s cancellation and delay dashboard have committed in their customer service plans to free rebooking and a meal or meal voucher when a disruption within the airline’s control causes a wait of 3 hours or more, and eight of them to a hotel for a controllable overnight disruption. DOT treats those plan commitments as enforceable.
Do I get my checked bag fee back if my bag is late?
Yes, if the bag is lost or arrives more than 12 hours after a domestic flight, or more than 15 or 30 hours after an international one depending on flight length, and the passenger has filed a Mishandled Baggage Report with the airline.
Can I get a refund if I cancel a nonrefundable ticket myself?
Generally not under federal law, except within 24 hours of booking for reservations made at least seven days before departure, when the airline must allow either a free cancellation or a free hold. Passengers barred from travel by a government order or advised by a doctor not to fly because of a serious communicable disease can be entitled to a travel credit valid for at least five years.
How much does an airline owe me if I am bumped from a flight?
On a domestic flight, 200% of the one-way fare up to $1,075 if the substitute flight arrives 1 to 2 hours late, and 400% up to $2,150 if it arrives more than 2 hours late. On international flights from the U.S. the thresholds are 1 to 4 hours and more than 4 hours. The airline must offer cash or a check, not only travel vouchers.
What if I paid for Wi-Fi or a seat assignment I did not get?
The airline must refund a fee for an extra service, such as Wi-Fi or seat selection, when it did not provide the service and the passenger was not at fault.
What can I do if an airline will not give me a refund?
File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation, which enforces the refund rule and can impose penalties of up to $75,000 per violation. For a credit card purchase, a written billing-error dispute sent to the card issuer within 60 days of the first statement showing the charge can also recover the money.
Sources
• 14 C.F.R. Part 260 — Refunds for Airline Fare and Ancillary Service Fees (eCFR)• Federal Register — Refunds and Other Consumer Protections, 89 FR 32760 (April 26, 2024)
• Federal Register — Refund rule conforming amendments, 89 FR 65534 (August 12, 2024)
• Federal Register — Enforcement policy on renumbered flights, 90 FR 55999 (December 5, 2025)
• Federal Register — Extension of the renumbered-flight enforcement policy, 91 FR 41556 (July 7, 2026)
• Federal Register — Withdrawal of the airline passenger compensation proposal, 90 FR 51230 (November 17, 2025)
• Federal Register — Enforcement policy on airworthiness-directive disruptions, 90 FR 57138 (December 10, 2025)
• Federal Register — Denied boarding compensation limits, 89 FR 84815 (October 24, 2024)
• 14 C.F.R. Part 250 — Oversales (eCFR)
• 14 C.F.R. Part 259 — Tarmac delays and customer service plans (eCFR)
• 14 C.F.R. Part 262 — Travel credits for serious communicable disease (eCFR)
• FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, Pub. L. 118-63
• 12 C.F.R. 1026.13 — Billing error resolution (Regulation Z)
• U.S. DOT — More than $600 million in refunds returned to airline passengers (November 2022)
• U.S. DOT — Southwest Airlines $140 million penalty (December 2023)
• U.S. DOT — Southwest Airlines amended consent order, Order 2025-12-4 (December 5, 2025)
• U.S. DOT — Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard
• American Airlines, Inc. v. Wolens, 513 U.S. 219 (1995)
• Morales v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 504 U.S. 374 (1992)
• Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (EUR-Lex)
• Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 amending Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (EUR-Lex)
• Council of the EU — Final clearance for revised air passenger rights (July 13, 2026)
