Guides · Bills and refunds

How to Get a Cash Refund for a Cancelled Flight

By Reza Kuweiti · October 29, 2026

If the airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you choose not to go, US rules say the refund is yours, not a voucher. Here is how to ask for it in writing.

1. Check if your flight qualifies

Under US Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, you can get the ticket price back if the airline cancels your flight, for any reason, and you choose not to travel or don't accept the new flight or credit it offers.

The same applies to a significant change, for example:

• The flight leaves 3 or more hours earlier, or arrives 3 or more hours later, than planned (6 hours for international flights)
• A different departure or arrival airport
• More connections than you booked
• A downgrade to a lower class of service (if you still fly, you get the fare difference)

Extras you paid for and didn't get, like a seat assignment or Wi-Fi on a cancelled flight, can be refunded too. If you took the changed flight, you usually aren't owed a refund. Rules change, so check the current rule on DOT's refunds page.

2. Think before you accept a voucher

Airlines may offer a travel credit, voucher or miles instead of money, but they must also tell you that you can choose a refund. If you want your money, don't accept the credit or the new flight. Read the screen carefully before tapping anything in the airline's app: accepting the alternative usually means giving up the cash refund.

3. Know when the money is due

• Once you turn down the alternative (or don't respond to it), the refund should be issued without you having to ask.
• It goes back to your original form of payment: within 7 business days for credit card purchases, and within about 20 days for other payment methods (DOT’s refunds page has the exact rule).
• Bought through a travel website? If that site's name is on your card statement, the ticket refund usually comes from the site. Fees for seats or bags are refunded by the airline.

4. No refund yet? Ask in writing

Use the airline's refund form or customer service email, and save a copy:

Hello,

My flight [flight number] on [date], from [city] to [city], confirmation [code], was [cancelled / changed by [number] hours] by the airline. I chose not to travel and did not accept a credit, voucher or new flight.

Please refund the ticket price of $[amount], plus $[amount] for [seat / bag / other fees], to my original form of payment, and confirm in writing.

Thank you,
[Your name]

If the reply only offers a credit, answer once: say again that you didn't accept a credit and that you are asking for the refund to your original payment.

5. If the airline still doesn't pay

• File a free complaint with DOT through its air travel complaint form. Attach your written request and the airline's reply.
• Ask your card issuer about disputing the charge. Card issuers have deadlines, so don't wait. The steps are the same as in How to dispute a double charge.

One note: DOT is currently not enforcing the refund rule when an airline only changes the flight number and rebooks you on a flight with no significant change. If your flight left at about the same time, that may not count as a cancellation.

6. Keep a simple record

Save the cancellation or schedule-change email, screenshots of what the app offered you, your written request, every reply and every case number. That record is what gets results if you have to follow up.

General information only, not legal or financial advice. Every company and card issuer has its own rules.