Flight canceled or connection missed? What passengers should know after nationwide ground stop

What you’ll learn in this report:

• If your flight is canceled or significantly changed and you decide not to travel, you may be entitled to a refund, even on a nonrefundable ticket.
• A short delay on your first flight can turn into a much longer one if you miss a connection, so check when your revised itinerary gets you to your final destination.
• Hotels, meals and replacement flights aren’t guaranteed in every disruption, but asking the airline about its policies before spending money could help.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A nationwide ground stop halted departing flights Friday, disrupting travel across the country and leaving passengers facing delays, missed connections and canceled trips.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a nationwide halt to departing flights Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, citing extraordinary circumstances and safety, the Associated Press reported. The agency had earlier reported air traffic control communications issues. Flights already in the air could land, while international flights were to be handled case by case.

Friday’s stop was the third nationwide halt of all departures: the first was the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and the second was on Jan. 11, 2023, after a failure of the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions, which provides pilots and airlines with safety information such as runway closures, navigation problems and temporary flight restrictions.

• Your rights as an airline passenger, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation

The status of a ground stop can change quickly. Travelers should check their airline’s app or website for the latest information about their specific flights.

Here’s what to know if a flight is canceled, delayed or a connection is missed.

If my flight is canceled, can I get a refund?

Generally, yes, if the airline cancels your flight and you decide not to travel or accept an alternative, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

That applies even if the ticket was nonrefundable and regardless of why the airline canceled the flight. If you have already flown part of your trip, the refund generally covers the unused portion, rather than the entire fare.

An airline may offer to rebook you or provide a voucher. You do not have to accept a voucher instead of a refund you are owed. If you choose to travel on the alternative flight, you generally are not entitled to a refund for that disrupted flight under the DOT rule.

What if my flight is delayed instead of canceled?

A delay or itinerary change can also qualify for a refund if it is significant and you decide not to travel or accept an alternative.

Under DOT rules, a significant change includes a revised itinerary scheduled to arrive at your destination:

• At least three hours later than originally scheduled for a domestic itinerary.
• At least six hours later than originally scheduled for an international itinerary.

Other changes can qualify, too, including an earlier departure from the origin airport of at least three hours domestically or six hours internationally, a different origin or destination airport, or an itinerary with more connections. Certain changes also qualify when they affect a passenger with a disability.

The late-arrival test concerns the revised scheduled arrival at your destination—not simply how late your first flight leaves. Ask the airline for your updated itinerary as delays develop.

What if I miss my connection?

Contact the airline as soon as possible and ask about available flights to your final destination. If your flights are on the same itinerary, compare the revised arrival time at your destination with the arrival time on your original booking.

For example, a relatively short delay on a first flight could cause a missed connection that leaves a domestic passenger scheduled to arrive four hours late. That could meet the threshold for a significant change. If the passenger declines the changed itinerary or an alternative, a refund may be available for the unused transportation.

Missing a connection alone does not automatically mean a passenger gets a refund. The outcome depends on what happens to the itinerary and whether the traveler accepts an alternative.

What if I booked separate tickets?

The answer can be more complicated if the connecting flight was purchased on a separate ticket. Do not assume the second airline must rebook you or refund that ticket if you miss its flight because another carrier was delayed; its fare rules and contract may apply.

Contact both airlines and any booking agent immediately. Ask about waivers, available assistance and the rules for the separate reservation. A refund for the disrupted first flight does not automatically cover the cost of the second ticket.

Does the airline have to put me on another flight?

Airlines often offer to rebook passengers after cancellations or significant changes, but DOT says its refund rules do not universally require them to do so. Ask what flights are available, whether there are additional charges and whether the airline can place you on another carrier.

Before accepting a replacement flight, consider whether you still want to make the trip. If you accept an alternative and later cancel it for personal reasons, do not assume the original disruption automatically gives you a refund; ask how the new booking’s fare rules apply.

If the replacement flight itself is canceled or significantly changed, ask about your options for that new disruption.

Will the airline pay for a hotel, meals or transportation?

Not automatically. There is no general federal guarantee of a hotel, meal or cash compensation for every delay or cancellation.

Some airlines promise meals, lodging, ground transportation or other assistance when a disruption is within their control. The DOT’s airline cancellation and delay dashboard compares participating airlines’ commitments and links to their customer-service plans.

An FAA ground stop is generally outside an airline’s control, so do not assume an airline’s commitments for controllable disruptions apply. Ask the airline how it classifies your delay and whether it will offer assistance anyway.

Before paying for a hotel, meals or a replacement ticket yourself, ask whether the airline will reimburse you and get the terms or approval in writing. Keep receipts. Travel insurance, credit card benefits or rules applicable to some international trips may provide additional protection; check the relevant terms.

How should I get my refund?

If you do not want the alternative flight or a voucher, tell the airline clearly and ask for the refund to the original payment method. Save the cancellation notice, original and revised itineraries, payment records and any written exchanges.

Federal rules require automatic refunds in specified circumstances when the airline is responsible for issuing the refund. If you bought through a travel agency or booking site, check which company processed the payment; if a ticket agent is the merchant of record, contact it to request the refund.

Once a refund is due, the general deadline is seven business days for credit-card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods, including debit cards. When that clock starts can depend on the circumstances, including whether an alternative was offered or rejected.

Airlines must also refund fees for certain paid services that were not provided, such as a paid seat selection or Wi-Fi, through no fault of the passenger. Notify the operating airline about the missing service.

Where can I complain?

Start with the airline or ticket agent and keep a copy of your complaint. If the issue is not resolved, you can submit a complaint to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Include your flight and booking information, the original and revised schedules, what alternatives were offered or accepted, and the refund or assistance you requested. The DOT says airlines must generally acknowledge consumer complaints within 30 days and provide a substantive response within 60 days.

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