If your Thanksgiving flight is delayed or cancelled, the most important right in the U.S. is the right to a refund, not necessarily to cash compensation. Meals and hotels depend largely on your airline’s own commitments. This guide explains what the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) says you are entitled to, what airlines promise, and what to do at the airport. It covers flights within and from the U.S. and is general information, not legal advice.
Key takeaways
- If an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to a refund regardless of the reason if you choose not to travel or accept credits or vouchers, according to DOT.
- A significant change also qualifies: a departure or arrival 3 or more hours off for domestic flights, or 6 or more for international flights.
- DOT guidance says domestic passengers generally have no federal right to compensation for delays or cancellations. Involuntary bumping is the exception.
- Meals, hotels and rebooking on other airlines depend on each airline’s published commitments. Check your airline’s plan.
- Most U.S. airlines may not keep a domestic flight on the tarmac for more than three hours, with limited exceptions.
Are you owed a refund for a delayed or cancelled flight?
DOT’s refund page (last updated November 7, 2025) says you are entitled to a refund if the airline cancels your flight, regardless of the reason, and you choose not to travel or accept credits or vouchers. You are also entitled to one for a significant change if you decline the changed flight and any alternative compensation. DOT lists these changes:
| Significant change | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Departure earlier than scheduled | 3+ hours domestic, 6+ hours international |
| Arrival later than scheduled | 3+ hours domestic, 6+ hours international |
| Different origin or destination airport | Any change |
| More connections than the original itinerary | Any increase |
| Involuntary downgrade | You are owed the fare difference if you keep flying |
If you bought directly from the airline and decline a changed flight, a rebooking, a credit or voucher, or other compensation, the refund is automatic, and DOT says not responding counts as declining. You are not entitled to a refund if you take the changed flight, or if you hold a non-refundable ticket and the flight operates as scheduled. DOT’s page gives 7 business days for credit card refunds. It gives two different figures for other payment methods, 20 calendar days in one section and 20 business days in another, so check the official rule. Airlines may offer vouchers instead, but the airline must tell you a refund is available.
Do airlines have to pay compensation for a delay?
Generally not. A DOT consumer guide says domestic passengers generally have no federal right to compensation for delays or cancellations, unless they are involuntarily bumped, and that amenities such as meals are set by each airline. That guide is marked archived and may be superseded, so verify current rules with DOT. For international itineraries, the same guide says you may be able to seek reimbursement of expenses under Article 19 of the Montreal Convention by filing a claim.
What do airlines promise for meals and hotels?
DOT’s Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard lists commitments that airlines make when they cause a cancellation or significant delay. The wording is that a passenger gets a meal or meal voucher after waiting 3 hours or more for a new flight, plus hotel and ground transport for an overnight cancellation or delay.
| Airline | Rebook on another airline | Meal | Hotel (overnight) | Ground transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Allegiant | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| American | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Delta | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Frontier | No | Yes | No | No |
| Hawaiian | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| JetBlue | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Southwest | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| United | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
All nine airlines in that data commit to rebooking you on the same airline at no extra cost. DOT notes a missing commitment does not mean an airline will never help, since airlines may provide services in their discretion. Commitments apply when the airline causes the problem, so weather delays may be treated differently. Read your airline’s customer service plan to confirm.
What if you are stuck on the tarmac?
The DOT guide says most U.S. airlines may not keep a domestic flight on the tarmac for more than three hours unless the pilot decides a safety or security reason prevents taxiing to the gate, or air traffic control advises that it would significantly disrupt airport operations. On both domestic and international flights, airlines must provide food and water no later than two hours after the delay begins, keep lavatories operable, and make medical attention available if needed.
What happens if you are bumped from an oversold flight?
Airlines must seek volunteers before bumping anyone involuntarily. If you are bumped involuntarily, DOT’s guide lists minimum compensation based on how late your substitute flight arrives: none within 1 hour, at least 200% of the one-way fare (up to $1,075) for 1 to 2 hours, and at least 400% (up to $2,150) for over 2 hours or no substitute. Those figures are from a guide marked archived, so confirm current limits with DOT or your airline. Airlines may offer vouchers, but you may insist on a check.
What should you do at the airport?
- Check the airline app for rebooking options before joining the line.
- Ask what the airline will provide: meals, a hotel or ground transport. Compare that with its published commitments.
- Decide whether you want the new flight or a refund. If you decline a significant change, you are owed a refund.
- Keep receipts for meals, hotels and transport if you pay out of pocket.
- If a bag is lost or significantly delayed, file a mishandled baggage report. DOT says domestic bag fees are refundable if it is not delivered within 12 hours of arrival.
Make sure your phone keeps working while you rebook by setting up Wi-Fi calling and an eSIM backup. A cushion helps too, and our guide to a practical emergency fund explains how to build one. If your card is charged for an unwanted fee, see how to avoid shopping scams during the holidays, which also covers how to dispute charges.
FAQ
Can I get a refund if my flight is cancelled? Yes. DOT says you are entitled to a refund if the airline cancels, regardless of the reason, and you choose not to travel or accept credits or vouchers.
How late does a flight have to be for a refund? DOT lists a departure or arrival 3 or more hours off for domestic flights, or 6 or more for international flights, as a significant change.
Will the airline pay for a hotel? It depends on the airline. The DOT dashboard shows a hotel commitment for an overnight disruption the airline controls at most carriers listed, but not at Frontier.
Do I get cash compensation for a delay? Generally not for domestic flights, per DOT guidance. Involuntary bumping is the main exception.
For more, visit our Consumer Safety section.
Refund rules are from the DOT refunds page. Airline commitments are from the DOT Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard. Tarmac, bumping and compensation details are from DOT’s Fly Rights guide, which is marked archived. Rules change, so confirm with DOT or your airline. This is general information for U.S. travel, not legal advice.
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