What happens when your flight is canceled?

I'm new to traveling and I want to know as much as I can before I go on my first trip just to be prepared.

What happens if the flight you payed a ticket for gets canceled? Are you entitled to get a new flight from the airline, or do they refund you your ticket?

The airline will help you to find the next fight immediately. They have a group of airline in the pocket. It won't be a refund even in the case of charter fight.

They don't do a refund, ever. They will put you on another flight - which can be hours or a day later. If you have to wait overnight, they have to pay for a room and food and transport to a motel if it isn't their fault. But if it's bad weather, their attitude is more of a screw you.

The government website below tells you what your rights are.Read before you go. Be prepared. If you are checking a bag, have a carry on with change of underwear, toothbrush, medications, etc., anything you would need to camp out overnight.

They airline finds another flight or flights for you.

I recently had my flight cancelled due to bad weather. I was given over night accommodation in a hotel a voucher for food and a new flight the next day. Plus transport to and from the airport to the hotel.

If your flight is canceled, the airline usually rebooks you on the next offered departure. You can also simply request a full refund, or rebook yourself on an alternate flight via the airline's website or customer service line. You should not have to pay any change or cancellation fees.

The airline will rebook you on the earliest available flight, sometimes even with another airline depending on the circumstances. If you have to stay overnight, they MIGHT issue a hotel voucher (but usually only if the cancellation is their fault), and they might also issue meal vouchers if you are staying at the airport for an extended period of time.

I've had several cancellations where the available rebookings did not work with my schedule (in all cases, I was traveling to a conference, and I'd be getting there after the conference ended). In those cases, the airline happily refunded my money with no hassle. This is not their automatic action though. If you want a refund, you might have to work for it.

Obviously the flight does not go.
The same thing does not happen at every airport, every airline, every time.
In most cases you are re booked on the next available seat to get you to destination. Could be same route or a different one.
You might get some vouchers to cover a meal or two while you wait, You might get a room if it is overnight.

YOU DO NOT GET Unlimited Free Meals, You do not get the top room and Free room service.
You might get a new flight in a few hours or it could be days until there's an open seat.
They might refund your ticket as you might not want some other alternate day to travel.
Buying the CHEAPEST ticket has less options than those that fly full fare.
If you are on low cost Airline you will not be getting next flight First class Airline the low cost Airline might only have a few flights each week at your Airport. YOU WAIT.
Travel Big Airline they have more flights to work with to get you to your final destination.

READ THE DETAILS on the ticket you have purchased. The details of what they might to for you are there. IT is not identical in every circumstance, every Airline, every airport what they can and can't do to assist you.
Being patient and not harassing the Agents trying to re book hundreds of others usually works in getting something acceptable. A Major storm could have tens of thousands needing some change to their plans.

Depending on reason Airline might bring another plane in to deal with situation. It might be a short delay while some issue is dealt with. All depends WHY your flight is not going.

If it it because of a big storm guess what. The other Airlines are also not going anywhere.

This depends on were you are at. You are booked on the next flight they can book you on. Weather is a act of nature. Not there fault. Nor flack in the wing. Act of war. If overnight & there fault some will give you a room & meal ticket. Sometimes. I can tell you many stories about flight delay's. Each is different. Some interesting. Major airlines are best to fly. Many 3rd world irregular flights can leave you with memories for the rest of your life.

I swear.

The airline will get you on the next available flight to your destination
The airliner may or may not put you in a hotel if its an extended delay but depending on the reason they are not always obligated to do so (acts of god)