Do I get a refund if my flight is canceled?

Yes. Under the US Department of Transportation automatic refund rule, if your flight to, from or within the United States is canceled and you decline the alternative offered, you should generally be owed a cash refund to your original form of payment rather than a voucher. This applies to non-refundable and basic economy fares.

How long does a delay have to be before I can get a refund?

US rules treat a change of three hours or more on a domestic flight, or six hours or more on an international flight, as significant. If you decline to travel after one, you should generally be owed a cash refund.

Does any US law pay cash for a delay?

Not for delays. The one US situation with a legally mandated cash payment is involuntary denied boarding, where the airline is generally required to pay 200 percent of your one-way fare up to 1,075 dollars, or 400 percent up to 2,150 dollars if you arrive more than two hours late, depending on the circumstances. It is payable in cash rather than a voucher on request.

How much is EU261 compensation?

EU261 pays 250 euros for flights up to 1,500 km, 400 euros for medium-haul, and 600 euros for long-haul, per passenger, for arrival delays of three hours or more and for cancellations notified less than 14 days ahead. UK261 mirrors this in pounds at 220, 350 and 520.

How much is flight compensation in Canada?

Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations scale compensation by airline size and by whether the disruption was within the airline's control. For a disruption within its control that gets you to your destination three or more hours late, a large carrier pays CA$400 to CA$1,000 per passenger depending on how late you arrive; small carriers pay CA$125 to CA$500 on the same scale. Food, drink and a hotel for overnight disruptions within the airline's control apply on top.

What am I owed for a delayed or lost checked bag?

If your bag is significantly delayed, US carriers must refund the checked bag fee you paid, and most cover reasonable interim purchases while it is missing. Once a bag is formally declared lost, typically after 21 days, airline liability runs up to about 4,700 dollars per passenger for US domestic trips and about 1,519 Special Drawing Rights for most international trips. File the mishandled bag report before you leave the airport.

Can I refuse the rebooking the airline offers me?

Yes. If the replacement flight is unacceptable, you can decline it, ask for the cash refund you may be owed, and book a better option yourself, including on a different airline.

Know your rights

Airlines might not tell you this number. We will.

Key things to know, under US DOT rules:

Canceled and you decline the rebooking? Full cash refund to your original payment method, on any fare type.
Bumped involuntarily? Cash, 200 to 400 percent of your one-way fare, up to $2,150 per passenger.
Delayed? No US rule pays cash for the delay itself.
Arriving 3+ hours late (6+ international)? That same full refund applies if you decline to travel.
Gate agents rarely mention any of this. Tell us what happened and know how to ask for it.

Using your flight . Adjust anything below if it looks wrong.

The rules in plain English

Six things worth knowing before you talk to anyone at the airline.

Canceled means a cash refund, not a voucher

Under the US DOT automatic refund rule, a canceled flight or a significantly changed one, meaning three hours domestic or six hours international, means a cash refund if you decline the alternative. No forms, and no voucher unless you choose to accept one.

Getting bumped is the one that pays cash up to $2,150

No US law pays cash for a delay, but involuntary denied boarding does. It is 200 percent of your one-way fare if you arrive one to two hours late, and 400 percent if you arrive later than that, payable in cash on request.

Europe pays a fixed amount, whatever your ticket cost €250 to €600

Departing the EU or UK, or arriving on an EU or UK carrier: a three hour arrival delay or a late-notice cancellation pays a fixed sum per passenger, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. UK claims are paid in pounds, not euros.

Canada scales it by airline size and fault CA$400 to CA$1,000

Under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, a disruption within the airline's control that gets you in three or more hours late pays CA$400 to CA$1,000 per passenger on a large carrier, scaled by how late you arrive; small carriers pay CA$125 to CA$500 on the same scale. Food, drink and a hotel for overnight disruptions within the airline's control apply on top.

The bag fee comes back, and a lost bag pays real money up to $4,700

If your checked bag is significantly delayed, US carriers must refund the fee you paid to check it, and most cover reasonable interim purchases while it is missing. Once a bag is formally declared lost, typically after 21 days, liability runs up to about $4,700 per passenger on US domestic trips and about 1,519 SDR on most international ones. File the report before you leave the airport.

Declining the rebooking is your leverage

If what they offer is bad, meaning tomorrow, the wrong airport, or two stops, you can decline it, take the cash refund, and book the better option yourself. Often that means a different airline entirely, which is the option they were never going to show you.

This is general guidance, not legal advice, and it is a summary of rules that change. Confirm anything you plan to rely on with your airline and with the DOT air consumer site, the UK CAA, or EU passenger rights.

Rules last reviewed: August 2026.

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Specific answers

Delayed 3 hours - refund? · Does the airline pay for my hotel? · Missed connection · Where is my checked bag? · EU261 vs US rules · American · Delta · United · Southwest · Glossary · Cancellation data

Owed compensation under EU261, UK261 or Canada's APPR and not keen to chase the airline yourself? Claiming direct is free and this page shows you how. If you want it off your plate, AirHelp files the claim and deals with the airline for you, for a cut of the payout only if it wins.

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Facts reviewed August 2026.