Key takeaways
- A domestic flight delayed 3 or more hours, or an international flight delayed 6 or more hours, counts as a significant change.
- If you decline the rebooking or credit the airline offers, you are owed a cash refund to your original payment method.
- Refunds are due within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.
- Checked bag fees are refundable when bags arrive more than 12 hours late on domestic flights (15 to 30 hours on international flights) and you file a report.
If your US flight is canceled or significantly changed and you choose not to travel on the alternative the airline offers, the airline must refund you in cash, not a voucher. That has been federal law since the US Department of Transportation's refund rule took full effect on October 28, 2024.
What counts as a "significant change"?
For the first time, the rule puts numbers on it. A significant change includes:
- a departure or arrival time that moves by 3 hours or more on a domestic itinerary, or 6 hours or more on an international one;
- a change to a different departure or arrival airport;
- more connections than you originally booked;
- a downgrade to a lower class of service, or a change of aircraft that significantly reduces the experience or amenities.
Before this rule, each airline decided for itself how long a delay had to be before a refund was owed.
Do I have to ask for the refund?
No. The refund is meant to be automatic once you decline the alternatives. The airline must return the full fare, including taxes and fees, to your original form of payment within 7 business days for credit card purchases and within 20 calendar days for other payment methods.
The catch is simple: if you accept the rebooked flight or a travel credit and fly, you are not owed a refund. Decide before you accept anything.
What about delayed bags and paid extras?
You can get your checked bag fee back if your bag is not delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight's arrival, or within 15 to 30 hours of an international arrival depending on flight length. You must file a mishandled baggage report with the airline.
You are also owed a refund for extras you paid for but did not receive, such as seat selection or in-flight Wi-Fi that did not work.
Is this the same as compensation for delays?
No. The US rule gives you your money back when you do not travel. It does not pay extra cash compensation for a delay you sat through. That is different from the European Union's EU261 regulation, which can pay a fixed amount for long delays on flights departing the EU or flown into the EU by an EU carrier.
Sources
Were you delayed on an international trip?
The US rule above covers refunds. For flights covered by EU261, you may also be owed compensation. Check your flight:
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Frequently asked questions
How many hours does a US flight have to be delayed to get a refund?
Three hours or more for a domestic itinerary and six hours or more for an international itinerary, provided you do not accept the alternative the airline offers.
Can an airline give me a voucher instead of a refund?
Only if you accept it. When a flight is canceled or significantly changed and you decline the alternatives, you are owed cash back to your original payment method.
How fast does the airline have to refund me?
Within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other forms of payment.
General information, not legal advice. Found an error? Tell us and see our corrections policy.