Am I Experiencing a Delayed or Canceled Flight?

If your flight is canceled or you experience a significant delay, Go to footer note, we will first try to rebook you at no additional cost and do our best to notify you via 1 or more of the following methods:

• Email
• Text message or phone call
• The Fly Delta app

Where possible, Delta will automatically rebook you on an updated itinerary and provide you with the new schedule information. Your updated itinerary can be found in My Trips. The next sections will explain your options if we are unable to rebook your flight or if the automatically updated itinerary does not fit your needs.

If your flight has a delay (fewer than 3 hours for domestic itineraries, or fewer than 6 hours for international itineraries), usually the best option is to remain on your current flight.

You can always check your eligibility to rebook within My Trips. 

If your flight is canceled or impacted by a significant delay, Go to footer note, we will either keep you on your existing flight (if delayed) or attempt to rebook you automatically on a new flight, and if you are satisfied with this flight, no further action from you is required.

If you’re not satisfied with your flight change, you can:

• search for alternative flight options in the Fly Delta app or My Trips, or
• cancel the rebooked flight and receive a refund of the unflown portion of your ticket and any pre-paid seat upgrade or Preferred Seat, or an eCredit valid for 5 years from issuance 

If none of these actions are taken within 24 hours, we’ll automatically issue a refund back to your original form of payment.

If you prefer to explore alternative flight options, use the steps below. Some changes (such as changes of date or cabin) may require you to pay the difference in price from your original flight.

1. Review your flight details on the Fly Delta app, My Trips or at a Delta kiosk
2. Select “Find Alternative Flights” to browse and book a different flight or choose to remain on your current one
3. Complete the flight change
4. Receive confirmation of your rebooked flight

*For tickets issued before October 28, 2024, for travel on or after Oct. 28, 2024, if your originally scheduled departure or arrival time was impacted by a significant delay of more than 120 minutes, you are eligible to cancel your ticket and request a refund.

We make every effort to reroute your checked bags on your new flight, but this may not always be possible. If your bag does not arrive at your destination, please visit the Baggage Service Office (BSO) at the airport to meet with a Delta representative and make a report.

Once you file a report, you’ll receive a file reference number you can use to submit receipts and request reimbursement for a delayed bag. Also, you may be eligible for a refund of your checked bag fee depending on the extent of your bag delay (and subject to any exceptions). For more information, please visit Delayed, Lost or Damaged Bags.

You can also track the location of your bags using the “Track My Bags” feature in the Fly Delta app.

If your flight was canceled or impacted by a significant delay or significant schedule change (departure or arrival 3 hours or more earlier or later for domestic itineraries, or 6 hours or more for international itineraries)*, we automatically try to rebook you.

If you’re not satisfied with your rebooked flight, you can:

• Search for alternative flight options in Fly Delta or My Trips, or
• Cancel your rebooked flight for a refund of the unflown portion of your ticket and any pre-paid seat upgrade or Preferred Seat (and checked bag fees), or an eCredit valid for 5 years from issuance

If we can't rebook you and you take no action within 24 hours, we'll automatically refund your original payment method

Other Refund or eCredit Request Reasons

Complete the Travel Resolution Form for refund or eCredit requests such as:

• A trip cancellation due to a Serious Communicable Disease
• eCredit appeals
• Fare difference for alternative flight to accommodate wheelchair or scooter
• Fare difference for a seat downgrade

If you've already submitted a refund request, you can check your refund status.

Refund Restrictions

Please note, we cannot issue refunds for:

• Non-refundable tickets that have not experienced a cancellation, significant delay or significant schedule change
• Tickets already used for travel
• Tickets purchased through travel agencies or third-party travel sites (please contact them directly)

*For tickets issued before October 28, 2024 for travel on or after Oct. 28, 2024, if your originally scheduled departure or arrival time was impacted by a significant delay of more than 120 minutes, you are eligible to cancel your ticket and request a refund.

If you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada and your flight was canceled or significantly delayed by 3 hours or more because of an issue caused by Delta (within our control), please submit a reimbursement request using the Reimbursement Request form for reasonable meal expenses, or for any reasonable hotel and  transportation to/from the hotel if you were inconvenienced overnight while away from your home or destination.

To request reimbursement relating to disrupted travel for non-residents of the U.S. and Canada, please use the Comment and Complaint form.

Once submitted, we’ll review the request and update you on reimbursement eligibility.

Please note that we’re unable to provide reimbursement for delays or cancellations arising from factors outside of our control, such as:

• Air Traffic Control delays
• Weather delays

In addition, Delta does not reimburse the following types of expenses:

• Prepaid expenses, including hotels and activities at your destination
• Alternative transportation to your final destination
• Lost wages

Already submitted a reimbursement request and want to check the status? 

Check Reimbursement Status

When a significant delay (>3 hours), misconnect or cancellation is within our control, we may be able to provide:

• Complimentary hotel accommodation (based on availability)
• Complimentary ground transportation to and from the hotel
• Meal vouchers 

Please check with a Delta agent at the airport for more information about accommodations, transportation or vouchers in the event of a qualifying significant delay or cancellation.

There are times when you may have to reach out to us to manage your delayed or canceled flight.

• For unaccompanied minor tickets, please message us or call 800-325-8847 (dial 711 for relay services) to speak with a representative.
• For a Delta Vacations booking, please reach out directly at 800-800-1504.
• For tickets purchased from a third-party travel site or agency, refer directly to your travel agent for assistance with making a flight change or cancellation.