By Trip.com
September 17, 2026
Typhoon season can make summer travel plans feels a little uncertain, especially when you have flights to catch.
Strong winds, heavy rain and poor visibility can all affect airport operations and flight schedules, sometimes leading to delays or cancellations.
If you're planning to travel during typhoon season, it helps to know what happens when a flight is grounded and what options you may have.
Here is some information that you need to know related to typhoon flight cancellations.
When flights run into rough weather, there currently isn’t a strict, one-size-fits-all rule for grounding them. Whether a plane takes off as scheduled, departs later, or gets cancelled outright is decided after the airline confers with the captain and pilots operating that flight.
Severe weather can significantly reduce visibility, make takeoffs and landings more challenging, and affect in-flight stability—especially the heavy downpours and fierce winds that come with typhoons, which have a direct impact on flight safety.
On top of that, aircraft types and sizes vary from flight to flight, and the local environment and runway conditions at each airport are different; add in differences in each pilot’s experience and certifications, and there are all kinds of variables to weigh when deciding whether to cancel a flight, so there isn’t a single, universal standard to go by right now.
During a typhoon or any stretch of unstable weather, the first thing you should do is stay informed. Airlines typically send real-time alerts by text message or email to let you know if your flight is delayed or canceled. As soon as you receive a notice like this, go straight to the airline’s official website to check the latest flight status, or head to the airport counter to confirm in person.
Make a habit of checking your airline's official website or app to confirm your flight status—the official site usually has the most up-to-the-minute updates. Singapore’s Changi Airport also posts flight and operational updates through its official website and Changi App, so travellers can check the latest information during severe weather. Keep an eye on which airlines have announced flight suspensions and when they expect to resume normal operations, then plan your next steps based on that information.
Once you’ve confirmed your flight has been canceled, contact the airline right away via the airport counter, customer service phone line, app, or official website to request the next steps. For flight cancellations caused by typhoons or other natural disasters, most airlines offer free rebooking or refunds. Be sure to hang on to your boarding pass, e-ticket confirmation, and any other related documents; they’ll be crucial if you later request a refund, change your ticket, or file an insurance claim. When you’re speaking with airline counter staff or phone agents, stay calm and clearly explain what you need; that makes it easier for customer service to resolve your cancellation quickly.
When flights are grounded, travelers have a few common options: most will choose the earliest flight available after the typhoon and rebook, and airlines usually prioritize affected passengers. If your schedule is flexible, applying for a full refund is also a good choice; since typhoons are considered force majeure, most airlines won’t charge a fee. That said, the options above ultimately depend on on-the-ground conditions and each airline’s specific policies.
Because airline policies on refunds, rebooking, and arranging alternate flights can vary widely, in any of the scenarios below we recommend asking the airline for official proof of flight cancellation and other related documents, and hanging on to your reservation records to protect your rights and interests.
When severe weather like a typhoon hits and, even after delays, flights still can’t take off or land safely, airlines will ground flights (cancel flights) for everyone’s safety, and you’ll need to rearrange your plans.
When your flight is canceled due to events outside the airline’s control—like bad weather—most carriers will proactively sort out your travel plans. They’ll rebook you for free on the next available departure, and if there’s no alternative flight that day, many will also provide complimentary hotel accommodations and ground transportation. In addition, most airlines can issue a full refund without charging processing or other related fees.
When weather like a typhoon rolls in, if the airline and the pilots determine that conditions are likely to improve and there’s no need to cancel the flight altogether, they’ll delay the departure.
Each airline handles delays a bit differently: if the delay is 1–4 hours, the airline might only send out a notice and not provide any other assistance or compensation. Most passengers are usually asked to remain at the originally scheduled boarding gate and they'll provide the latest updates promptly. And if your flight is delayed, you might not be entitled to a full refund; most airlines only allow a no-fee refund if the delay exceeds a certain threshold (say, 8 hours or more).
When booking your flight on Trip.com, you may also see the option to add AirHelp+ to your booking, depending on the flight and availability. AirHelp+ is a third party service provided directly by AirHelp that can assist with eligible flight delay, cancellation and overbooking claims. AirHelp handles the claim process and communicates with the airline on your behalf, helping to reduce the paperwork and follow up involved. However, eligibility and benefits vary by flight and region, and compensation is not guaranteed.
If your flight is grounded or canceled, travel inconvenience insurance usually offers more comprehensive coverage, but coverage and reimbursement rules can vary by insurer and policy type.
Common claim requirements and coverage terms usually require that the flight was actually canceled and that the airline has officially issued a flight suspension or cancellation notice; they might also require that the delay caused by the suspension be 6 hours or more before you’re eligible for a claim.
Coverage generally includes your airfare, extra lodging costs caused by a canceled flight, meals, transportation, and other related expenses. If a cancellation prevents you from making your onward connections, some policies also offer trip interruption benefits to cover those losses.
Compared with flight cancellations, the insurance claim requirements for flight delays are usually stricter, and the payout amounts tend to be more limited. If you’re traveling during typhoon season, it’s a smart move to first confirm whether your policy covers flight delays caused by natural disasters.
Most insurers require a flight delay to reach a specific time threshold before you can claim. Depending on the policy, payouts may be made for every 3 or 6 hours of delay, with a maximum claim limit. For example, some Singapore travel insurance plans offer S$50 for every 3 hours or S$100 for every 6 hours of delay.
And when your itinerary involves multiple flights, the way your coverage is handled gets more complicated. If a delay on an earlier leg causes you to miss your connection, most insurance companies will treat this as a single delay event and won't double-count it.
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