If your flight is cancelled and the next one is tomorrow, who pays for tonight depends on why it was cancelled and which airline you are flying. Here is how to find out, how to ask, and what to do if the answer is no.
When the airline pays
There is no federal rule requiring a US airline to pay for a hotel or meals after a cancellation. Most large airlines have committed to it anyway in their customer service plans, when the cancellation was within their control, such as a maintenance or crew problem, and it leaves you stuck overnight. That usually means:
- A hotel room, or a voucher for one
- Transport between the airport and the hotel
- Meal vouchers or credits
Low-cost airlines tend to commit to less. Check your airline's exact wording: how to check your airline's delay policy. The same commitments for delays are covered in meal and hotel vouchers during delays.
When it usually does not
For cancellations caused by weather, air traffic control or security events, airlines generally do not commit to hotels or meals. Two things are still worth doing:
- Ask for a discounted rate. Many airlines have agreements with nearby hotels and can offer reduced "distressed passenger" rates.
- Check your own cover. Trip delay cover from a credit card or travel insurance often pays for a hotel and meals when a cancellation forces an overnight stay, including for weather. See trip delay cover.
If you are told it is weather and you are not sure, see is it really a weather delay?
How to get a room
- Ask early. In a large disruption, rooms near the airport run out within hours. Ask for a hotel at the same time as you ask to be rebooked.
- Check the app. Some airlines issue hotel and meal vouchers digitally.
- Be specific.
"My flight was cancelled because of a maintenance problem and the earliest rebooking is tomorrow morning. Your customer service plan commits to a hotel and transport for controllable cancellations. Could you arrange that, please?"
More scripts are in what to say to the gate agent.
If the airline has no rooms, or says no
If the cancellation was within the airline's control and it cannot or will not provide a room:
- Book a reasonable hotel yourself. Do not wait until late at night, when there may be nothing left.
- Keep every receipt, for the room, meals and taxis.
- Screenshot the cancellation notice and the reason given.
- After the trip, write to the airline's customer relations team, quote its commitment, and ask to be reimbursed. If it refuses, you can complain to the DOT (here is how to file one).
Your bag
Checked bags usually stay with the airline overnight and are put on your new flight. Ask whether you can have yours back, but plan for not getting it. Here is what to keep in your carry-on.
Or skip the night altogether
A hotel is not your only option. You may be able to fly tonight on another airline or from a nearby airport, or decide not to travel and take a refund. See rebooking on another airline, flying from a nearby airport and refund or rebooking.
This guide is general information for US travelers, not legal advice. Rules and airline commitments change; check with your airline or the US Department of Transportation for your specific situation.