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About 77% of domestic flights arrived at their destinations as scheduled in the first half of 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
For unlucky passengers of the less punctual 23%, there are a few ways to get compensation for the inconvenience of a delayed flight.
Your rights may be guaranteed in your travel insurance policy, your credit card's travel insurance benefits, an airline’s contract of carriage, or by the DOT’s rules.
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- You’re entitled to a full cash refund for domestic flights delayed by more than three hours or international flights delayed by more than six hours if you choose not to travel.
- To get additional compensation, the delay must be due to something that was in the airline's control, such as unplanned maintenance or staffing shortage.
- All major U.S. airlines provide meals or meal vouchers/cash for flights delayed by three hours or more; most will pay for a hotel if a flight is delayed overnight.
- Airlines typically won't volunteer additional compensation, so be sure to ask.
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How Long Can a Flight Be Delayed Before Compensation Is Available?
The Biden administration announced on April 24, 2024, that all airlines are now legally required to give you a full refund for your flight ticket if your flight is significantly delayed and you decline alternative transportation or travel credits offered by the airline.
A “significant delay” refers to a domestic flight delayed by more than three hours or an international flight delayed by more than six hours.
You're also entitled to a full refund if you experience other significant changes to your original flight itinerary, including:
- Departure from or arrival to a different airport than originally scheduled
- Modification of your itinerary to include more connecting airports than originally scheduled
- An involuntary downgrade to a lower cabin class than what you paid for
These rules apply to flights operated by domestic and foreign airlines flying to, from, or within the U.S.
A refund must be offered regardless of the reason for the significant itinerary change and even if you originally purchased a nonrefundable ticket.
How does a flight delay refund work?
If your flight delay meets the DOT’s standard for being “significant” and you either decline or don’t respond to a new itinerary suggested by the airline, you’re entitled to a full refund of what you paid for your flight, including taxes and airline fees for stuff like checked bags, wifi, or seat selection.
But the value of any itinerary portion you already used, like the first leg of a connecting itinerary, may be deducted from your refund.
The DOT specifies that an airline or ticket agent must refund you in either your original form of payment or, with your consent, in an alternative, “cash equivalent” form of payment, like a flight voucher or miles.
The alternative form of payment must be redeemable for a minimum period of five years.
Your refund must be provided within seven business days if you paid for the flight with a credit card or within 20 calendar days if you bought the flight with another payment method, like cash, check, or debit card.
READ MORE: Credit Card vs. Debit Card: Which Is Better?
Getting Additional Flight Delay Compensation
Aside from the legally mandated refund, the 10 major U.S. airlines will also provide you with a meal, a meal voucher, or cash for a meal if your flight is delayed by three hours or more due to controllable circumstances.
But there are a few small policy variations from one carrier to the next that you should keep in mind before you take to the skies.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights (and lowlights) from the four largest U.S. airlines’ flight delay compensation policies.
American Airlines delayed flight compensation
American Airlines’ flight delay policy guarantees that you will be rebooked on the next available flight. If there’s no available American Airlines flight until the following day, you will be rebooked on one of the carrier’s 24 partner airlines.
If you're facing an overnight delay away from your city of residence, you can ask American Airlines for:
- A hotel voucher or reimbursement for “reasonable hotel costs” if no voucher is available
- Arranged transit to and from an approved hotel, a transportation voucher, or reimbursement for out-of-pocket transit expenses
If you're delayed three hours or more after the scheduled departure, you are entitled to meal vouchers. However, the policy does not mention reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses.
The airline will provide snacks and water to you during onboard (tarmac) delays of more than two hours.
Delta delayed flight compensation
The Delta flight delay policy provides a meal or meal voucher if your flight is delayed by three or more hours.
Delta representatives may also provide you with gift cards, travel vouchers, and SkyMiles for “passenger inconvenience when individual circumstances warrant doing so.”
It’s unclear what type of qualifying circumstances might warrant this extra compensation, but it’s worth approaching a Delta rep and asking if those comp types are available in the event of a significant delay.
If your flight is delayed, the airline does guarantee that it will automatically rebook you on the next available Delta flight, or a flight operated by one of its partners, at no cost.
If you’re delayed away from your home or destination overnight, Delta will provide:
- Complimentary hotel accommodations and transit to or from the hotel
- Reimbursement for reasonable hotel and transit costs if a Delta-contracted hotel is not available
- A credit based on the value of a Delta-contracted hotel rate if accommodations are unavailable
RELATED: Get Free SkyMiles with Delta’s Bags-on-Time Guarantee
Southwest delayed flight compensation
The Southwest flight delay policy provides compensation comparable to American Airlines and Delta. The airline will rebook you on the next available Southwest flight. If you decline, the airline will issue a refund for the unused portion of your ticket.
Some policy details include:
- For controllable delays of three hours or more within the airport, Southwest will provide a meal voucher or meal reimbursement. Additionally, Southwest representatives may offer complimentary snacks and beverages.
- In the event of a controllable flight delay or cancellation that causes an overnight delay, Southwest will arrange accommodation near the airport or honor reasonable reimbursement requests.
- If your flight arrives three or more hours after its scheduled arrival time due to a reason within Southwest’s control, you can submit a request for a Southwest LUV voucher worth $75 or more. This voucher can be used to purchase travel through Southwest.
- Southwest doesn’t belong to an airline alliance, and it has only one announced airline partnership (with Icelandair) set to launch in 2025. So, while Southwest will rebook you on one of its flights for free in the case of a significant delay, its options for rebooking you on a partner airline are very limited.
United delayed flight compensation
The United flight delay policy indicates that in the event of a delay, United will either transport you to your destination on one of its flights or arrange for air or ground transportation via another carrier.
For delays of four hours or more between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., United will offer a night’s lodging or, upon request, reimburse accommodation as an electronic travel certificate applicable to future United travel.
United will provide snacks and/or food and beverage vouchers if you experience an extensive, controllable delay.
Anything over three hours is considered an “extensive delay” based on United’s commitments to the DOT. But you can try politely asking United representatives if they can provide food and beverage vouchers after a delay of 30 minutes or more.
Other airlines' delayed flight compensation
If you're not flying via one of the “Big Four,” search online for “[airline name] contract of carriage” or “[airline name] customer service plan” to review your rights as a passenger.
The DOT's Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard includes a table summarizing flight delay compensation policies for the 10 largest U.S. airlines.
LISTEN: Don’t Fly Unless You Know This New Airline Law
EU Flight Delay Compensation
If you’re traveling internationally, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with relevant overseas flight delay laws.
European flight delay compensation policies (specifically EU 261) are more generous than U.S. flight delay compensation policies.
They legally apply to any flight within the European Union (and some European countries outside the Union), regardless of whether or not the carrier itself is European. They also apply to European carriers that depart from areas outside Europe.
The amount and type of compensation may vary for an international flight delay or cancellation. It depends not only on the flight's jurisdiction but also on its distance and delay length.
For example, if a Ryanair flight from London to Rome has a controllable departure delay of two hours or more, passengers are entitled to complimentary meals and refreshments.
If a United Airlines flight from Paris to New York is canceled a few days before its scheduled departure, passengers are entitled to 600 euros (around US$625) as well as reimbursement or rerouting.
RELATED: Baggage Delay Insurance: How It Works
How To Get Compensation for a Delayed Flight
Knowing the DOT’s rules and your airline’s internal policy will go a long way toward getting compensated if your flight is delayed.
But you’ll need to take a few extra steps to ensure the airline follows through on its obligations.
Check if the delay qualifies
A wide range of controllable circumstances may lead to compensable flight delays, according to Ben Weiss, a technology leader at travel software company GO7 and a former operations leader at American Airlines.
“Airlines can be forced to delay a flight due to unplanned maintenance, late crew (typically delayed from a connecting flight), delays related to catering or refueling the airplane, and even boarding delays or other glitches in the turnaround,” Weiss says.
“Malfunctioning computers or antiquated IT infrastructure can also play a part, for example, if agents have to manually board a flight.”
However, airlines generally won’t compensate for “force majeure” delays — i.e., circumstances beyond their control, like foul weather.
According to Andrew Appelbaum, a staff attorney for the airline passenger advocacy organization FlyersRights, force majeure circumstances explain a relatively small percentage of flight delays.
“In 2022, the airlines caused more delays than severe weather, routine weather, air traffic control, and congestion combined,” says Appelbaum.
If the airline doesn’t announce the reason for the delay, ask for clarification from one of its staff members and write down the staffer’s name and response. But don’t blindly accept the airline’s explanation if it claims the delay is force majeure.
“We recommend passengers look at weather reports and whether other flights and other airlines are operating normally,” Appelbaum advises.
Optimize communication
Many airlines’ customer service plans say they will provide passengers with compensation “upon request.” If a delay appears to qualify for compensation according to the airline’s policy, don’t expect the airline staff to take a stack of Hyatt Regency vouchers and make it rain.
“We do not see airlines proactively reaching out to inform passengers of their rights to compensation. Passengers must be proactive in demanding any compensation that is owed to them,” says Applebaum.
No matter which party initiates the compensation procedure, you can minimize headaches by being accessible to the airline.
“Some airlines will actively push vouchers via their digital channels (app, email, or SMS), while others may require you to see an agent,” Weiss says.
“As in any relationship, being open to communication is vital. Download their app or give your email and cellphone number when you check in to ensure the airline can keep in touch with you.”
Save those receipts
If your delay occurs late at night, an airline’s staff may only have vouchers for airport restaurants that are already closed or hotels that are fully booked. Hopefully, the airline’s policy stipulates that it will reimburse applicable food and lodging expenses in these circumstances.
Always photograph and save the receipts for the meal, hotel room, and related transportation services you purchase out of pocket. Also, keep any unused vouchers the airline gave you. This is your ammunition if you have to appeal to the airline for monetary compensation.
You might also need to provide proof that you don’t live close to the airport, like a current driver’s license.
Other Ways To Get Compensated for a Flight Delay
Although some airlines have improved their flight delay policies in recent years, the question of whether or not you’ll be compensated may be at the mercy of the airline’s staff. And when the airline does decide to pony up, the compensation it offers is often inadequate.
A more surefire way to be properly compensated for a flight delay is to cover your trips with travel insurance, either via a policy that you buy from an insurer or the coverage that comes with your credit card.
Buy travel delay insurance
If you plan to fly with an airline that doesn’t specify adequate flight delay compensation in its contract of carriage, consider purchasing a separate travel insurance policy that offers fair compensation for a delay.
The most efficient way to find a comprehensive but affordable policy is to compare multiple insurers’ offers side by side via a travel insurance marketplace like VisitorsCoverage.
Third-party travel insurance may offer several noteworthy advantages over relying on a U.S. airline’s paltry compensation policy:
- Both incidental trip expenses incurred due to a delay (meals, hotels, etc.) and prepaid trip expenses that you miss out on due to a delay (like that front-row ticket to finally see Tom Jones live) can be reimbursed up to a daily limit, e.g., $200.
- The policy may provide compensation for the kinds of force majeure delays that aren’t covered by an airline’s contract of carriage, like bad weather or civil unrest.
- Your policy will likely include coverage for many other travel snafus, like medical expenses and lost luggage.
READ MORE: Trip Cancellation Insurance: How It Works
Use credit card flight delay insurance
Some travel credit cards offer trip delay reimbursement as part of their insurance packages. However, the amount of time that qualifies as a compensable delay varies.
High-end travel cards with enormous annual fees may reimburse you for expenses after a six-hour delay.
Cards with low or no annual fees usually only compensate for delays of 12 hours or more, if they offer this coverage at all.
Which Credit Cards Offer Trip Delay Insurance?
As trip delay insurance is a pretty valuable benefit, it’s typically reserved for high-end travel rewards cards that charge an annual fee of $95 or more, though there are exceptions.
Here are just some of the credit cards that include trip delay coverage within their insurance suites:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express*
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- United Club℠ Infinite Card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
It’s worth noting that most credit cards that offer trip delay insurance limit their maximum coverage amount to $500 per covered trip. But certain cards allow you to make trip delay claims more often than other cards.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, for example, allows you to use its trip delay benefit an unlimited number of times per year.
But The Platinum Card® from American Express allows you to use the trip delay coverage* only twice within a 12-month period, which could be limiting for someone who flies frequently.
Considering these fine-print details, Weiss advises travelers to use credit cards strategically when initially booking travel and making purchases during a delay period.
“Check your cards' benefit packages and book your tickets with the card that offers the most protection,” he recommends.
“The same goes for booking your hotels and excursions. If you book everything on the same card, and that card has the right benefits, you may be able to claim for everything you lose due to your delayed or canceled flight, even if it's beyond the airline's control.”
FAQs
What is a delayed flight?
The DOT considers a flight delayed if it departs from or arrives at its gate 15 minutes or later than scheduled.
A flight is considered significantly delayed if it arrives at its gate three hours (domestic flights) or six hours (international flights) later than scheduled.
If my flight is significantly delayed and I accept a meal voucher from the airline, does that disqualify me from a full refund?
The distribution of meal vouchers is included in airlines’ customer service plans to mitigate passenger inconveniences resulting from flight cancellations, misconnections, and lengthy delays. These vouchers are intended to supplement your flight refund if you qualify for one.
In an interview with Erika.com, a DOT spokesperson confirmed that airlines cannot substitute services like meal vouchers for a full refund or cash-like alternative compensation in the event of a significant flight delay.
“Accepting a meal voucher, complimentary hotel accommodations, and/or complimentary ground transportation to and from a hotel when an airline cancels or significantly delays a flight does not impact a consumer’s right to a refund,” says the DOT spokesperson.
If I cancel my flight, will I get a refund?
If you cancel your flight, you may be able to get a refund depending on the fare type you purchased, your reason for canceling, and your level of insurance coverage.
Some airlines allow you to purchase tickets that are refundable as travel credits or cash. But these fares are typically more expensive than nonrefundable fares.
And the extra expense of a refundable fare may be unnecessary if you have trip cancellation insurance, which will reimburse you if you cancel your flight for a covered reason, like being called for jury duty, getting laid off, or having to care for a sick family member.
If the fare type you purchased is inflexible and you don’t have trip cancellation insurance, you may still be eligible for a travel voucher or credit in some circumstances.
For flights to, from, or within the U.S., the DOT requires an airline to issue you a travel voucher or credit valid for a minimum of five years if you purchased a flight and subsequently:
- A public health emergency was declared in the area you’re scheduled to fly to, and a licensed medical professional advised you not to travel there.
- A government restricted you from traveling or required you to quarantine for a substantial portion of your trip due to potential exposure to a serious communicable disease.
- A licensed medical professional advised you not to travel because you have or may have contracted a serious communicable disease that would jeopardize the health of others.
What happens if you miss your connecting flight?
Your options if you miss a connecting flight depend on a few factors, including:
- The reason for the missed connection
- Whether your preceding and connecting flights were purchased as part of the same itinerary
- The time of day you were scheduled to fly
If you missed the connection because the first flight in a multi-flight itinerary was delayed, the delayed airline will rebook you on another flight for free.
It may also provide you with a meal, ground transportation, and/or hotel vouchers, depending on your rebooked flight’s scheduled departure time and whether the delay was within the airline’s control.
However, if your missed connecting flight was on a different itinerary than the delayed flight — i.e., you purchased two tickets from unrelated carriers — you will typically be responsible for buying another flight.
In these circumstances, it's nonetheless worth asking the delayed flight’s airline if it's willing to rebook you. And your powers of persuasion may be enhanced if you have elevated elite status with that airline.
TL;DR: What You're Entitled to if Your Flight Is Delayed
Under DOT rules, you're entitled to a full refund if your domestic flight is delayed by more than three hours, or your international flight by more than six hours, regardless of the ticket type or reason for delay.
Refunds must be provided within seven business days for credit card payments or 20 days for other payment methods.
The 10 major U.S. airlines also provide meals or meal vouchers for delays over three hours due to controllable circumstances, and most offer hotel accommodations for overnight delays. However, airlines typically won't volunteer these compensations, so you'll need to proactively request them and save receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses.
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* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
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.
