Does a flight delay qualify for a refund?

Only if it's a significant delay or change under DOT's definition: for example, arriving 3 or more hours later on a domestic itinerary or 6 or more hours later on an international one, a different airport, more connections or a lower class of service. And you must not accept the alternative offered.

How long does an airline have to refund a canceled flight?

DOT's rule says 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other forms of payment, refunded to the original form of payment.

Can the airline give me a voucher instead of a refund?

It can offer one, but if your flight was canceled or significantly changed you're entitled to a refund if you don't accept the voucher, credit, rebooking or other compensation.

What if the airline still doesn't pay?

Follow up in writing with dates and your case number, then file a complaint with DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection. If you paid by credit card, ask your card issuer about a dispute; the Fair Credit Billing Act has a 60-day window from the first bill with the charge.

PaperChore › Guides › Refunds

How to get a refund for a canceled or delayed flight (US DOT rule)

By the PaperChore team · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · Sources checked Oct 15, 2026

The short answer

If your flight to, from or within the United States was canceled or significantly changed and you did not accept the rebooking, travel credit, voucher or other compensation offered, the airline owes you a refund to your original form of payment. Under DOT rules it is due within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.

What counts as a "significant change"

DOT's regulation (14 CFR 260.2) defines a significantly delayed or changed flight. As a result of the airline's change, you are scheduled to:

depart 3 or more hours earlier (domestic) or 6 or more hours earlier (international) than originally scheduled;
arrive 3 or more hours later (domestic) or 6 or more hours later (international) than originally scheduled;
depart from or arrive at a different airport;
travel with more connections than your original itinerary;
fly in a lower class of service; or, for a traveler with a disability, connect through different airports or fly on a substitute aircraft that lacks an accessibility feature they need.

A short delay that doesn't cross those lines generally isn't a refund situation under this rule. A long delay that does cross them is.

The one thing that loses the refund: accepting the alternative

The refund is owed when you reject what the airline offers instead. DOT says the refund is due if you don't accept the changed flight, a rebooked flight, a travel credit or voucher, or other compensation such as miles. Its refunds page also counts not responding to an offer and not taking the alternative flight as not accepting it. If you fly the rebooked flight or take the voucher, you've generally chosen that instead of money.

So if you want cash back, say so clearly and in writing, and don't use the credit.

Step by step

Save the evidence. Screenshot or forward the cancellation or schedule-change notice, your original itinerary and your payment receipt.
Decline the alternative in writing. Use the airline's app, chat or email. Something like: "My flight [number, date] was canceled. I don't accept the rebooking or travel credit. Please refund the ticket to my original form of payment."
Submit the airline's refund request form if it has one, and note the date and any case number.
Wait out the window. 7 business days for a credit card purchase, 20 calendar days for anything else.
If it doesn't arrive, follow up in writing with the dates, your case number and the rule (see the sample wording below).
Escalate. File a complaint with DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection. If you paid by credit card, ask your card issuer about disputing the charge (more below).

Sample follow-up wording

Subject: Refund request, canceled flight [number] on [date], confirmation [code]

On [date] you canceled flight [number]. On [date] I declined the rebooking and travel credit and asked for a refund to my original form of payment. I haven't received it. Under the U.S. Department of Transportation's airline refund rule, a refund is due within 7 business days for credit card purchases (20 calendar days for other payment methods) when a flight is canceled and the passenger doesn't accept the alternative offered. Please confirm the refund of $[amount] by [date]. Records attached.

Fees for extras and delayed bags

DOT's 2024 rule also requires refunds of fees for extra services you paid for but didn't get, and of the checked bag fee when a bag is significantly delayed. For domestic itineraries, a bag counts as significantly delayed if it isn't delivered within 12 hours of your last flight's arrival.

A wrinkle: flights that were only renumbered

Under the rule, a flight that gets a different flight number counts as canceled. DOT has said it won't enforce the refund requirement for flights that are only renumbered, as long as you're rebooked on the new number and there's no significant change or delay. That pause runs until July 7, 2027. If the renumbering comes with a significant change (for example, a 3-hour shift on a domestic trip or a different airport), the refund rules still apply.

If you paid by credit card

The Fair Credit Billing Act lets you dispute charges for services that weren't delivered as agreed. The FTC says your letter must reach the card issuer within 60 days after the first bill with the charge was sent to you. For a ticket bought months ago, that window may already have closed. Contact your issuer anyway and ask what options you have. Our chargeback vs. dispute letter guide covers this in detail.

Booked through a travel site?

Start with whoever charged your card, and keep the airline's cancellation notice. The 2024 rule also puts refund and notice duties on ticket agents. See DOT's refunds page for the details.

Common questions

Does a flight delay qualify for a refund?: Only if it's a significant delay or change under DOT's definition: for example, arriving 3 or more hours later on a domestic itinerary or 6 or more hours later on an international one, a different airport, more connections or a lower class of service. And you must not accept the alternative offered.
How long does an airline have to refund a canceled flight?: DOT's rule says 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other forms of payment, refunded to the original form of payment.
Can the airline give me a voucher instead of a refund?: It can offer one, but if your flight was canceled or significantly changed you're entitled to a refund if you don't accept the voucher, credit, rebooking or other compensation.
What if the airline still doesn't pay?: Follow up in writing with dates and your case number, then file a complaint with DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection. If you paid by credit card, ask your card issuer about a dispute; the Fair Credit Billing Act has a 60-day window from the first bill with the charge.

Sources

This guide explains general rules in plain language. It isn't legal advice. Rules change; check the official source for your situation.

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