Flight Cancellation Compensation
Flight cancellations can be frustrating for passengers, disrupting travel plans and causing inconvenience. However, you have certain rights as a passenger and may be eligible for compensation in such situations. In this article we will discuss the rights of passengers when a domestic flight is canceled in the United States and when flights to or from Europe are canceled.

We will also delve into the amount of compensation passengers can receive for canceled flights in Europe and the proposed regulations by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, which aim to provide similar passenger rights and airline compensation for canceled flights in the United States.
Passenger rights for domestic flight cancellations in the US
When a domestic flight is canceled in the United States passengers have certain rights and may be eligible for compensation. Airlines are generally required to rebook passengers on the next available flight to their destination at no additional cost.
If the airline fails to provide reasonable rebooking options, passengers may be entitled to compensation under airline passenger rights regulations.
- Right to notification: Airlines are required to promptly notify passengers about flight cancellations. This notification should inform passengers of the cancellation reason and provide alternative options, such as rebooking or receiving a refund.
- Right to rebooking or refund: In the event of a flight cancellation, passengers have the right to choose between being rebooked on the next available flight or receiving a refund for the unused portion of their ticket. The choice between rebooking and a refund is entirely up to the passenger.
- Right to compensation (in some cases): Unlike EU regulations, there is currently no specific compensation requirement for flight cancellations within the United States, except for instances related to denied boarding due to overselling of tickets. However, it is always advisable to consult with the airline’s policies or contact the DOT for any potential compensation eligibility.
If your domestic flight is cancelled, check the airlines’ policy. We examined a broad range of major carriers, including United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest.