Flight Canceled? How to Get a Refund, Rebook, or Even Travel for Free

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Learn what to do if your flight is delayed or canceled, how to get compensated, and tips to avoid travel disruptions.

What should you do if your flight is delayed or canceled? How can you get compensated for travel disruptions? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss how to handle unexpected flight changes and what you can do to maximize your chances of getting some form of compensation for various travel interruptions. The episode kicks off with a discussion of airline policies, and Meghan and Sally break down when you're entitled to refunds, rebookings, and even hotel stays. Plus, they share tips on checking rebooking options in an airline's app, using credit card travel insurance, and how to find out which airlines offer the best compensation for delays and cancelations.

Then, Meghan and Sally discuss proactive steps you can take to reduce the risk of travel disruptions. They cover the benefits of booking direct flights, choosing layovers in mild-weather cities, and selecting airlines with multiple daily flights to your destination. They also highlight how loyalty programs, credit card perks, and smart scheduling can help travelers avoid headaches. Plus, Sally shares her recent experience with multiple canceled flights, detailing how she turned travel chaos into a free trip and some unexpected Starbucks rewards.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

• 7 Best All-Inclusives You Can Book With Points
• 10 Credit Cards That Provide Travel Insurance
• Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation: What to Know
• How to Get Into AmEx Centurion Lounges: Credit Cards That Grant Access
• Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access of March 2025

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: flight cancellation compensation, what to do if my flight is canceled, airline refund policy, airline delay compensation, best travel credit cards for flight delays, flight delay rights, travel insurance for flight cancellations, best airlines for rebooking, how to get airline vouchers for delays, how to rebook a canceled flight, last-minute flight cancellation refund, flight delay refund process, best time to book flights to avoid delays, should you buy travel insurance for flights, how to find cheap flights after a cancellation, best airport lounges for delayed flights, and airline hotel vouchers for cancellations.