Flight Cancelled? How to Check After the FAA Ground Stop

How do I check if my flight is cancelled after the FAA ground stop?

Open your booking in the airline's app or on its website using your confirmation code; that is where cancellations, delays and new flight options appear first ^[5]. NerdWallet reported that most airlines were notifying affected passengers by email and app alerts, and that many passengers were rebooked automatically ^[5].

A second check helps. Flight trackers such as FlightAware and Flightradar24 show the live status of a flight number, and Reuters used their data to count the cancellations after the ground stop ^[7][8]. If the tracker and the airline disagree, trust the airline, because it controls the booking.

Avoid relying on the phone. On the night of the stop, Southwest's automated line warned of a callback wait of several hours and American's of at least two hours, according to NerdWallet ^[5]. The app or website usually lets you change or cancel without speaking to an agent.

For background on what caused the outage, read Pouyam's guide Why Were US Flights Grounded? The FAA Ground Stop Explained. This guide focuses on what travellers can do now.

Is the FAA ground stop still in effect?

No, as of 15 November 2026. The nationwide ground stop was lifted at 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday 13 November 2026, but its knock-on effects continued into Sunday 15 November ^[5][7]. FAA head Bryan Bedford said he expected airline operations to largely return to normal by late Sunday ^[7].

The FAA publishes a live National Airspace System status page that lists active airport events, ground stops and delay programmes ^[6]. Local ground stops for weather or congestion are common and are different from the nationwide stop: on the night of 14 November the page listed possible weather-related ground stops at several Texas airports for the next day ^[6].

Check your flight again a few hours before you leave home, even if it looked fine earlier, because schedules were still being rebuilt ^[5].

Can I rebook my flight for free after the ground stop?

Usually yes. Major US airlines issued travel waivers that drop change fees and, in many cases, fare differences for passengers affected by the outage ^[5][7]. Each airline sets its own conditions, such as the ticket purchase date, the original travel date and the last day you can fly. The table below summarises three waivers, with Delta's terms as shown on its page on 15 November 2026 and the others as published by 14 November 2026. Airlines have updated these waivers since they were first issued, so check your airline's page for the current dates.

Delta's waiver covers travel on 13 to 16 November on tickets issued on or before 15 November; changes must be made, and the new flight taken, by 23 November to avoid a fare difference ^[1]. American's covers tickets bought by 12 November for travel from 13 to 18 November at listed airports, with changes booked by 18 November ^[2]. United's covers tickets bought by 12 November for travel on 13 or 14 November, with new flights departing through 20 November ^[3].

NerdWallet notes that Southwest's policy is more generous and applies to flights scheduled through Monday 16 November ^[5]. Waivers generally require the same cabin and the same origin and destination cities; changing route can bring a fare difference ^[1][2].

Am I entitled to a refund if my flight was cancelled?

Under US Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, you are entitled to a full refund if your flight was cancelled or significantly delayed and you choose not to travel ^[4][5]. The refund must go back to your original form of payment, even for non-refundable tickets, and it includes extras such as taxes and bag fees ^[4][5].

The DOT treats a flight as significantly delayed if a domestic departure or arrival moves by three hours or more, or an international one by six hours or more; a change of airport or extra connections also count ^[4]. To qualify, you must not take the flight and must decline the airline's rebooking offer and any voucher or credit ^[4].

According to KQED, airlines then have seven business days to refund a credit card purchase and three weeks for other payment methods ^[4]. If you booked with miles, they are normally returned to your account along with the taxes you paid ^[5]. Once you accept a rebooking, you are generally no longer eligible for a refund for that ticket ^[4].

Will the airline pay for my hotel or meals?

Probably not. Because the FAA system failed, US airlines are not required to compensate stranded passengers for this disruption ^[8]. NerdWallet warned that airlines may not offer hotel or food vouchers because the outage was outside their control ^[5].

Your best route for extra costs is insurance. Many premium credit cards include trip delay cover, which typically starts after a delay of 6 to 12 hours, if you paid for the trip with that card ^[5]. A separate travel policy may also cover delays and missed connections ^[5]. Keep every receipt and the airline's cancellation or delay notice, because a claim will need them ^[5].

For a hotel or rental you can no longer use, contact the provider directly and ask whether it will waive the cancellation fee for a documented flight disruption; this is a goodwill request, not a right ^[5].

Should I accept a travel credit instead of a refund?

Only if you are sure you will fly with that airline again before the credit expires; a cash refund is usually more flexible ^[5]. Some airline pages offer a credit as the default option when you cancel, for example Delta's eCredit for future travel ^[1][5].

If your flight was cancelled and you no longer want to travel, you can decline the credit and ask for a refund instead; the airline cannot make that choice for you ^[4]. If the flight was not cancelled or significantly delayed and you cancel voluntarily, the normal fare rules apply and a credit may be all you get ^[4].

Before you decide, compare the waiver window with your plans. Delta, for instance, says unused ticket value can be applied to a new ticket within one year of the original issue date ^[1].

What if my flight is on Sunday or later?

Check it again before you leave, because the backlog from the ground stop was still causing cancellations on Sunday 15 November ^[5][7]. FlightAware showed 875 Sunday flights already cancelled by Saturday night, Reuters reported ^[7].

On Saturday, Delta, United and American each cancelled about 25% of their flights and JetBlue nearly 45% ^[7]. Airlines were offering crews extra pay and using spare aircraft to recover before the Thanksgiving travel period, and American said it was prioritising some routes to reposition planes ^[7][8].

If your flight is full or cancelled, consider a nearby airport, a train or a rental car; NerdWallet points out that many travellers are competing for the same seats over the next few days ^[5].

What should I do right now if my flight was cancelled?

Work through the steps in this order: check the booking, choose rebooking or a refund, then claim other costs ^[4][5].

• Open the airline app or website and read any message about your flight ^[5].
• Find your airline's ground stop waiver page and note its deadlines ^[1][2][3].
• Decide whether to rebook or to ask for a refund; accepting a new flight usually ends refund eligibility ^[4].
• Ask for the refund in writing and keep the confirmation ^[4].
• Save receipts for hotels, meals and transport, and contact your card or travel insurer ^[5].
• Recheck the flight status and the FAA status page before you leave for the airport ^[5][6].