Flight Delays & Cancellations

When planning a trip, passengers should keep in mind that airlines practice non guarantee their schedules.  While airlines want to get passengers to their destinations on fourth dimension, in that location are many things that tin can – and sometimes exercise – brand it hard for flights to get in on time.  Some problems, like bad weather condition, air traffic delays, and mechanical issues, are hard to predict and frequently beyond the airlines' control.

In the United States, airlines are not required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled.  Compensation is required past U.South. law only when certain passengers are "bumped" from a flying that is oversold.

The Section's rules regarding flight delays and cancellations employ merely to flights that operate to, from, or inside the United States.  However, passengers flight between or within foreign countries may exist protected from flying delays and cancellations by the laws of another nation.

Flying Delays

My flight is delayed - am I entitled to money or other compensation from the airline?

  • No.  At that place are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other bounty when their flights are delayed.  Each airline has its own policies about what information technology will exercise for delayed passengers.  If your flying is experiencing a long delay, ask airline staff if they volition pay for meals or a hotel room.  While some airlines offer these amenities to passengers, others exercise non provide whatever amenities to stranded passengers.

How do I find out how long my flight volition be delayed?

  • Airlines are required to provide passengers with information about a change in the status of the flight if the flight is scheduled to depart within seven days.  Airlines are required to requite these status updates 30 minutes (or sooner) after the airline becomes aware of a status change. The flight status data must, at a minimum, be provided on the airline's website and via the airline's phone reservation arrangement.
  • Likewise, when a flight is delayed for 30 minutes or more, the airline must update all flight condition displays and other sources of flight information at U.S. airports that are under the airline'due south command within thirty minutes after the airline becomes enlightened of the problem.

Why are flights sometimes delayed for several hours?

  • It is sometimes hard for an airline to estimate how long a filibuster will be during its early stages.  When a flight delay unexpectedly becomes longer and longer, this is called a "creeping delay."  During "creeping delays," unexpected developments can cause a delay to be longer than anticipated.  For example, weather condition that was supposed to improve tin instead get worse, or a mechanical problem can turn out to exist more circuitous than the airline originally thought.

If my flying is delayed, can I switch to a different flight?

  • Perhaps.  If your flight is delayed, you can endeavor to suit another flying on your airline.  It is sometimes easier to make such arrangements by calling the airline, through the airline's website or mobile application, or via social media.  Before y'all decide to switch flights, check if the airline will accuse you a fee and/or a higher fare for changing your reservation.
  • If you find a flight with an available seat on some other airline, you tin ask the first airline to transfer your ticket to the alternative airline – this exercise could save yous coin by avoiding a fare increase.  Yet, there are no federal regulations requiring airlines to put you lot on another airline's flight or reimburse you if y'all purchase a ticket on another airline.  Also, proceed in mind that changing flights and airlines becomes more difficult and time consuming if you take checked bags.

My flight is significantly delayed – am I entitled to a refund?

  • It depends.  In some situations, you may be entitled to a refund, including a refund for all optional fees associated with the purchase of your ticket (such as baggage fees, seat upgrades, etc.).
  • DOT has not specifically defined "significant delay."  Whether y'all are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors – such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances.  DOT determines whether yous are entitled to a refund on a case by instance basis.

Flying Cancellations

What happens when my flight is cancelled?

  • If your flying is cancelled, most airlines will rebook yous for free on their side by side flight to your destination as long as the flight has available seats.
  • If your flying is cancelled and you choose to abolish your trip as a result, you are entitled to a refund for the unused transportation – even for non-refundable tickets.  You are also entitled to a refund for any purse fee that you paid, and any extras you may have purchased, such as a seat assignment.
  • If the airline offers you a voucher for future travel instead of a refund, you should ask the airline almost any restrictions that may utilize, such as coma and expiration dates, advanced booking requirements, and limits on number of seats.

If my flight is cancelled, can my airline put me on some other airline'south flight?

  • Yes.  While airlines are non required to put yous on some other airline's flight, they tin and sometimes do, and then it does non hurt to politely enquire your airline if it will transfer your ticket to another airline that has a flight with available seats.
  • Enquire the airline or check online to see if some other carrier has open seats and and so inquire if the commencement airline will transfer your ticket to that carrier.  Remember, however, that airlines are not required to practise this.  Also, be aware that finding available seats on another airline's flight may be hard, especially during holidays and other meridian travel times.

If my flight is cancelled, is the airline required to provide me with a hotel room, cab fare, a food voucher, or reimbursement for whatsoever other non-airline ticket costs associated with my trip?

  • No.  Airlines are not required to provide passengers with money or other bounty for costs that autumn outside of the cancelled airline ticket and fees tied directly to the airline ticket (such every bit baggage fees, seat upgrades, etc.) when flights are cancelled.
  • Each airline has its ain policies about what it will do for passengers whose flights take been cancelled.  If your flying is cancelled, enquire the airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room.  While some airlines offering these civilities to passengers, others practise not provide any amenities to stranded passengers.

Is an airline required to reimburse me for expenses if it cancels my flight and I am forced to miss my prowl, honeymoon, wedding, concert, or other action?

  • No.  Airlines are not required to reimburse you for any trip costs affected by the cancelled flying, such as a prepaid hotel room, a cruise, a vacation, concert or other tickets, or lost wages.

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Concluding updated: Wednesday, March 4, 2020