You are now entitled to compensation if your flight is delayed or canceled

Illustrative collage of vintage style planes, a watch, and a paper plane made out of a dollar bill — US travelers are now guaranteed to get money back if an airline does not transport them from point A to B as promised

(Image credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images)

No matter how nice your final destination may be, traveling is notorious for being a pain, largely due to flight cancellations or delays that lead to missed connections — not to mention the hassle of getting any compensation for all of that lost time.

The good news? Those days are hopefully over. Thanks to new rules enacted by the Department of Transportation in late 2024, you now are "guaranteed to get your money back when an airline doesn't transport you from point A to B as promised, without having to file any paperwork," said CBS MoneyWatch.

Can you get anything if your flight is delayed or canceled?

Put simply, yes. As of Oct. 28, "U.S. travelers are officially entitled to compensation from airlines for canceled or significantly delayed flights, per three new rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation," said The Points Guy.

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Under the new rules, cash refunds are owed if there is a cancellation or if a flight is "significantly changed," which includes the following situations:

A departure or arrival time that is more than three hours from the original time for domestic flights, or more than six hours from the original time for international flights
A change to the departure or arrival airport
An increase in the number of flight connections
A downgrade to a lower class of service
A connection that is at a less accessible airport or flights on a less accessible plane for an individual with a disability

Additionally, said The Points Guy, "travelers will be eligible for a checked bag fee refund if their luggage is not delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight arriving at their gate or within 15 to 30 hours for international arrivals." If you experience "disrupted inflight services, such as Wi-Fi, seat selection or entertainment," you are "now also entitled to a refund."

Refunds must be given promptly, meaning "within seven days for credit card purchases and within 20 days for other payments," said The New York Times, and they must be provided "in the original form of payment."

What steps should you take if your flight is canceled or delayed?

While previously, you may have needed to reach out to the airline or fill out paperwork, the new rules stipulate that refunds are automatic.

That said, there are a couple of caveats to getting money back in your vacation budget. For one, said The Points Guy, "the rules do not apply to travelers who accept the airline's offer to rebook them on a later flight when their original itinerary is canceled or significantly delayed." Second, while passengers are now entitled to a refund for significant baggage delays, they must "first file a mishandled baggage report with an airline" to get it, said CBS MoneyWatch.

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Additionally, said Condé Nast Traveler, even though the new rules are in place, that "doesn't mean they will always be perfectly followed." "One hurdle that passengers could run into is the airline trying to persuade you to take another form of compensation, like a voucher," while another is difficulty "getting the automatic refunds for extra fees paid for onboard services," said the outlet. As such, "flyers should be ready to be proactive" and "be sure to document everything."

Is there anything you can do to avoid delays or cancellations?

While the rule changes (and an awareness of your rights) can make a delayed or canceled flight easier to navigate, it is still preferable to avoid the headache in the first place. Some tips to minimize your chances include to:

Consider a credit card that offers some protections. "Several travel-related credit cards provide trip delay insurance that covers just these types of delays," said NerdWallet.

Take out a travel insurance policy. "Consider purchasing travel insurance with flight coverages — even a cheap travel policy can help protect your investment," said U.S. News & World Report. Depending on the policy, you may get covered if you face delays due to "bad weather, airline maintenance or personal medical issues," said NerdWallet.

Book strategically. Believe it or not, "certain booking strategies" may "increase the odds of on-time arrival," said NerdWallet. Some strategies to consider: "fly earlier in the day," "avoid layovers if your budget and route allow," and "book with airlines with strong histories of on-time arrivals."

Becca Stanek has worked as an editor and writer in the personal finance space since 2017. She previously served as a deputy editor and later a managing editor overseeing investing and savings content at LendingTree and as an editor at the financial startup SmartAsset, where she focused on retirement- and financial-adviser-related content. Before that, Becca was a staff writer at The Week, primarily contributing to Speed Reads.