US airlines have various compensation policies when it comes to cancelations and delays. Travelers can consult the Department of Transportation’s dashboard here, though airlines may choose to provide customers with extra services and amenities depending on the situation.
For UK-connected flights, the Civil Aviation Authority’s guidance for the current Middle East disruption makes clear that, for flights covered by UK passenger rights, airlines must either get you to your destination or offer a refund if you no longer wish to travel. Refunds should be provided within seven days under UK rules.
In the UAE, the GCAA’s Passenger Welfare Program requires airlines, in the event of a cancelation, to inform passengers as early as practicable, offer appropriate care (including refreshments, meals, hotel accommodation, transport to/from accommodation and communication), and then either carry passengers “as soon as practicable” on another flight or offer rerouting—including, where necessary, rerouting on another airline subject to availability. In this specific crisis, the GCAA says accommodation, meals and rebooking support are being provided under the UAE’s operational response, with the state bearing the hosting and accommodation costs.
In Saudi Arabia, if your flight is canceled or delayed due to force majeure events such as acts of war, airlines are required to offer alternative flight arrangements but are not required to provide cash compensation. (Under Saudi Arabia’s GACA passenger rights protections, the rules state that carriers are not permitted to cancel scheduled flights except in cases of force majeure, or for safety and security reasons based on reports approved by GACA.)
EU passenger rights guidance is explicit that even where a cancelation or delay is due to extraordinary circumstances and you may not be entitled to compensation, the carrier must still offer assistance and care, including meals and accommodation, while the customer waits for alternative transport. Again, US-based carriers do not have such uniform policies or requirements, and travelers should consult the website of their respective airline on a case-by-case basis.
Why your airfare might not be refunded
Many travelers mix up airfare refunds, care (hotels and meals), and compensation. For this particular disruption, the UK CAA and other regulators have said passengers are unlikely to be entitled to fixed-sum compensation because the disruption is being treated as “extraordinary circumstances” or a “force majeure event.” However, in most cases, your airline is still required to provide alternative travel arrangements free of charge.
What travel insurance typically covers during airspace closures
Although it always depends on your policy wording, coverage during airspace closures tends to fall into one of several categories.
The first is travel delay or abandonment benefits, which often pay either a fixed amount after a set delay or reimburse “reasonable” additional costs up to a capped limit. They can be useful when airlines are overwhelmed and you have to buy essentials yourself, but they’re also the benefits most likely to be reduced if meals/hotels are being provided by the airline or (in the UAE right now) through government-provided support.