Flight disrupted?

What is Flight Check's Disruption Desk?

Disruption Desk is a free tool that builds your airline complaint case in under 60 seconds. You tell us what happened (cancellation, delay, denied boarding, tarmac delay, or lost baggage), and we generate a complaint letter citing the exact federal regulation the airline violated, then follow up at Day 7 and Day 14 until you get a resolution.

How does Flight Check file my airline complaint?

We generate a pre-written complaint letter addressed to the airline's complaints department, citing the specific DOT regulation (14 CFR Part 259, 260, or 250) that applies to your situation. The letter includes your case number for tracking. We email it to you along with the airline's direct complaints email, phone number, and refund portal URL. At Day 7, we check if the airline responded. At Day 14, we send you a pre-filled DOT complaint form to escalate.

What are my rights when a flight is cancelled?

Under 14 CFR Part 260, when an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full cash refund to your original payment method within 7 business days (credit card) or 20 days (other payment). This applies even to non-refundable tickets. The airline must also offer rebooking on the next available flight at no extra cost. If the cancellation is 'controllable' (the airline's fault), most airlines also pledge meals, hotel, and ground transportation under the DOT Customer Service Dashboard commitments.

How long does it take to get a refund from an airline?

Airlines are required by federal law to process refunds within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods. In practice, airlines that receive a formal complaint citing the regulation respond in 7-14 days. Passengers who file a DOT complaint after no response report resolution within 2-4 weeks. Passengers who cite the specific law get their money back 3-5x faster than those who just call customer service.

What is a DOT complaint and why does it work?

A DOT complaint is a formal filing with the US Department of Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection Division. The DOT received over 90,000 airline complaints in 2025. When you file, the DOT forwards your complaint to the airline, which is legally required to respond. Airlines track their DOT complaint rate as a key metric, and each complaint costs them in regulatory scrutiny. This is why a DOT complaint often produces results when calling customer service does not.

Is this service really free?

Yes. Disruption Desk is completely free. We build your case, write your complaint letter, and follow up for 14 days at no cost. We do not take a percentage of your refund. We are not a claims company. Flight Check is an independent flight intelligence tool funded by advertising, not commissions.