US DOT Refund Rules: Getting Cash Instead of a Voucher for a Cancelled Flight

Your Saturday morning flight from Denver to Boston is cancelled the night before. The airline’s app offers a seat on Monday or a travel credit for the full fare. You no longer want to go. Do you have to accept the credit?

In the United States, the answer is no. Under the Department of Transportation’s refund rule, airlines must give you your money back — to your original form of payment — when a flight is cancelled or significantly changed and you choose not to travel. This guide explains how the rule works and how to make sure you get cash rather than credit.

Key Takeaways

• If a US or foreign airline cancels or significantly changes a flight to, from or within the US and you decline the alternative, you are owed a refund, not a voucher.
• A “significant change” includes departure or arrival moved by three hours or more domestically or six hours or more internationally, among other changes.
• Refunds are due within seven business days for card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.
• Do not accept a credit or rebooking in the app if you want your money back — choose the refund option or contact the airline in writing.

What the rule covers

The DOT’s rule, which took effect in late 2024, made refunds automatic in situations where passengers previously had to argue for them. It applies to US airlines and foreign airlines operating flights to, from or within the United States, and to tickets sold by travel agencies.

You are entitled to a refund when:

• The airline cancels your flight and you do not accept alternative transportation or compensation.
• The airline significantly changes your flight and you do not accept the change.
• Your checked bag is substantially delayed, in which case the checked bag fee is refundable.
• A paid extra service is not provided, such as Wi-Fi or seat selection, in which case that fee is refundable.

Refunds go back to the original form of payment. If you paid by card, the money goes back to that card. The airline cannot substitute miles or a voucher unless you agree.

What counts as a significant change

This is where the rule became much clearer. A significant change includes:

• A departure or arrival time moved by three hours or more on a domestic flight, or six hours or more on an international flight
• A change of departure or arrival airport
• An added connection to an itinerary that did not have one
• A downgrade to a lower class of service
• A connection through a different airport
• A change in aircraft type that significantly reduces amenities or accessibility features you relied on

If your 9:00 a.m. domestic flight is moved to 12:30 p.m., that is a significant change and you can decline it and get your money back. If it moves to 10:30 a.m., you generally cannot use this rule to claim a refund.

How fast the money must arrive

Airlines must issue refunds promptly:

• Seven business days when you paid by credit or debit card
• 20 calendar days for other forms of payment

If your refund has not appeared within those windows, contact the airline in writing and keep a record. If that fails, you can file a complaint with the DOT through its aviation consumer protection website. Airlines track and respond to DOT complaints.

The trap: accepting something by accident

The rule protects passengers who decline the alternative. In practice, the airline will often rebook you automatically and present the new itinerary in the app. If you tap through without reading, or use the travel credit, you may be treated as having accepted.

To protect your refund:

1. Look for the refund option specifically. Many airline apps and websites now have a “request refund” button on disrupted bookings.
2. Do not check in for the replacement flight if you do not intend to take it.
3. Put your request in writing if the app does not offer a refund — a short message stating that your flight was cancelled or significantly changed, that you decline the alternative, and that you request a refund to your original payment method under the DOT refund rule.
4. Screenshot the original schedule and the change notification. They prove the size of the change.

When a voucher might actually be better

Cash is almost always the safer choice, but sometimes the airline offers something more valuable. Some carriers offer credits worth more than the ticket price, waive change fees, or let you rebook on a different date at no extra cost. If you were going to fly with the airline again within the credit’s validity period, that can be a good deal.

Before accepting, check:

• The expiry date of the credit
• Whether it is transferable to another person
• Whether it can be used for taxes and fees
• Whether it applies to the full fare or only part of it

If any of those conditions are restrictive, take the refund.

What the rule does not cover

The DOT rule does not create cash compensation for delays, as EU261 does in Europe. You get your ticket price back if you decline to travel, but not an additional payment for your inconvenience.

Meals and hotels during disruptions are governed by each airline’s own customer service commitments. The DOT publishes a dashboard showing which major US airlines commit to meals, hotels and rebooking on partner airlines for delays and cancellations within their control. Check it before you fly so you know what to ask for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the rule apply to non-refundable tickets? Yes. The fare type does not matter when the airline cancels or significantly changes the flight and you decline the alternative.

What if I cancel the trip myself? The rule does not help when you choose to cancel a flight that is operating as scheduled. Your fare rules apply in that case.

Does it cover flights booked through an online travel agency? Yes. Ticket agents are also required to provide prompt refunds when the rule applies.

Do I get a refund if weather caused the cancellation? Yes. The refund right applies regardless of the cause of the cancellation, unlike compensation schemes that exclude weather.

How long do I have to request a refund? Ask as soon as possible. Waiting can make it look as if you accepted the alternative.

The bottom line

When your flight is cancelled or changed by three hours or more domestically, you choose between the new arrangement and your money back. If you want the money, do not drift into the airline’s default option — request the refund explicitly, keep screenshots, and escalate to the DOT if it does not arrive in time.