AI-assisted source summary. Read the scope and exceptions, then follow the original documents below.
Applies to
Flights to, from or within the United States
Time context
DOT guidance checked October 20, 2026
Sources checked
Ticket-price refund guidance, not a promise of extra delay compensation. Booking through an agent can change who handles the refund.
When the rule applies
DOT’s rule covers cancelled or significantly changed flights to, from or within the US when the passenger does not accept alternative transportation or compensation. The protection also covers foreign airlines on applicable routes.
DOT guidance includes scheduled arrival delays of at least three hours on domestic itineraries or six on international ones, as well as other significant changes. If you take the changed or replacement flight, this ticket-refund entitlement generally does not apply.
Keep the change notice and your response. Check who charged your card if an agency sold the ticket. Read the official refund guidance before accepting credit; do not assume you can both use replacement travel and reclaim the entire fare.
Original documents used for this summary. Multiple links from one publisher are not independent corroboration. Policies can change after the check date.
AI-assisted research, writing and translation by No Secrets, using the linked public documents. This is a source summary, not firsthand reporting or an independently audited investigation. No affiliate links are used in this article.
The date above records this research pass, not the date of every underlying event. The English and Chinese versions are AI-assisted summaries; the linked original controls if they differ.