Your flight is canceled or delayed. Now what?
You probably feel like the airline owes you for your trouble, but before you ask for any compensation, you'll want to ask two key questions: Why was the flight canceled or delayed? If it's a delay, how long is it expected to last?
The answers will dictate what you're owed.
Next, you'll want to check the Department of Transportation's Airline Customer Service Dashboard to find out what airlines have pledged to do for people affected by “controllable” cancellations or delays. Those are disruptions within a carrier's control, like mechanical issues, staffing shortages, or cleaning and fueling delays.
Your rights are far more limited when the root problem is beyond the airline's control, such as weather, ground stops, or recent flight-reduction mandates during the government shutdown.
