Flight cancellations don’t just disrupt your plans—they can cost you money, comfort, and control.
But if you know your rights, you can turn a canceled flight into a refund, a hotel stay, and even cash back.
This page shows you exactly how to claim what’s yours, protect your trip, and earn rewards for traveling smart.
Whether you’re grounded or just planning ahead, these tools give you leverage when airlines fall short.
So, let’s get into it.
If your flight is cancelled:
- You CAN get a refund for the remaining legs of your flight – even if the tickets were non-refundable. If you choose to cancel your trip because of the canceled flight, you can get that money back
- You also have the right to get baggage fees and seat upgrade costs (think extra costs for the exit row) returned to you
- If your flight is canceled, most airlines will try to book you on the next available flight they have. In some instances, the airline will book you on another carrier
- If you decide not to cancel the rest of your trip, see if the airline will pay for a stay in a hotel and include vouchers for meals
Whether or not you take the airline’s offer to get booked on another flight or put you on a flight with another carrier, is totally your choice.
Just to be clear, assuming you do want to make other arrangements as a result of the canceled flight, the only thing you have the right to have returned to you is the cost of the ticket, seat upgrade costs, and baggage fees.
Some airlines will give you money for the inconvenience of having your flight canceled.
But remember, they aren’t obligated to do this. Nor are they required to set you up in a hotel.
If this is something you hope to happen should your flight get canceled, make sure you use an airline that is likely to offer covering a hotel stay and meal costs.
If you like flying discount airlines, there is a very good chance you won’t get anything beyond the cost of your ticket, baggage, and related fees.
m nJust remember to keep these things in mind if your flight is canceled:
- Hold onto your boarding pass and other travel documents
- Find out why the flight was canceled
- Request your refund
- Make a note of the arrival time at your destination
- Ask the airline to pay for your meals and drinks (remember, this varies by airline)
- DO NOT SIGN or accept ANY offers that could waive your rights
- Try to get the airline to provide you a hotel room
Claim What You’re Owed After a Canceled Flight—Refunds, Hotels, and Cash Back
As you can imagine, the airline is going to do it’s best not to give you back your money.
The U.S. Department of Transportation says in writing that if you decide not to continue with the flight because the airline canceled it, you have the right to get the remainder of your money.
But don’t be surprised if it becomes a fight.
Here are two ways you can make sure you get your money.
Use AirHelp
As I just stated, you can probably expect a fight with the airline to get your money back for a canceled flight even though the law says you are entitled to that money.
That’s where AirHelp comes in.
And they work with airlines all over the planet. Not just the United States.
AirHelp allows you to check – for FREE – to see if you are entitled to compensation for a canceled flight.
And one of the best parts?
Even if your canceled flight was within the last 3 years, you still could be entitled to compensation.
Remember, you have rights. Use this tool to get what you deserve.
Purchase Travel Insurance
Another way you can ensure you get your money back for a canceled flight is by purchasing travel or trip insurance.
The good thing about getting travel insurance is that it doesn’t just cover canceled flights.
It also covers:
- Illness or injury
- Death
- Natural disaster
- Terrorism
- Evacuation/repatriation
- Financial default of the travel company
- Lost or delayed luggage
- Damage to residence
- Change of employment
- Travel accidents
- Emergency medical situations
- Cancel for any reason
In order to know if the policy you get covers most or all of these items, run through the wizard to find a policy that fits you and your budget.
Turn Your Airline Ticket Into Cash Back, Travel Perks, and Real Savings
Hopefully, when you book your flight, everything will go smoothly. If it doesn’t, at least you now have the tools you need to get what is rightfully yours.
That leads us to another question.
How can you make money from purchasing your plane ticket in the first place?
What is WayAway Plus?
WayAway is a flight aggregator tool that helps you find the best airline prices.
“Ok,” you might say. “Everybody’s got one of those.”
And that’s true.
What the others don’t have is the ability to give you up to 5% cash back on the purchase of your airline ticket.
But it gets even better than that.
By joining WayAway Plus, not only do you get the 5% cash back on flights, you can also get cash back for using these other services:
- Airhelp – 10% cash back
- GetYourGuide – 8% cash back
- Rentalcars.com – 5% cash back
- Viator – 6% cash back
… plus cash back with other travel tools.
This is an example of the savings you could have on your next vacation if you were a WayAway Plus member:

- Round flight from Boston to Las Vegas for two ($245 x 2) = ~$25 cashback
- Round airport transfer for $130 = $13
- Hotel for a weekend for $962 = ~$96 cashback
- Car rental for $400 = ~$20 cashback
- Grand Canyon tour for $238 = ~$14
This comes out to $168 total cashback for just one trip, meaning that users can save over 7% using WayAway Plus!
You’ll be spending money on your vacation anyway. Why not get some cash back in your pocket for taking the trip?
If this makes sense, use our special link that will give you 10% off WayAway Plus and start saving on all your travel, be that vacation or other travel!
Travel Smarter: How to Get Refunds, Hotel Perks, and Real Cash Back
There hasn’t been a better time to be a traveler.
As you can see, there are so many resources available that in the past could only be obtained if you worked through a travel agent.
Now, you can search for your own travel protection and get cash back for taking the vacation you are spending money on anyway.
Share this page with friends and family so they can make sure to get what they’re entitled to with canceled flights and cash back for taking their trips!
FAQ – How to Claim Refunds, Hotel Perks, and Cash Back After a Canceled Flight
What refunds can I claim if my flight is canceled?
You can request a full refund for any unused portion of your ticket—even if it was marked non-refundable.
You’re also entitled to get back fees for baggage and seat upgrades.
These refunds apply whether you accept a rebooking or choose to cancel your trip entirely.Will the airline pay for my hotel and meals after a cancellation?
Some airlines offer hotel stays and meal vouchers if your flight is canceled, but they’re not legally required to do so.
If you want this coverage, choose airlines known for offering compensation beyond the ticket cost.
Discount carriers often limit refunds to the ticket and related fees only.Can I get compensation for inconvenience or delays?
Certain airlines may offer cash compensation for the inconvenience of a canceled flight, but this is voluntary.
You can use tools like AirHelp to check if you qualify for compensation—even for flights canceled up to three years ago.
Always verify your eligibility before accepting any offers that might waive your rights.What documents should I keep if my flight is canceled?
Hold onto your boarding pass, ticket receipt, and any communication from the airline.
Document the reason for cancellation and arrival time at your destination.
These records support your refund claim and help if you pursue compensation.How does travel insurance protect me from flight cancellations?
Travel insurance can reimburse you for canceled flights and cover additional risks like illness, natural disasters, and lost luggage.
Policies vary, so use a comparison tool to find one that fits your needs and budget.
Some plans even offer “cancel for any reason” coverage for maximum flexibility.How can I earn cash back from my airline purchase?
Join WayAway Plus to get up to 5% cash back on flight bookings.
You can also earn cash back on hotels, car rentals, tours, and travel services like AirHelp and GetYourGuide.
This turns your travel spending into real savings—automatically.
