Updated October 2026 — includes DOT automatic refund rule
Airlines love telling you "weather is out of our control, so we don't owe you anything." That's half true. They don't owe you meals, hotel, or ground transportation for weather cancellations. But under 14 CFR Part 260, they absolutely owe you a full cash refund — regardless of why the flight was cancelled. Weather, mechanical, crew — the cause doesn't change your refund rights.
These extras are only required for controllable cancellations (mechanical, crew, IT outages). Weather is classified as uncontrollable.
The DOT splits cancellations into two categories. Your refund rights are identical either way. The difference is whether the airline must cover your expenses while you wait.
Controllable (airline's fault)
Mechanical issues, crew scheduling, IT outages, operational decisions. The airline must provide meals after 3 hours, hotel if overnight, and ground transportation — plus the refund if you choose not to travel.
Uncontrollable (not the airline's fault)
Weather, air traffic control directives, security events. The airline still owes you a full refund, but is not required to pay for meals, hotel, or transportation. Many airlines provide them anyway as goodwill — always ask.
Airlines sometimes cite weather as the reason for a cancellation when the real cause is a crew timeout or mechanical issue that was made worse by earlier weather. If your flight is the only one cancelled on a route and other airlines are still flying, it probably wasn't really weather. Check FlightAware or the airport departures board — if similar flights departed on time, push back.
Screenshot the cancellation notification and departure board
Document that the flight was cancelled and what reason the airline gave. This is your evidence.
Check if other airlines are still flying your route
If Delta cancelled but United is still departing, the cancellation may not really be weather-related. This matters for meals and hotel eligibility.
Decide: rebook or refund
You can accept rebooking on the next available flight, or request a full cash refund. You don't have to accept vouchers or credits.
Ask for meals and hotel anyway
Even for weather, many airlines provide meal vouchers and hotel rooms as goodwill — especially for premium passengers or long delays. The worst they can say is no.
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Am I entitled to compensation for a flight cancelled due to weather?
You are entitled to a full cash refund for any cancelled flight, including weather cancellations. Under 14 CFR Part 260, the airline must refund your ticket to the original payment method within 7 business days (credit card) or 20 calendar days (other methods). What you are NOT entitled to for weather cancellations: meals, hotel, or ground transportation. Those are only required for controllable cancellations like mechanical issues or crew problems.
Does the airline have to rebook me if weather cancels my flight?
Airlines will typically rebook you on the next available flight at no extra cost, even for weather cancellations. However, they are not legally required to rebook you on a competing airline for weather events. If you don't want to wait for rebooking, you can request a full cash refund instead and book your own alternative travel.
Can I get a refund for a weather-cancelled flight?
Yes. The DOT automatic refund rule (14 CFR Part 260) requires airlines to refund cancelled flights regardless of the cause. Weather, mechanical, crew shortage, operational — the reason doesn't matter. If the airline cancels your flight, you get a full cash refund. This applies even to non-refundable tickets. You do not have to accept vouchers or travel credits.
What's the difference between controllable and uncontrollable cancellations?
Controllable cancellations are the airline's fault: mechanical issues, crew scheduling, IT outages, operational decisions. For these, airlines must provide meals after 3 hours, hotel for overnight delays, and ground transportation. Uncontrollable cancellations include weather, air traffic control, and security events. For these, airlines must still provide a full refund, but are NOT required to provide meals, hotel, or transportation. The refund right is the same either way — the difference is only in the extras.