Updated October 2026 — includes DOT automatic refund rule
If the airline cancelled or significantly delayed your flight, you are legally owed a cash refund under 14 CFR Part 260. If they're refusing, stalling, or pushing vouchers, you have real leverage. Most refund disputes resolve at step 1 or 2. Step 3 is the nuclear option — and it works.
Most refund requests fail because they're vague. A formal letter that cites the regulation and states the specific refund amount gets taken seriously. Your letter should include:
If the airline doesn't respond within 14 days or refuses your refund, file a formal complaint with the Department of Transportation. Airlines are required to respond to every DOT complaint, and these complaints become part of their public record.
How to file:
If the airline still won't pay, go through your credit card company. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you can dispute charges for services not rendered. A cancelled flight that wasn't refunded is a textbook case.
What you'll need:
You typically have 60 days from the statement date to file a dispute. Most credit card companies side with the cardholder when the service was not provided. The chargeback process takes 30-90 days.
Send complaint letter to airline
If no response, file DOT complaint
Airline responds to DOT complaint (required)
If still unresolved, file credit card chargeback
Chargeback resolved — money back on your card
Get your free complaint letter
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What do I do if the airline refuses my refund?
Start with a formal written complaint to the airline citing 14 CFR Part 260, which requires automatic refunds for cancelled or significantly delayed flights. If the airline doesn't respond within 14 days or still refuses, file a DOT complaint at airconsumerprotection.dot.gov. As a last resort, file a credit card chargeback under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Airlines respond to DOT complaints because they become public record and affect the airline's compliance ratings.
Does filing a DOT complaint actually work?
Yes. Airlines are required to respond to every DOT complaint, and these complaints become part of the airline's public record. The DOT publishes complaint statistics that affect airline reputation and can trigger enforcement actions. In many cases, airlines resolve the issue quickly once a DOT complaint is filed — it's cheaper to refund you than to deal with a formal investigation. The DOT received over 100,000 airline complaints in 2025 and has increased enforcement under the new refund rules.
Can I do a chargeback on an airline ticket?
Yes. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you can dispute charges for services not rendered. If your flight was cancelled and the airline won't refund you, contact your credit card issuer and file a dispute. Provide documentation: the cancellation notification, your refund request, the airline's refusal or non-response, and a reference to 14 CFR Part 260. Most credit card companies side with the cardholder when the service was not provided. You typically have 60 days from the statement date to file.
How long does a DOT complaint take?
The airline is required to acknowledge your DOT complaint within 30 days and provide a substantive response within 60 days. In practice, many airlines respond faster — often within 1-2 weeks — because unresolved DOT complaints hurt their compliance record. The DOT does not mediate individual disputes but tracks complaints and uses them for enforcement decisions. Filing the complaint often prompts the airline to resolve your issue directly.