Your flight is canceled

Open the app and start looking for a new flight while you go through the next steps.

Do these, in order

1. Grab a seat before anyone else does.Do all three of these at the same time:
   • Open the airline app
   • Get in line at the rebooking or customer service desk
   • Call the airline
   Seats on the next flights go in minutes. Whichever one helps you first wins. The app, phone number and website are in your full plan: tap "Get your full plan" above.
2. Find your own flight, then hand it over.Look at other hubs, nearby airports, and flights that get you partway tonight. An agent can say yes to a flight number in 30 seconds. Search Google Flights
3. Decide: go, or take the refund.If you don't want to fly anymore, you're owed a full refund, even on a nonrefundable or basic economy ticket. It goes back to your card within 7 business days. Decide before you use a new boarding pass, because flying it ends your refund right. One exception: if they move you to a replacement flight with the same airports, no extra stops, and times within 3 hours of the original, the U.S. DOT isn't enforcing refunds through July 7, 2027. Paid extras you didn't get, like a seat assignment or Wi-Fi, are refundable too.
4. Ask whose fault it was.Most mechanical problems and crew shortages count as the airline's fault. Weather and air traffic control don't. Starting October 19, 2026, a few other causes don't either, including some required maintenance, cyberattacks and medical emergencies. The answer decides whether you get meals and a hotel, not whether you can get a refund.Keep in mind: even if you're sure it's the airline's fault, the airline decides what caused the problem, not you. If you disagree, stay calm, keep your screenshots, and push back after your trip.
5. Save everything.Screenshot the cancellation notice and keep every receipt.
6. Leaving? Tell the airline first.If you decide to drive, fly another airline, or skip a flight, ask the agent to rebook or cancel it before it leaves. If you just don't show up, the airline can cancel the rest of your trip, including your flight home, and keep the money.

What to say

• “Was this cancellation within the airline's control?”
• “Can you put me on flight [number]? It shows open seats.”
• “I'd like a refund to my card, not a travel credit.”