It’s always frustrating when a flight is delayed or canceled, especially when it takes a while to get rebooked. On top of that, a flight disruption can result in unplanned expenses and uncertainty over whether you’ll be able to recoup that money later on. Let’s take a look at the true costs of flight disruptions, along with steps you can take to minimize the financial hit.

The Hidden Costs of Flight Delays

According to a recent survey by AirHelp, 72% of travelers spent money they weren’t expecting to due to flight delays or cancellations. In such situations, your costs can quickly mount up. According to Newsweek, lost earnings were the biggest hit, averaging $484.19, while the price of finding somewhere to stay during a flight delay amounted to $311.87 on average. Other spending included $114.58 on food and drink, $93.72 replacing checked clothing and personal items such as deodorant and toothpaste, plus $221.33 to cover additional transportation costs. Taken together, that’s a sizable financial burden to have to pay, particularly as it’s unplanned.

Losses You Might Incur

Unused accommodations: If your flight is delayed, you may end up spending the first night of your vacation at home or in an airport hotel instead of in your intended accommodation. Most hotel cancellation policies don’t allow you to cancel on short notice, forcing you to eat the cost of that wasted first night — or more. In times of significant disruption such as weather-related problems that affect a relatively large number of passengers, it could be several days before you reach your destination.

Lost car rental days: Similarly, if you’ve booked a rental car to use during your vacation, you’ll still have to pay for the original rental period. Even worse, some companies may mark you as a no-show and cancel the reservation completely, resulting in hefty cancellation fees. If you then try to rebook, you’ll likely have to pay inflated, last-minute rates. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to contact your rental car company with your revised arrival time.

Ground transportation: Travelers who have purchased cheaper train or ground transportation tickets in advance will often find they’re nontransferable in the event of a delayed arrival. Flexible and walk-up fares for trains tend to be more expensive, too. 

Activity and excursion charges: Sometimes, high demand for activities makes it essential to book ahead of time. But if you’ve made such bookings for the beginning of your vacation and your flight is delayed, you may end up missing out. Many tour providers will be reluctant to provide a refund. Get Your Guide, for instance, has a no-refund policy for cancellations less than 24 hours ahead. It’s a similar story with Viator, so check the terms and conditions carefully before you commit and consider allowing yourself a few days of buffer after you arrive at your destination. 

Lost earnings: A flight delay could potentially result in lost earnings, too. You may have booked paid time off, but in unexpected circumstances, you might have to take unpaid leave to cover the additional days. 

Extra Costs

Additional accommodations: If you can’t get on another flight until the next morning, you may have no choice but to find and pay for additional accommodations — at last-minute rates. Check first with your airline to see if they’ll arrange a hotel for you. You may be on your own. But if the delay is within the airline’s control and you expect to qualify for compensation later on, try to book a reasonably priced hotel, if possible, or you may end up footing a rather large bill.

Unplanned food and beverage costs: In certain circumstances, airlines hand out vouchers to go toward the cost of meals you need to purchase while waiting for your delayed flight. However, vouchers are often tied to specific outlets, and airport eateries tend to be expensive. Travelers may find that the amount they’ve received isn’t sufficient to cover the total cost of the food and beverages they consume.

Additional transportation costs: If you’ve driven yourself to the airport, a flight delay can leave you facing additional parking fees on top of the costs you’ve already accrued (which can be substantial). Otherwise, you may have to pay for extra cabs, rideshares, car services, or shuttles to and from airport hotels.

Pet care costs: While some pet owners leave their furry companions with friends or family members, it’s sometimes necessary to pay for pet boarding or a pet sitter. For every day that your flight home is delayed, there’s a corresponding charge to keep your much-loved pet in a safe place. In some parts of the U.S., it can be as much as $60 per day, according to a report from Daily Paws.

Extra Clothing or Essentials: If your flight is delayed overnight, it may be a hassle (or even impossible) to reunite with your checked bags, leaving travelers on the hook to purchase personal items such as deodorant and toothpaste. This is why we always recommend packing a few essentials and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag.

How To Minimize Out of Pocket Costs

Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself in the event of flight delays. In the planning stage of a trip, proactive strategies include flying earlier in the day, when delays are less likely, steering clear of busy airports that experience more congestion-related delays, and avoiding carriers that are known for having a poor punctuality record. For hotels and activities, look for ones with generous cancellation policies so you won’t be on the hook for your entire stay or miss out altogether on a high-demand excursion. 

Be sure you know your rights, too. For example, in the U.S., new rules enacted in 2024 now require airlines to provide full refunds if your domestic flight is changed by three or more hours. (See our full guide to these rules here.) For controllable overnight delays, airlines will also arrange accommodation and ground transportation to get there. In Europe, airlines are obliged to offer compensation under certain circumstances due to EU 261. (See our guide here.)

Make sure you also keep the relevant receipts when incurring unplanned expenses, as you’ll need to supply these in support of your claim if you qualify for compensation. Additionally, if you’ve purchased travel insurance, it’s a good idea to read the small print of your travel insurance policy to see what you’re covered for in the event of a flight cancellation or delay.