Cancelled or Delayed Flight? How to Be Compensated by the Airlines

An information display showing lists of canceled and delayed flights is seen at the Airport Express station as Typhoon Haima approaches Hong Kong, on Oct. 21, 2016, during a typhoon signal number eight warning. (Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images)

You had planned a long time for your trip and were looking forward to it. Now it looks like you are going to miss out because of a cancelled flight, and it does not look like any other flights are leaving soon for your destination. After such a disappointment, all you can think about now is how to get an airline refund—but knowing how to get it would sure help.

After COVID-19 struck our nation, airlines significantly reduced the number of staff they kept working. They reduced employees of all kinds—not even pilots, stewardesses, or ground crews were safe from the cuts. People just were not traveling anymore out of fear of getting the virus.

Once the threat of COVID started to ease, people began traveling again. Now the airlines have a different problem. They could not find enough staff to operate all the flights people wanted. The change back toward pre-COVID days happened suddenly.

When an Airline Refund Is Required

The Department of Transportation (DOT) declared that there are several occasions when an airline is required to provide you with a refund. The following situations are law—and when applicable, a refund must be paid.

When airline cancellations occur for any reason, you can get a refund. The exception is when you are offered an alternate flight or date and you accept it. If you are already partway to your destination, you will only get a partial refund.

Flight schedules that are only changed a little—or delayed a little—are not entitled to a refund. The DOT did not define how much of a “significant delay”—or change—is needed to qualify as “significant.” It leaves it up to the airlines to interpret the term.

Situations Where You Will Not Get a Refund

Buying a nonrefundable ticket for a flight does not need to be refunded if you cancel. It was not the airline’s fault that you cancelled. Also, if you get sick and cannot travel—or if you arrive at the airport late—you will not get a refund. A refund will also not be issued if you are unsatisfied with the experience for some reason—even if you purchased refundable airline tickets.

According to UpGradedPoints, you will not be reimbursed for your ticket if the airline notified you more than 14 days in advance. Even when given notice, the airline must take a couple more steps. They must also tell you of rerouting within two weeks to seven days before you were scheduled to leave—and it must be within two hours before the original departure time—and the arrival time must be within four hours of the original arrival time.

The airline could also notify you of a reroute within seven days if it departs within an hour of the original flight—and it must reach your destination within two hours of the original arrival time.

Offers to Rebook Your Flight

When you are offered to reschedule your flight after a flight cancellation, according to TheBalance, whether you accept the offer or not is up to you. If you accept, no refund will be issued.

Delay Time Varies

Each airline will interpret the phrase “significant delay” differently. TheBalance says that Delta requires a delayed flight to be 120 minutes or more, but United interprets it as 30 minutes or more. Before you fly, read the details on the airline’s website.

Rescheduling Problems

Although an airline will likely offer to reschedule your flight, it could lead to a problem. If you are part way to your destination, being able to get on another flight could take some time—even days—if it is on a holiday weekend.

The airlines have been adding staff since about April, but they are still nowhere near where they were pre-COVID. It means that there are not a lot of planes flying yet. While the airlines are trying to recover after the loss of so much business during the worst of the pandemic, they are still not near their former capacity.

Prepare for Delays

The New York Times recommends that you take steps to be prepared for a delayed flight. After all, you may get stuck at an airport for hours—or even days—if a large storm occurs, as many people discovered recently.

Before going to the airport, check for any expected airline delays. You want to do it 24 hours before flying. If you download the airline’s app, you can check it several times before going to the airport.

What Happens During a Lengthy Delay

According to the New York Times, American Airlines will put its delayed passengers in a hotel—if one is available. The delay must occur on the day of the expected arrival. JetBlue provides compensation ranging from $50 to $200 if the delay is more than three hours.

Getting Your Refund or Rescheduled Flight

If you are at the airport and discover airlines canceling flights, the first thing you should do is get in line at your airline’s ticket counter and try to get a refund or a rescheduled flight. Since this line may be long, you can try to reach your airline on your phone—which may enable you to have the matter settled before reaching the counter.

Getting a refund may not be easy. Airlines would rather give you a voucher. Travel.USNews warns that you should be careful of vouchers for two reasons: they have blackout dates and an expiration date. If you scheduled your flight through a travel agent, you need to talk to the agent to either reschedule or get a refund.

When you experience a delay, talk to an agent to see if you can get on another flight—without an extra charge. If that does not work, find out if the agent can put you on a flight from a different carrier. If you are delayed for several hours, find out if the agent can give you some amenities—possibly a voucher for a meal or a hotel stay.

Remember that if you have an airline delay or flight cancellation, the law says you are entitled to a refund. It could be in the form of cash or a voucher. Airlines have been notorious for trying to get out of it—but you need to be forceful—if need be—to get what the law says you are entitled to receive.

The Epoch Times Copyright © 2022 The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.