Being stuck at the airport is frustrating, and you may have read that a delayed flight can be worth hundreds of dollars. For flights within or from the United States, that is usually not the case: no federal rule requires airlines to pay cash compensation for a delay. You still have real protections, though, and knowing them helps you ask for the right thing at the right time.
This guide explains what U.S. rules guarantee, what airlines promise on their own, when European rules can apply to your trip and how to claim what you are owed.
Do U.S. airlines owe compensation for delays?
No. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) considered a rule that would have required airlines to compensate passengers for controllable cancellations and delays, but it withdrew that proposal in November 2025. On the DOT’s airline customer service dashboard, none of the airlines listed commits to cash compensation for delays.
That does not leave you empty-handed. Depending on what happens to your flight, you may be entitled to a refund, to compensation if you are bumped, or to meals and a hotel under the airline’s own customer service commitments.
What you can get when a flight is delayed or canceled
A refund if your flight is canceled or significantly changed
Under DOT rules, if your flight is canceled or significantly delayed or changed and you choose not to travel, or you turn down the alternative flight or travel credit the airline offers, you are entitled to a full refund of your fare, including taxes and fees. A significant change includes a departure or arrival that moves by three hours or more on a domestic itinerary, or by six hours or more on an international one.
The refund must be issued automatically to your original form of payment: within seven business days for credit card purchases and within 20 calendar days for other payment methods. The details are on the DOT’s refunds page.
Refunds for bag fees and extras you paid for
The same rules cover checked bag fees when a bag is significantly delayed (on a domestic trip, when it is not delivered within 12 hours of arrival) and fees for paid services you did not receive, such as in-flight Wi-Fi that did not work.
Meals, rebooking and hotels
When a delay or cancellation is caused by the airline, the large U.S. carriers listed on the DOT dashboard commit to rebooking you at no extra cost and to providing a meal or meal voucher when the delay lasts three hours or more. Most of them also commit to covering a hotel when an airline-caused problem leaves you stranded overnight, and a few, such as Alaska, Hawaiian, JetBlue and Southwest, also commit to travel credits or vouchers for some controllable delays. These are voluntary commitments, not federal law, so check the dashboard and the airline’s customer service plan, and ask the agent at the airport.
Compensation if you are bumped from an oversold flight
If you are involuntarily denied boarding because a flight is oversold, U.S. rules do require compensation. On a domestic flight, you get 200% of the one-way fare to your destination (up to $1,075) if the airline gets you there one to two hours late, and 400% (up to $2,150) if you arrive more than two hours late. On international flights departing the U.S., the thresholds are one to four hours and more than four hours. No compensation is due if you arrive within one hour of your original schedule, and some exceptions apply, for example if you did not meet the airline’s check-in deadline. The amounts are set in 14 CFR 250.5.
The 24-hour rule when you book
One more protection is worth knowing before you buy. If you book directly with an airline at least seven days before departure, U.S. rules require the airline to let you either cancel without penalty or hold the fare without payment for at least 24 hours. The airline chooses which of the two options it offers. This rule applies to airlines, not to online travel agencies.
When European rules apply
Cash compensation for delays does exist under European Union rules, but only for certain trips. EU Regulation 261/2004 covers flights departing from an EU airport on any airline, and flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline. If you reach your final destination three hours or more late, you may be entitled to between €250 and €600, depending on the distance, unless the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather.
That means a flight from Paris to New York can be covered, while a flight from New York to Paris on a U.S. airline is not. The official Your Europe guide to air passenger rights explains the rules and how to claim.
How to claim what you are owed
- At the airport: ask the airline agent about rebooking, meal vouchers and, for overnight delays, a hotel. Ask what caused the delay, since airline commitments usually depend on it.
- For refunds: if you decide not to travel after a cancellation or significant change, decline the alternative flight or travel credit. The refund should then be processed automatically.
- Keep records: save your boarding pass, booking confirmation, receipts for meals or hotels and any messages from the airline.
- If the airline does not respond: you can file a complaint with the DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection.
- For flights covered by EU rules: you can claim directly with the airline at no cost. Claim companies can file for you, but they charge a fee.
Rules and airline commitments change, so check the official pages linked above before you travel. For more ways to plan and save on your trips, keep browsing Tripiefly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do U.S. airlines have to pay me for a delayed flight?▾
No federal rule requires cash compensation for delays in the U.S. You may still be entitled to a refund if the flight is canceled or significantly changed and you choose not to travel, and the large airlines commit to meals and rebooking when a long delay is their fault.
How long does the airline have to refund me?▾
Under DOT rules, refunds must be issued automatically within seven business days for credit card purchases and within 20 calendar days for other forms of payment.
Can I claim if my flight was delayed due to weather?▾
Airline commitments for meals and hotels usually cover only delays caused by the airline, so weather delays typically do not qualify. Under EU rules, severe weather is generally treated as an extraordinary circumstance. Refund rights for canceled or significantly changed flights are a separate matter.
How much do I get if I am bumped from an oversold flight?▾
On a domestic flight, 200% of your one-way fare (up to $1,075) if you arrive one to two hours late, and 400% (up to $2,150) if you arrive more than two hours late. Longer time thresholds apply to international flights departing the U.S.
Can I get compensation for a delayed flight from Europe to the U.S.?▾
Possibly. Because the flight departs from the EU, EU rules can entitle you to compensation of up to €600, depending on the distance, if you arrive three hours or more late and the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
