Dubuque Airport Reimburses Ground Transport for Denver Service Changes

Dubuque, Iowa travelers who get re-booked to a different airport because Denver Air Connection service ends January 15, 2026 can request a $175 per passenger reimbursement to cover ground transportation back to Dubuque. If your trip started from Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ) and your return plans change after that cutoff, this program helps offset the extra cost of getting home.

This guide walks you through who qualifies, what expenses count, what to upload, and how to avoid common errors that lead to a “no.” It’s written for real-life travel disruptions—when your return flight gets moved and you suddenly need a ride from another airport back to Dubuque.

Why Dubuque Regional Airport is offering this reimbursement

Denver Air Connection’s daily flights between DBQ and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) are ending when the service agreement terminates on January 15, 2026. When your return flight gets re-booked to another airport because of that service ending, you’re left paying for the last leg back to Dubuque.

Dubuque Regional Airport is offering ground transportation reimbursements to reduce that burden for eligible passengers. Airport staff review requests, and submitting a request does not guarantee payment. You will receive a decision notice within 10 days of submission.

💡 Plain-English version: If the airline can’t bring you back to DBQ after that date and sends you somewhere else, this program helps pay for your ride back to Dubuque.

Eligibility: the 3 checks you must pass

You qualify only if all of the conditions below match your situation.

1) Your trip departed Dubuque by the cutoff

• You departed Dubuque on or before January 15, 2026.

2) Your return is affected after the cutoff

• Your return flight is scheduled on or after January 15, 2026, and
• That return is being re-booked to another airport because Denver Air Connection service ended.

3) Your reimbursement request is for the ride back to Dubuque

• Only ground transportation expenses tied to travel from the alternative airport back to Dubuque on or after the cutoff qualify.

If your travel doesn’t match this pattern (for example, your return still lands at DBQ, or you voluntarily changed airports), this program won’t fit your case.

Step-by-step: how to request the $175 reimbursement (5 steps)

Follow these steps in order. Keep each file and receipt easy to read before you upload anything.

1. Confirm your itinerary matches the eligibility rules
   • Check your original booking and the re-booked return.
   • Make sure the dates show the required depart/return timing.
   • Confirm the return is re-booked to a different airport due to the service ending.
2. Collect your proof of re-booking and your travel dates
   • Save your full airline itinerary that shows:
     • Your DBQ departure date
     • Your return date
     • The airport you’re now returning to
3. Save your ground transportation records
   • Keep receipts or confirmations connected to your trip back to Dubuque.
   • Examples: rideshare confirmations, taxi receipts, shuttle bookings, rental car and fuel records (fuel only).
4. Complete the City/Airport online reimbursement form
   • Fill out all required fields carefully.
   • Upload your itinerary with dates as your main proof.
   • Add any ground transportation documentation you have.
5. Watch for the decision notice
   • Airport staff review requests case by case.
   • You will be notified within 10 days of submission.

⚠️ Important: The reimbursement is tied to the re-booking situation. Focus your upload on proof that your return changed to another airport due to the service ending.

What ground transportation costs count (and what to leave out)

The reimbursement covers ground transportation used to get from the alternative airport back to Dubuque. Qualifying examples include:

• Shuttle service
• Rideshare
• Taxi
• Rental car fuel portion (fuel only)

Keep your request focused on the “back to Dubuque” leg. That’s the trip this program targets.

Costs that commonly create problems

Even when you truly had extra expenses, requests are often denied if you include unrelated items, such as:

• Hotels near the alternate airport
• Meals
• Parking fees not tied to the return-to-Dubuque segment
• Ground transportation not connected to traveling back to Dubuque after the cutoff

Documents you should upload (and how to format them)

You must upload proof of your air carrier itinerary showing dates. That’s the core requirement.

Required document checklist

• Airline itinerary with dates showing:
  • Your departure from Dubuque on or before the cutoff
  • Your return flight on or after the cutoff
  • The re-booking to another airport

Strong supporting documents (recommended)

Although the reimbursement is a flat amount, clean supporting files help your request move faster:

• Ground transportation receipt(s) or confirmations for the return trip to Dubuque
• Rideshare “trip receipt” screenshot showing the route and date
• Taxi receipt showing date and pick-up area
• Shuttle invoice or email confirmation
• Rental car receipt plus fuel receipt (fuel only)

File tips that reduce delays

• Use clear filenames like:
  • Itinerary_Lastname_DBQ_ReturnRebooked.pdf
  • RideshareReceipt_ReturnToDubuque.pdf
• Upload complete pages. Avoid cropped screenshots that hide dates or airport codes.
• If your itinerary is split across emails, combine it into one file when possible.

Amount, timing, and review rules (what to expect)

Here’s how the program works once you submit.

Reimbursement amount

• Maximum per passenger: $175
• The program is described as a flat reimbursement for eligible ground transportation tied to the re-booking.

Review and decision timing

• Airport staff review your request.
• Submitting the form does not guarantee reimbursement.
• You will receive a response within 10 days of submission.

Watch out for these common mistakes (they get requests rejected)

Small errors can derail an otherwise valid request. Fix these before you submit.

Mistake 1: Uploading the wrong itinerary page

• You need the itinerary that shows the dates and the re-booking details.
• If you upload a generic booking confirmation that doesn’t show the changed return airport, your eligibility is hard to verify.

Fix: Upload the full itinerary that shows the before/after return routing and the travel dates.

Mistake 2: Asking for costs that aren’t “back to Dubuque”

• The program targets ground transportation back to Dubuque from the alternative airport.

Fix: Keep your receipts and explanation limited to that segment.

Mistake 3: Missing the “why” behind the re-booking

• Your request must connect the re-booking to the end of Denver Air Connection service.

Fix: Use the itinerary that clearly shows the changed return airport, and keep your written explanation short and direct.

Mistake 4: Submitting incomplete fields on the form

• If you leave blanks or enter a name that doesn’t match the itinerary, your request can stall.

Fix: Match your name and trip details exactly to what appears on the booking.

Mistake 5: Waiting until details are hard to retrieve

• Receipts and ride confirmations can disappear from apps or email searches.

Fix: Save PDFs and screenshots as soon as you know you’re re-booked.

Related help: the separate $100 ticket rebate program (if it applies to you)

A different program exists through Dubuque Initiatives: it pledged $100 round-trip ticket rebates for travelers who purchased tickets between August 11 and December 31, 2025.

If you bought your ticket in that window, review the details at FlyDBQ incentives page. Keep this separate from the ground transportation reimbursement request, since each program has its own rules.

For travelers using immigration benefits or traveling for immigration appointments

If you’re traveling for an immigration purpose—like a 🇺🇸 visa interview, adjustment of status appointment, or a time-sensitive family visit tied to immigration deadlines—treat a re-booked return as a planning issue, not just a cost issue.

• Save proof of travel changes for your records.
• If you must show travel history later (for example, for naturalization questions or benefit applications), keep a clean folder with your itinerary changes and dates.
• If you’re not sure which dates matter for your immigration case, keep everything. Do not rely on airline apps to store your history.

For more immigration guides written in plain English, visit VisaVerge.com.

Next steps: what to do today if your return flight was re-booked

1. Pull your full itinerary and confirm your dates match the eligibility rules tied to January 15, 2026.
2. Save your ground transportation confirmations for the trip back to Dubuque.
3. Complete the City/Airport online reimbursement form and upload your itinerary with dates.
4. Set a calendar reminder for the 10-day decision window so you don’t miss the response.