© 2026 ABC News

Passenger rights for flight cancellations and how to get refunds amid severe winter storm

Brian Kelly, founder of travel site The Points Guy and professional globe trotter, has regularly reiterated his top strategies for travelers who may be stranded due to inclement weather.

On Monday, he shared a new video on Instagram reminding travelers what rights and protections they have, as well as how to get a refund or booked on a new flight once travel bans are lifted and it's safe to fly again.

\"PHOTO:
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
PHOTO: A person sleeps on a bench during a winter storm at LaGuardia Airport in New York, Feb. 23, 2026.
>

In the post's caption, he shared a few tips for anyone whose travel plans had been \"upended by severe weather.\"

\"1) If you don't want to travel -- get a full refund and call it a day (never take a voucher -- airlines are legally required to refund you if you don't like what they rebooked you on),\" he wrote. \"2) File a claim with your credit card company or travel insurance for all additional costs (hotel, new flights, uber , meals etc). Many credit cards have free coverage up to $10,000 per person that covers you as long as you used that card to pay for the trip.\"

\"3) Keep checking for seats to open up on Google Flights and then immediately buy them (I often use miles so I can full refund it if something better opens up),\" he continued. \"4) Use tools like @expertflyer which allow you to set alerts so if any seats open up on earlier flights than what you're on, you'll be notified and then you can have the airline switch you to a better flight.\"

Refund policies for flight delays or cancellations

The Department of Transportation rules state that airlines are required by law to make refunds for purchased airline tickets and fees for related services, automatically and promptly, in the form of the original payment and for the full amount.

According to the policy, travelers also have the option to accept alternative arrangements or travel credits if their original travel is impacted.

\"If you chose to take a significantly delayed/changed flight or an alternative flight offered by the airline, you are not entitled to a refund under DOT rules,\" the department's website notes.

Canceled flights

A ticketed passenger is \"entitled to a refund if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel,\" the DOT website states.

Clear disruption definitions

The DOT website currently states that consumers are also \"entitled to a refund if the airline significantly delays a flight or significantly changes a flight and the consumer chooses not to travel.\"

\"Significant disruptions\" are clearly defined across all airlines as a delay of three hours or more for domestic flights and six hours or more for international flights.

Previously, the duration that constituted a significant delay varied between airlines. Some considered 90 minutes to be significant, while others considered it to be upward of four hours.

Baggage delay refunds

If a bag is delayed for more than 12 hours (or 15-30 hours for international flights), travelers are eligible for refunds on bag fees.

This story was originally published on Feb. 23, 2026.

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/GMA/Travel/blizzard-travel-ban-flight-cancellations-refunds/story?id=130407014","legacySlug":"/travel/story/blizzard-travel-ban-flight-cancellations-refunds-130407014","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"16:22","publishDate":"02-24-2026","updatedTime":"17:09","updatedDate":"02-24-2026","socialImage":{"alt":"Snow plows clear snow from the tarmac during a winter storm at LaGuardia Airport in New York, Feb. 23, 2026. ","credit":"Shannon Stapleton/Reuters","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/airport-1-rt-er-260223_1771862493537_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"2/24/2026 16:22:01 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":130407014,"headline":"NYC blizzard creates travel chaos","mediaAssetTitle":"BLIZZARD CAUSES TRAVEL CHAOS: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FLIGHT REFUNDS, CANCELATIONS AND MORE (GMA)","description":"Learn what rights passengers have when it comes to travel and inclement weather.","duration":"1:01","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2026/02/260224_gma_benitez_travel_712_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132055565","131830882","130993584"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 8, 2026","headline":"Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","section":"News","slug":"/video/131830882","id":"131830882","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"March 12, 2026","headline":"Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","section":"News","slug":"/video/130993584","id":"130993584","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"NYC blizzard creates travel chaos","description":"Learn what rights passengers have when it comes to travel and inclement weather.","duration":"1:01","uploadDate":"02-24-2026","publication":"02-24-2026","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2026/02/260224_gma_benitez_travel_712_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2026/02/260224_gma_benitez_travel_712_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/travel/story/blizzard-travel-ban-flight-cancellations-refunds-130407014"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131142257","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131046664","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131048076","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131033212","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130999943","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130971027","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:travel:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"travel","title":"NYC blizzard creates travel chaos","pubTime":"11:22","pubDate":"02-24-2026","modTime":"12:09","modDate":"02-24-2026","taxonomyTags":"none","id":130407014,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"NYC blizzard creates travel chaos","mediaAssetTitle":"BLIZZARD CAUSES TRAVEL CHAOS: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FLIGHT REFUNDS, CANCELATIONS AND MORE (GMA)","videoId":130407014,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/travel/story/blizzard-travel-ban-flight-cancellations-refunds-130407014"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/130407014","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/130407014","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};