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Hawaiian Airlines cancelled flight refund: your rights and how to claim

Hawaiian Airlines flies interisland, to the US mainland, and across the Pacific, so a cancellation is governed by US Department of Transportation rules, not EU261.

Refund, not compensation

A refund returns the fare you paid; the EU’s fixed compensation (EUR 250-600) has no US equivalent, and Hawaiian’s Pacific network doesn’t trigger EU261.

US DOT rules

If Hawaiian cancels your flight, or makes a significant change and you decline the alternative, you’re entitled to a full refund to your original payment method, including on non-refundable fares. For domestic itineraries (interisland and US mainland) a change is “significant” at 3+ hours; for international itineraries the threshold is 6+ hours, plus airport changes, added connections or downgrades. There is no statutory cash compensation in the US.

How to get a refund from Hawaiian Airlines

  1. Request a refund to your original payment method, not a credit.
  2. Use Hawaiian’s refund request page or contact reservations, stating the cancellation and that you decline rebooking.
  3. Keep the cancellation notice, confirmation code and receipts.

Check before you fly

Assess the cancellation and delay risk of your Hawaiian Airlines flight with FlightGuard. US passenger-rights detail: /en-us/dot-flight-refund-rules/.

Hawaiian Airlines flights follow US DOT refund rules, not EU261. See your rights and check eligibility:

US flight refund rules & checker →

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Under US DOT rules, if Hawaiian cancels and you decline the rebooking, you're owed a full refund to your original form of payment, including on non-refundable fares.

No. Hawaiian flies within the US and across the Pacific (Asia, Oceania); none of these routes trigger EU261, and the US has no fixed-compensation scheme.

A schedule change is significant at 3+ hours for a domestic flight (interisland and US mainland count as domestic). If you decline the alternative offered, you're owed a refund.

Card refunds are generally processed within 7 business days under US DOT guidance; other methods up to about 20 days.

Check a Hawaiian Airlines flight