American Airlines Flight Delay Compensation: Complete Guide to Claims & Payments 2025

American Airlines is the largest airline in the world when measured by the number of scheduled flights and passengers served every day (over half a million!). 

Since they’re serving so many people, you’d hope for some pretty stellar service — especially if you’re inconvenienced by a delay.

In several common circumstances, you're entitled to compensation if your American Airlines flight is delayed. Compensation might look like rebooking, accommodations, and vouchers.

. . .

What American Airlines Owes You for a Delay According to Their Contract of Carriage

Passengers who experience significant, controllable delays on an American Airlines flight are entitled to several services. 

• A significant delay is 3 hours or more for domestic flights and 6 hours or more for international flights.
• A controllable delay includes things within the airline’s control, such as maintenance issues, baggage loading, or crew problems. 

Note that American Airlines does not promise credit vouchers or travel vouchers for future travel. Don’t expect cash compensation, either. In fact, no domestic airline has committed to cash compensation. 

You also won’t necessarily be seeing any bonus frequent flier miles as American Airlines has not promised this as a form of compensation.

However, here is what they do offer:

Rebooking

According to their contract of carriage (the legal binding agreement made between the airline and its passengers), when your flight is significantly delayed and it’s the airline’s fault, American will rebook you on the next available American Airlines flight at no additional cost. 

If no American flights are available, they’ll try to get you on a flight with a partner airline, also at no cost to you. 

On top of that, they’ve committed to maintaining your original cabin or class!

Vouchers

In the case of a significant delay (3 hours or longer), American Airlines will provide you with meal vouchers. 

The fine print doesn’t include details as to how much you can expect to receive, but most airlines will provide “reasonable” vouchers for meals within the airport while you’re waiting. 

Accommodations

If your flight is delayed overnight and you're “away from your city of residence,” American Airlines will provide you with a voucher for an approved hotel, plus transportation to the hotel and back. That might look like the hotel shuttle, an Uber, or an equivalent service. 

If they’re unable to provide vouchers for an overnight delay, American Airlines commits to reimbursing passengers for reasonable hotel and transportation services. 

So if you find yourself in this boat, don’t go booking a penthouse at the Grand Hyatt! Stick with the EconoLodge this time.

Unfortunately, American Airlines doesn’t have a reimbursement form on its website like some other airlines, so ask the gate agent before you leave the airport or contact American’s customer service.

Refunds

If you reject rebooking options and accommodations and decide not to fly at all, that’s when you are entitled to a full refund, which will be automatically applied to you, thanks to a rule from the Biden-Harris administration. 

The airline might try to convince you to accept a travel credit instead of a refund. Be careful because this is a much better deal for the airline, but not such a great deal for you. 

Think about it: They aren’t shelling out cash, and the odds of you remembering to use that travel credit with them are fairly low. 

Unless you’re certain you’re going to use it for something specific, decline the travel credit and just ask for your money back!  

It’s important to keep in mind that you can’t claim a refund if you accept the airline’s accommodations or rebooking offers!

Understanding Your Rights for American Airlines Delay Compensation

As a passenger affected by a delay, it’s helpful to understand the relationship between the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and airline companies and your rights therein. (How’s that for legalese?!) 

Background: The U.S. Department of Transportation regulations

Technically, the DOT does not require airlines to compensate passengers affected by flight delays. 

However, the DOT does enforce the promises that airlines have made to their customers, which are specific and include amenities and services for customers experiencing controllable delays.

The DOT has created an Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard that details what each airline has committed to providing for their customers in the instance of flight delays and cancellations. 

I highly recommend you check it out and have it handy whenever you’re flying — it’s a fantastic resource!

What makes a delay

A “significant delay” for domestic flights means your flight has been delayed by 3 or more hours. For international flights, it’s 6 or more hours. 

There are two different categories of delays: controllable and uncontrollable. 

• Controllable delays include things like maintenance issues, baggage loading, or crew problems. These issues are within the airline’s control — because of that, it’s on them to correct your itinerary.
• Uncontrollable delays include weather, air traffic, or “acts of God.” The airline has no control over thunderstorms, for example, or international tensions that delay your flight. These are called “force majeure” events.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines to follow through on their specific promises to customers in the case of a controllable delay. 

If airlines fail to adhere to their own commitments, you can file a complaint with the DOT, which will hold them accountable.

Delays beyond American Airlines’s control

While you are entitled to compensation from American Airlines in the case of controllable delays, uncontrollable delays are a different story. 

When a flight is delayed because of weather, security concerns, or other “force majeure” events outside of American Airlines's control, passengers have fewer protections. 

American Airlines lists the following as examples of force majeure events:

• Weather issues
• Civil unrest, terrorism, and other security issues
• Public health emergencies
• Labor-related disputes such as strikes and lockouts
• Government regulation
• Shortages of labor, fuel, or facilities

In these situations, American claims that they will only refund portions of tickets that have gone “unused” — meaning if they rerouted you for weather on a different flight but in a lower class, they’d refund you the difference between that seat cost and what you paid for. But they wouldn’t provide the hotel if the rerouted flight was the next morning.

Essentially, the airline has made no commitment to providing complimentary accommodations, travel vouchers, or other amenities when delays are outside their control. Just a rebooked flight.

So, what can you do? Truthfully, not much. 

You could proactively change your flight ahead of time if weather reports aren’t looking good, especially if the airline has already published weather warnings for airports you’ll be flying on or out of. 

But outside of that, airlines are not legally obligated to provide services to you if a delay is out of their control. 

Cancellation compensation

What if your flight is completely canceled (for any reason) and the airline can't rebook you?

In that case, according to the Biden-Harris administration’s rule, you’re entitled to a full refund “of the ticket purchase price, minus the value of any portion of transportation already used.”

Tips: What to Do When Your American Airlines Flight Is Delayed

Don’t panic! Delays happen, so if you stay cool and remember your rights as a passenger, you’re already ahead.

Communication is key

When you book your flights, include your correct phone number and email address so the airline can reach you when there are delays or changes to your itinerary. 

American Airlines promises they will communicate with you accurately by providing updates within 30 minutes of becoming aware of a delay, so keep your phone handy for those alerts!

Agents from the airline should be available to address your specific needs. Talk to them politely and firmly to make sure you get what you’re entitled to as a passenger. 

This is an instance where having that DOT dashboard or the American Airlines Contract of Carriage handy will work in your favor. 

If you run into problems with an airline agent, show them the dashboard on your phone. Legally, they cannot deny you any of the services listed on the dashboard for American Airlines!

Sometimes, if there’s a long line at the gate to speak with an agent, it may be faster to connect with an airline representative through the American Airlines website, on the American Airlines app, or by calling their helpline: +1 800-433-7300. 

Alternative Compensation Options

If the airline doesn’t offer you satisfactory compensation right off the bat, the two main alternative options, in order, are travel insurance and credit card insurance.

Travel insurance coverage

If you purchased travel insurance, you might be eligible for additional compensation beyond what American offers. 

Generally, travel insurance covers unanticipated expenses when you travel domestically or abroad, including travel interruptions like delayed flights.

Check your policy — many cover expenses like meals and hotels even during weather delays.

If you don’t have a travel insurance policy, you can shop for one that suits your needs through an online broker like VisitorsCoverage.

Credit card travel protection

Many credit cards offer trip delay protection if you booked your flight with them. 

These benefits often kick in after shorter delays than airline compensation and can cover more expenses. 

For example, if you booked your flight with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you might receive compensation of up to $500 per ticket if you’re delayed 6 hours or more. 

. . .

. . .

TL;DR: How To Get American Airlines Flight Delay Compensation

American Airlines has specific policies for delays within their control. These include rebooking you, providing accommodations, and offering refund options when delays occur. 

Always know your rights and don't hesitate to ask about available compensation.

Remember: These are commitments American Airlines has made to its passengers. They are obligated to help you reach your destination as smoothly as possible!

. . .

---

Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.