What you're owed if your flight is cancelled

Delta under federal investigation after thousands of flights canceled in July

The Transportation Department launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines' treatment of passengers in July after the carrier's slow recovery from global IT outages caused it to cancel more than 5,000 flights.

If your holiday flight is canceled or significantly delayed this year and it’s not because of weather or air traffic problems, you have the right to a cash refund "without headaches or haggling," according to new federal rules.

The Transportation Security Administration is preparing for the busiest Thanksgiving week on record, with about 18.3 million people expected to be screened from Tuesday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Dec. 2.

TSA predicts the busiest travel days will be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. More than 2.8 million people are expected to be screened on Tuesday, Nov. 26, about 2.9 million people on Wednesday, Nov. 27 and more than 3 million people on Sunday, Dec. 1.

A flight information board shows multiple delays and some cancellations in flight departures from Dulles International Airport on July 19, 2024 in Dulles, Virginia. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)

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There’s bound to be at least a few canceled flights.

New federal regulations that took effect in late October require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for "controllable" delayed and canceled flights, and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation.

Here’s what to know about the new rules.

What is considered a controllable cancellation?

"Controllable" reasons for flight delays and cancellations include:

maintenance issues
crew problems
cabin cleaning
baggage loading
fueling

Weather and air traffic control flow problems do not qualify for automatic refunds, according to the Department of Transportation.

What you’re owed for canceled flights or ‘significant’ delays

According to the Transportation Department, airlines are required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for controllable canceled flights and "significant" delays. The new rules define a significant delay as lasting at least three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones.

Airlines are still allowed to offer another flight or a travel credit instead, but consumers can reject the offer and take cash instead.

What you’re owed for checked bags

The rule will also apply to refunds of checked-bag fees if the bag isn’t delivered within 12 hours for domestic flights or 15 to 30 hours for international flights.