Each of these is a refusal this regime lets a counterparty attempt, paired with the answer to it. Reading them before you write is worth more than any amount of polish on the letter itself.
"The delay was caused by weather, so nothing is owed"
high likelihoodThe carrier says the disruption was outside its control — weather, air traffic control, an airport closure — and therefore that it owes you nothing.
What answers it
That answer confuses two different regimes. Under EU261 an extraordinary circumstance defeats the compensation claim. Part 260 has no such defence: 14 CFR 260.6 triggers the refund on the fact of the cancellation or significant change, full stop. The cause is legally irrelevant to a refund. Ask the carrier to identify the provision of Part 260 it says excuses it — there is none.
14 CFR 260.6 — § 260.6
"We already gave you a travel credit"
high likelihoodThe carrier says it has discharged its obligation by issuing a voucher, flight credit or "goodwill" bonus miles.
What answers it
14 CFR 260.10 requires the refund in the original form of payment. 14 CFR 260.7 permits a voucher or credit only where the passenger affirmatively accepted it after being told of the right to a cash refund, and even then it must be valid for at least five years. A credit issued automatically, or issued before you were told about the cash right, does not discharge anything. Say in writing that you did not affirmatively accept it and that you require the refund in the original form of payment.
14 CFR 260.7 — § 260.7
"You never submitted a refund request"
high likelihoodThe carrier says no refund is due because you did not fill in its refund form.
What answers it
Refunds under Part 260 are automatic. 14 CFR 260.6 requires the carrier to refund without any request where the flight was cancelled and no alternative was accepted, where you rejected the rebooking or credit offered, or where you simply did not respond by the departure date. The form is the carrier’s convenience, not a precondition of your right.
14 CFR 260.6 — § 260.6
"We have refunded you in full" (base fare only)
high likelihoodThe carrier refunds the base fare and keeps the taxes, carrier-imposed surcharges, seat fees or bag fees.
What answers it
The refund under Part 260 is of the fare INCLUDING taxes and fees, plus any ancillary services paid for and not received (14 CFR 260.4), and 14 CFR 260.10 forbids the carrier from retaining a processing fee. Itemise what you paid against what was returned and demand the shortfall line by line.
14 CFR 260.10 — § 260.10
"The flight was not cancelled, it was renumbered"
medium likelihoodThe carrier says the flight you were booked on still operated under a different flight number, so nothing was cancelled and no refund is due.
What answers it
14 CFR 260.2 defines a cancelled flight by reference to the specific flight number published in the reservation system at the time of sale. On the face of the regulation, a flight operated under a different number is a cancellation. Be aware of the complication: on 5 December 2025 DOT announced it would pause enforcement of that limb, for renumbered flights that caused no significant change or delay, until 30 June 2026 while it consulted on redefining "cancelled flight". That pause was expressed to expire, and we have not been able to verify that it was extended. Two points survive either way: an enforcement pause is not a change in the law and does not extinguish your private contractual right, and the pause never covered renumbering that DID shift your itinerary significantly.
14 CFR 260.2 ("significantly delayed or changed flight") — § 260.2