Rebooking and refunds for flight delay or cancellation

For all situations, the airline must ensure that you complete your itinerary as soon as possible. If your flight has been cancelled or delayed by 3 hours, the airline must offer to rebook you free of charge on their next available flight. They may also rebook you on the next available flight of an airline with which they have a commercial agreement (for example, an agreement to sell tickets on each other's flights).

If you are rebooked in a higher class of service, the airline cannot charge you for the upgrade. If you are downgraded to a lower class of service, the airline must refund the difference in price.

For situations within the airline's control (including safety related situations):

Rebooking

Large airlines must rebook you on the next available flight operated by them, or an airline with which they have a commercial agreement, on any reasonable route from the same airport.

• If that flight would depart more than 9 hours after your original departure time, the airline must rebook you on a flight of any airline on any reasonable route from the same airport.
• If the airline cannot rebook you on a flight from the same airport within 48 hours of the original departure time, they will have to book you on a flight operated by any airline leaving another airport, if there is one nearby, and transport you to that airport.

Small airlines must rebook you on the next available flight operated by them, or an airline with which they have a commercial agreement, on a reasonable route from the same airport.

Refunds

If you have chosen to receive a ticket refund instead of being rebooked on another flight, for situations within the airline's control and not safety-related, you are entitled to the following compensation: $400 for large airlines, and $125 for small airlines.

For situations outside the airline's control:

Rebooking

If the airline cannot provide you with a confirmed reservation on the next available flight leaving within 48 hours after the departure time indicated on your original ticket, the airline will be required to, at your choice, provide a refund or make alternate travel arrangements.

Large airlines must rebook you on the next available flight operated by them, or an airline with which they have a commercial agreement, on a reasonable route from the same airport.

• If that flight would not depart within 48 hours after the departure time on your original ticket, the airline must rebook you on a flight operated by any airline travelling on a reasonable route from the same airport.
• If the airline cannot rebook you on a flight leaving from the same airport within 48 hours after the departure time on your original ticket, they will have to book you on a flight on any airline leaving another airport, if there is a reasonable option nearby, and transport you there.

Small airlines must rebook you on the next available flight operated by them, or an airline with which they have a commercial agreement, on a reasonable route from the same airport.

In all cases, routing of the new flight(s) must be reasonable.

Refunds

If you choose to receive a refund, the airline must refund the unused portion of the ticket to the person who originally purchased the ticket, using that person’s original payment method.

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