What you need to know about refunds if your flight is canceled
Am I entitled to compensation after my flight is cancelled? Here’s what you need to know about your passenger rights.
- The nor’easter is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the Mid-Atlantic coast.
- Major airlines are offering travel exemptions to affected cities, allowing passengers to rebook without change fees.
The northeastern region entered New Jersey on Oct. 13, battering parts of the mid-Atlantic coast with strong winds and heavy rain, the National Weather Service said, calling the phenomenon a “coastal cyclone.”
As of 4:15 p.m. ET, more than 4,800 U.S. flights were delayed and more than 500 canceled, according to FlightAware, which tracks flight status.
Travelers whose flights have been canceled will automatically receive a full refund or a fee-free rebooking, in accordance with Department of Transportation regulations.
While airlines have no obligation to travelers for weather-related delays, and while we cannot control the weather, we do offer the following flexibility in the event of a storm:
american airlines
Travelers scheduled to fly to, from, or through the following cities on October 13th can change their reservations free of charge:
- Baltimore, Maryland (BWI)
- Boston, Massachusetts (BOS)
- Hampton/Newport News, VA (PHF)
- Hartford, CT (BDL)
- Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT)
- Kennedy, New York (JFK)
- New York LaGuardia, New York (LGA)
- Newark, New Jersey (EWR)
- Norfolk, Virginia (ORF)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL)
- Portland, Maine (PWM)
- Providence, Rhode Island (PVD)
- Richmond, Virginia (RIC)
- Salisbury/Ocean City, MD (SBY)
- Washington Dulles, Washington DC Area (IAD)
- Washington Reagan, Washington, DC Area (DCA)
- White Plains/Westchester County, New York (HPN)
If you are traveling by October 15th, you must reissue your ticket by October 13th to avoid change fees. Tickets must first be reserved by October 10th. For more information, visit American Airlines’ Travel Alerts webpage.
delta airlines
Travelers scheduled to fly to, from, or through the following cities on October 13th can change their reservations free of charge:
- Boston, Massachusetts (BOS)
- Newark, New Jersey (EWR)
- White Plains, New York (HPN)
- New York, New York (JFK)
- New York, New York (LGA)
- Norfolk, Virginia (ORF)
To avoid fare differences, tickets departing by October 16th at the latest must be reissued by October 16th. Tickets must be originally booked by October 11th. For more information, please visit Delta’s weather advisory webpage.
jet blue airlines
Travelers scheduled to fly to or from the following cities on October 13th can rebook without a fee.
- Boston, Massachusetts (BOS)
- Hartford, CT (BDL)
- Hyannis, Mas Hustedt (Hya)
- Long Island/Islip, NY (ISP)
- Martha’s Vineyard, MA (MVY)
- Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT)
- Nantucket, Massachusetts (ACK)
- New York, New York (JFK)
- New York, New York (LGA)
- Newark, New Jersey (EWR)
- Portland, Maine (PWM)
- Providence, Rhode Island (PVD)
Tickets must be reissued for travel through October 21 to avoid change fees. Original tickets must be booked by October 10th. For more information, visit JetBlue’s Travel Alerts webpage.
southwest airlines
Travelers scheduled to fly to or from the following cities on October 13th can rebook without a fee.
- Boston (Logan), Massachusetts (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington, MD (BWI)
- Hartford, CT (BDL)
- Long Island/Islip, NY (ISP)
- Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT)
- New York (LaGuardia), New York (LGA)
- Norfolk, Virginia (ORF)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL)
- Portland, Maine (PWM)
- Providence, Rhode Island (PVD)
- Richmond, Virginia (RIC)
- Washington (Dulles), DC Area (IAD)
- Washington (Reagan National), DC Area (DCA)
To avoid fare differences, reissued travel must be within 14 days of the original booking date. For more information, please visit Southwest Airlines’ travel advisory webpage.
spirit airlines
Travelers scheduled to fly to, from, or through the following cities on October 13th can change their reservations free of charge:
- Atlantic City, New Jersey (ACY)
- Boston, Massachusetts (BOS)
- LaGuardia, NY (LGA)
- Newark, New Jersey (EWR)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL)
The fare difference will be waived until October 19th. For more information, please visit Spirit’s travel advisory webpage.
united airlines
Travelers scheduled to fly to or from the following cities on October 13th can rebook without a fee.
- Boston, Massachusetts (BOS)
- Newark, New Jersey (EWR)
- New York, New York, New York (JFK)
- New York, New York (LGA)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL)
To avoid change fees, you must reissue your ticket by October 15th. Original ticket must be booked by October 9th. For more information, visit United’s Travel Alerts webpage.
(This article has been updated with new information.)
