Free guides
Know your rights.
Plain-English guides to US air passenger rules. Each one cites the rule and was reviewed Nov 14, 2026. All free.
Your flight was
Cancelled in the FAA ground stop: what you are owedA cash refund, whatever the cause. Meals and hotels are a different story.Cash refund or voucher: how not to give up your moneyAirlines love offering credit. The rule says you choose.Flight delayed 3 or 6 hours? When it becomes a refundA long enough delay or big change can unlock a refund, but only if you decline to fly.
At the airport
Bumped from an oversold flight: what the airline owes youCash, set by how late you arrive. Know the difference between voluntary and involuntary.Stuck on the plane on the ground: your rightsAfter 3 hours (4 international) the airline must offer to let you off. Food and water come sooner.Delayed or lost bag: file this, then claim thatReport it before you leave the airport. Then the fee refund and costs follow.
Money and safety
Is that refund call, email or phone number real?After a big disruption, fake airline numbers and refund calls spike. Here is the checklist.Your card's trip-delay benefit and the 60-day dispute windowWhen the airline owes nothing, your card might. And when it owes you and stalls, your card can step in.Hotels and meals after a cancellation: what is law and what is a promiseNo federal rule requires them. Here is what airlines promise and how to ask.