The Guide to Alaska Airlines’ Cancellation Policy

Understanding Alaska Airlines' cancellation policy can help minimize disruptions and ensure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to if your flight is canceled or delayed.

Alaska Airlines consistently has one of the lowest cancellation rates among major U.S. carriers. According to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data analyzed by NerdWallet in 2023, only 0.81% of Alaska flights were canceled, outperforming JetBlue, United, and Delta.

Despite this strong record, Alaska Airlines flights may still be canceled due to:

• Extreme weather.

• Mechanical issues.

• Staffing shortages.

• Security issues.

• Air traffic control issues.

If your Alaska flight is canceled, follow the airline’s instructions by text, email, or at the airport. Options may include automatic rebooking on the next available flight.

Know Alaska’s policies on canceled flights

Alaska has a customer service commitment that covers delayed and canceled flights, which provides the following benefits if your flight is canceled:

• Rebooking. Alaska will rebook you on the next available Alaska flight at no charge. If no suitable Alaska flights are available the same day, Alaska may rebook you on a Oneworld alliance or partner airline flight in a comparable cabin class.

• Accommodations. If you're stranded overnight, Alaska will provide hotel accommodations and round-trip ground transportation, or reimburse reasonable expenses.

• Meals. If you must wait three hours or longer for a rebooked flight, Alaska will offer a reasonable meal voucher at the airport, subject to vendor availability.

• Other benefits. If your Alaska flight is canceled and you need to wait three hours or more for a new flight, the airline will give you the option of receiving either a discount code of at least $75 toward a future flight or 3,000 Mileage Plan miles.

If your flight is canceled due to air traffic control, severe weather, a medical emergency, or other "force majeure" events, the above benefits (hotel, meal vouchers, compensation) do not apply. Alaska will still rebook you on the next available flight at no extra charge.

» Learn more: The guide to Alaska flight delay compensation

Understand your rights under federal law

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a new rule that went into effect in late 2024, in which you may qualify for an automatic refund if your flight is canceled.

Under the new rule, passengers are entitled to an automatic refund (paid either in cash or back to the original form of payment) if their flight is canceled and the passenger does not accept alternative transportation or the travel credits offered.

If Alaska’s next flight option doesn’t meet your needs, you can decline it, get a full refund, and rebook yourself on another airline (like Delta or American) immediately. Just realize that a last-minute flight on another airline may cost way more than the initial Alaska flight you booked — and you'll only get a refund for the initial Alaska fare (which likely won't be enough to cover your new flight).

If your flight is delayed or canceled and you want a refund:

• Cancel online. If you purchased your flight directly from Alaska, look up your reservation and select “Cancel.”

• Call Alaska. If you purchased your flight from Alaska but do not see an option to cancel online, you’ll need to call Alaska customer service at 800-252-7522.

• Contact a third-party booking company. If you purchased your flight from a third-party booking company, such as Expedia, you’ll need to contact that company directly. 

Refunds will be posted to your original form of payment, generally within seven to 21 business days for credit card purchases and within 20 business days for cash purchases. If you’re having any issues with your refund, call 206-392-7722 or email [email protected] for help.

Booking your Alaska flight on a credit card with travel insurance benefits. Before your flight, be familiar with your credit card’s flight cancellation benefits, which may include a right to be reimbursed for nonrefundable travel expenses, like hotels and tours.

If you do have a credit card with travel insurance included, try to make a habit of booking your flights on that credit card so you can take advantage of the travel cancellation protections.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

You can also opt to purchase travel insurance as a stand-alone policy. Depending on the type of trip you’re taking, there are a variety of travel insurance policies from which to choose.

This includes Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR), medical insurance and trip interruption insurance.

If your Alaska flight is canceled, be sure to follow the steps provided by the airline so that you’re rebooked on the next available Alaska flight. Additionally, make sure you know Alaska’s flight cancellation policies and your rights under federal law, to ensure you get all the benefits you're entitled to for a flight cancellation.

Finally, if you have a credit card with travel insurance, book your Alaska flight with that card and learn (and take advantage of) the flight cancellation benefits that come with the card.

(Top photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines)