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So, your Alaska Airlines flight is canceled or delayed. Talk about an inconvenience. While getting Alaska Airlines refunds or compensation doesn’t exactly help you in the moment, it’s important to hold the airlines accountable.
Let’s go through all the applicable policies to discover what you’re owed in specific situations and how to get the maximum remuneration the quick and easy way.
The Highlights
- Flights canceled by passengers within 24 hours of booking, where travel is at least 24 hours away, are eligible for a full refund.
- The full refund Alaska Airlines cancellation policy applies to all fare types except Saver, subject to some conditions.
- Along with a new flight, certain Alaska Airlines delays and cancellations qualify for meals, hotel stays, and transportation if the airline is at fault.
- Alaska Airlines delay compensation includes the choice of miles or a travel credit for a future Alaska flight when travel is interrupted for 3 hours or more.
- Flights can be re-booked with Alaska free of charge. Or, booked with a partner airline if there is no Alaska flight availability until the following day.
How to Claim Alaska Airlines Compensation Yourself
If you haven’t received what you’re owed, you’ll need to make an official claim. Also, note that for much of the Alaska Airlines delayed flight compensation we’ll discuss, you have to ask at the airport to get things like hotel, meal, and transportation vouchers.
Opting for a full Alaska Airlines reimbursement of the ticket price is always recommended. Cash is definitely more flexible than vouchers or discount codes.
- Are you eligible for anything? Check your flight risk-free here.
- Know your rights.
- Contact the airline online using their feedback form or call/chat with customer service.
- State your issue clearly and exactly what you expect.
- Prepare to escalate to the DOT when the airline isn’t honoring their commitments, or have AirAdvisor contact Alaska on your behalf. It takes 2 minutes or less to initiate a claim with us, and we know how to get you the maximum.
Your Alaska Airlines Flight is Disrupted – Here’s What To Do
- Always ensure your flight is officially canceled or delayed before taking action.
- Find out the reason your flight is delayed or canceled.
- Ask the ground staff about your entitlements, like re-booking and vouchers for meals and hotels.
- Get a new flight as soon as possible. Remember that your entire flight is interrupted so every fellow passenger will be looking to re-book.
- Never pay for anything in advance without express permission to do so from Alaska Airlines.
- If you choose not to continue the travel, request a refund ASAP.
The Alaska Airlines Cancellation Policy – Getting a Full Refund
It’s reassuring that all fare types, with the exception of the Saver fare, are full refund eligible. But, there are a few exceptions in the Alaska Airlines refund policy to be aware of:
- Tickets need to be issued by AlaskaAir.com, the company’s call center, or an Alaska Airlines official ticket counter. Avoid booking through third parties if you can because then, you’ll be subject to their cancellation policy, which may not be as generous.
- The purchase must not be for an unaccompanied minor or contain a government fare.
- The Alaska Airlines refund policy for cancellations only applies within 1 year of purchase.
- The tickets must not be part of a vacation package or group booking.
- The purchase has to be in US dollars.
Special Conditions for Alaska Airlines Saver Fares
The catch with booking a cheaper fare is that you don’t get all the perks. Generally, Saver fare tickets are non-refundable. But, passengers can get a 50% credit as long as they cancel at least 14 days from the flight’s departure date.
24-Hour Cancellations
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates that all carriers allow passengers to cancel a flight and get their money back. The only caveat is that it must be for travel booked a minimum of 7 days in the future.
With Alaska Airlines, their 24-hour cancellation policy is even more generous. Trips don’t need to be 7 days away. Instead, they’ll provide a refund if the flight is at least 24 hours away.
Alaska Airlines Cancellations – What Else Can You Get?
Aside from passengers canceling their flights, sometimes the airline has to cancel. Regardless of who or what is the cause of the cancellation, Alaska Airlines is required to either:
- Re-route passengers on a suitable Alaska Airlines flight, or;
- Re-route passengers on an Alaska Airlines partner flight if there are no Alaska flights until the following day and the same fare class is available, or;
- Issue a full refund if the passenger rejects any of the available route alternatives.
What Additional Alaska Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation is Provided?
When the airline is at fault for the cancellation, meaning it’s something they could have reasonably prevented, there are additional benefits:
- Reasonable meals when passengers choose to continue their trip.
- An overnight stay in a hotel when the new flight doesn’t leave until the next day, and a passenger is stuck at least 100 miles from their home.
- Transportation to and from said accommodation.
- Assistance with a phone call to alert friends and family when the cancellation results in at least a 1 hour delay.
- The choice of at least 2,000 Mileage Plan miles or at least $50 in travel credits, valid for a minimum of 1 year, when passengers are left waiting at the airport for 3+ hours.
Specifically with the extra miles, Alaska Airlines goes above and beyond. The only other airline in the US to offer this is Hawaiian Airlines.
Similarly, most carriers do not provide the future travel credit as this is not required by the DOT. This seemingly generous bonus is only currently offered by Alaska, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and Southwest.
Summary of the Guidelines for Alaska Airlines Delays & Cancellations
For at-fault Alaska Airlines disruptions, this is what passengers can claim:
Type of Compensation | Delayed | Canceled |
Rebook on Alaska Airlines |
(or refund) |
(or refund) |
Rebook on Partner Airline |
|
|
Communication Assistance |
|
|
Meal Voucher |
|
|
Hotel and Round-Trip Ground Transportation for Overnight Delays |
|
|
Cash Compensation |
|
|
Miles or Travel Vouchers for Delays at Airport 3+ hours |
|
|
It’s nice that they tick almost all the boxes, and the only place they fall short is that there is no cancellation or Alaska Airlines flight delay compensation in the form of cash.
In fact, no US airline offers this right now, but there are proposed US-based compensation plans currently being reviewed. This could end up being similar to the existing regulations in the UK and EU.
Alaska Airlines Disruptions – Recent Examples
In December 2024, Alaska had to halt all flights for about 40 minutes at Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle. This resulted in 2 complete cancellations and a further 156 flights delayed. The cause was IT-related and also affected the company’s website, so the “beyond our control” excuse doesn’t apply. The airline statement said:
This morning we experienced an IT issue that resulted in a significant disruption to our operation, including delayed flights. We sincerely apologize to our guests who are impacted and are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Another event in February 2025 caused severe interruptions at Portland’s Airport due to snow. By the afternoon, 22 delayed and 19 canceled departing flights affected many passengers. Also, 58 arriving flights were delayed and there were 10 arriving flights canceled.
What Compensation is Available for Missed Connections?
Missed connections operate pretty much the same as for Alaska Airlines flight delays and cancellations, provided the airline is at fault for the disruption. Expect all the same options related to comfort, communication, and other compensation as mentioned above.
The Difference Between Uncontrollable & Controllable Delays
Yes, it matters. When the disruption is preventable (controllable) by Alaska Airlines, passengers are afforded many more options. When the delay or cancellation during flight routing is uncontrollable, commonly due to weather or air traffic control issues, the compensation is more limited.
For example, passengers can only get re-booked on a new Alaska Airlines flight due to a significant delay or a cancellation when a cause outside the airline's control occurs at any city within the itinerary. “Significantly delayed” happens depending on the length of the delay compared to the original departure time. It's a 3+ hour difference for domestic routes and 6+ hours for international flights.
On the other hand, if Alaska is at fault and the new or delayed flight doesn’t leave until the following day, complimentary hotel accommodations and transportation are provided.
Alaska Airlines Airports with the Most Disruptions
In 2024, Dallas/Fort Worth Airport had the highest rate of delays - 31%. This was followed closely with 26% of flights from Chicago O’Hare delayed in the same year. So, passengers flying to or from these two airports should prepare for potential disruptions.
What You Need To Know About Alaska Airlines
In 2024, Alaska Airlines combined with Hawaiian Airlines with the 2 carriers continuing to maintain their separate brands.
Alaska serves over 30 million passengers annually. According to our study of the top US airlines, Alaska Airlines had an 82.27% on-time rate and the lowest flight cancellation percentage overall of 0.41%. This is great news for anyone booking an Alaska Airlines flight!
