So the airline canceled your flight. First, don't panic. Federal law entitles you to a full cash refund for the cost of your airfare (regardless of the reason).

When a flight is cancelled in 2026, passengers are typically entitled to several forms of assistance, though specific rights depend on the airline's "Contract of Carriage" and local laws like the EU's EC 261/2004 or the US Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates. First, the airline is required to rebook you on the "next available" flight at no additional cost. In the US, if you choose not to take the rebooked flight, you are legally entitled to a full cash refund, even for "non-refundable" tickets. For cancellations within the airline's control (like mechanical issues), many carriers now provide meal vouchers for delays over 3 hours and hotel accommodations for overnight stays. However, if the cancellation is due to "extraordinary circumstances" like weather or air traffic control strikes, the airline may not be required to pay for your hotel. It is a peer-to-peer "pro-tip" to use the airline's mobile app for rebooking immediately, as this is often much faster than waiting in a physical line at the airport service desk while thousands of other displaced passengers are doing the same.