Am I Entitled to a Refund? In the following situations, consumers are entitled to a refund of the ticket price and/or associated fees. Cancelled Flight ? A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel.

In 2026, passenger rights regarding refunds have been strengthened by new regulations in the U.S. and recent court rulings in the EU. In the United States, a Department of Transportation (DOT) rule mandates that if an airline cancels your flight for any reason and you choose not to accept rebooking or travel vouchers, you are entitled to a full cash refund to your original form of payment. This must be processed within seven business days for credit card purchases. Similarly, in the European Union under Regulation EU261, if a flight is cancelled, the airline must offer a full refund of the ticket price, including taxes and service fees. A landmark 2026 EU court ruling even confirmed that airlines must refund the booking fees charged by third-party travel agencies (like Expedia or Opodo) if the flight is cancelled. It is important to remember that you must explicitly decline the airline's offer of a voucher or "flight credit" to receive the actual cash refund you are legally owed.