Your flight just got cancelled. Now they're offering you a voucher. Nonrefundable ticket? Doesn't matter. You may be owed every cent. Here's what the airline actually owes you. And what it doesn't. Myth one: nonrefundable means your money's gone. Wrong. If they cancel and you skip the alternative, it's a full refund. Myth two: US law hands you cash, a hotel and dinner. Federally, what's owed is a refund.

Meals and hotels are the airline's own promises. The rule covers scheduled flights to, from or within the United States. No alternative offered, rebooking rejected, or no reply by departure? The refund's automatic. It goes back the way you paid. Card, cash, even miles. Taxes and paid extras included. And no processing fee. No skimming. In September 2025, the DOT put a cash, hotel and meals plan on the rollback list.

Step one: still want to fly? Take the rebooking. Don't? Decline it and ask for your refund. It's one or the other. Step two: airline's fault? Ask what meals, hotel and transport it provides. Step three: offered a voucher? Read it first. You can say no and take the money. And any voucher has to stay valid for at least 5 years. Step four: the refund goes back the way you paid. No fee. Step five: watch the clock.

7 business days on a card. 20 days for everything else. What if it's weather? The refund rule still applies. But the airlines' meal and hotel promises only cover disruptions they caused. Not weather. What if they move you to a flight landing 4 hours later? On a domestic trip, landing 3 or more hours late is a significant change. Internationally it's 6 hours. New airport, extra connection, downgrade?

Decline it, get refunded. So: rebook or refund. Your choice, not theirs. Vouchers are optional. Meals and hotels are a promise, not a federal law. Turns out nonrefundable is doing a lot less work than they'd like you to think.