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You're at the gate, ready for a much-needed vacation, but your departure time keeps getting pushed back. Soon, two hours turn into six, and you've missed your connection. Or you're stuck overnight and need to find a bed to sleep in.
By the time you finally land in your destination, your carefully planned trip has started to feel like a slog.
But did you know that depending on where you're flying, which airline you're on, and why the disruption happened, you may be legally entitled to compensation or a full refund?
Airlines are generally on the hook when delays stem from issues within their control, like mechanical problems or crew scheduling. Not only that, but you may have additional coverage through your credit card or travel insurance.
What Makes a Qualifying Delay?
To be eligible for a refund or other forms of compensation, your flight needs to have been “significantly” changed.
For domestic flights, that’s defined as a change in departure or arrival time by 3 hours. If you’re flying internationally, “significant” jumps to 6 hours.
Though less frequent, these situations also count as “significant” changes:
- 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
As of April 2024, airlines are legally required to give you an automatic, full refund if your flight is significantly delayed – but only if you choose not to fly at all and don’t accept other forms of compensation.
For example, if your flight is delayed and the airline rebooks you on another flight, you're not entitled to a refund. But if you choose to cancel your flight altogether because of the delay, then you would get the automatic refund.
Controllable vs. uncontrollable delays
There are two categories of delays: controllable and uncontrollable. To be eligible for compensation like food or hotel vouchers, your flight must be controllable by the airline.
Common examples of controllable delays are:
- Maintenance problems
- Crew scheduling
- Baggage loading
- Fueling
- Cabin cleaning
If it's an uncontrollable delay, your consumer rights shrink. These include things like:
- Bad weather
- Labor disputes
- War and civil unrest
- Fuel shortages
- Government directives
For these uncontrollable situations (often called “force majeure events”), airlines have only one requirement: they must refund you if the flight has been significantly changed and you choose not to accept alternatives.
How Does a Flight Delay Refund Work?
If you decline a new itinerary from the airline and opt not to fly, then your refund must be provided within 7 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 or check.
Airlines can also offer a cash equivalent refund, like a flight voucher or miles. But I recommend always taking the cash refund. A flight voucher can be great, but it limits you to that specific airline.
READ MORE: Credit Card vs. Debit Card: Which Is Better?
Getting Additional Flight Delay Compensation
If you don’t request a refund and choose to wait out your flight delay, there are some things airlines have promised to provide you.
These include things like meal vouchers, hotel stays, and even frequent flier miles.
| Airline | Delay/cancellation compensation |
|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines flight delay | – Rebooking at no extra cost with Alaska or partner airline – Meal vouchers for controllable delays 3+ hours – Hotel accommodations for controllable overnight delays – Travel credit or frequent flier miles as bonus compensation for controllable delays |
| Allegiant Air flight delay | – Rebooking at no extra cost with Allegiant – Meal vouchers for controllable delays of 3+ hours – Hotel accommodations for controllable overnight delays – No travel credits or frequent flier miles |
| American Airlines flight delay | – Rebooking at no extra cost with American or partner airline – Meal vouchers for controllable delays of 3+ hours – Hotel accommodations for controllable overnight delays – No travel credits or frequent flier miles |
| Delta Air Lines flight delay | – Rebooking at no extra cost with Delta or partner airline – Meal vouchers for controllable delays of 3+ hours – Hotel accommodations for controllable overnight delays – No travel credits or frequent flier miles |
| Frontier Airlines flight delay | – Rebooking at no extra cost with Frontier – Meal vouchers for controllable delays of 3+ hours – No hotel accommodations for controllable overnight delays – No travel credits or frequent flier miles |
| Hawaiian Airlines flight delay | – Rebooking at no extra cost with Hawaiian or partner airline – Meal vouchers for controllable delays of 3+ hours – Hotel accommodations for controllable overnight delays – Travel credit or frequent flier miles as bonus compensation for controllable delays |
| JetBlue Airlines flight delay | – Rebooking at no extra cost with JetBlue or partner airline – Meal vouchers for controllable delays of 3+ hours – Hotel accommodations for controllable overnight delays – Travel credit as bonus compensation for controllable delays |
| Southwest Airlines flight delay | – Rebooking at no extra cost with Southwest – Meal vouchers for controllable delays of 3+ hours – Hotel accommodations for controllable overnight delays – Travel credit as bonus compensation for controllable delays |
| Spirit Airlines flight delay | – Rebooking at no extra cost with Spirit – Meal vouchers for controllable delays of 3+ hours – Hotel accommodations for controllable overnight delays – No travel credits or frequent flier miles |
| United Airlines flight delay | – Rebooking at no extra cost with United or partner airline – Meal vouchers for controllable delays of 3+ hours – Hotel accommodations for controllable overnight delays – No travel credits or frequent flier miles |
EU Flight Delay Compensation
European flight delay compensation policies, specifically EU261, are more generous than compensation policies in the U.S.
They legally apply to any flight within the European Union (and some European countries outside the Union), regardless of whether 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.
READ MORE: Domestic vs. International Flight Delay Compensation
How To Get Compensation for a Delayed Flight
Knowing the rules set out by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and your airline’s internal policy will help you to get compensated if your flight is delayed.
But you’ll need to be proactive to ensure the airline follows through on its obligations.
Check if the delay qualifies
Remember that to be eligible for compensation, your flight delay needs to be 3 hours or longer and controllable by the airline.
A wide range of controllable circumstances may lead to compensable flight delays — things like unplanned maintenance, a late flight crew, catering delays, refueling issues, and even glitches from outdated computer systems.
However, airlines generally won’t compensate for circumstances beyond their control, like bad weather.
If the airline doesn’t announce the reason for the delay, ask for clarification from one of the gate agents and write down their name and their response.
Check if other airlines appear to be operating as normal, especially if you were told the delay was because of weather. Don’t blindly accept the airline’s explanation if it claims the delay is uncontrollable.
Stay proactive
Many airlines’ customer service plans say they will provide passengers with compensation “upon request.” It's a sneaky way to put the responsibility on you.
So, if a delay appears to qualify for compensation, don’t expect the airline staff to take a stack of Hyatt Regency vouchers and make it rain. You may have to speak up and request the compensation that’s owed to you.
Optimize communication
It’s also on you to keep communication channels open with the airline. Some airlines will assign vouchers via their app, email, or text, but others will only provide paper vouchers after you see the gate agent.
For the best chance of receiving timely compensation, download their app and provide accurate contact information when you check in so the airline can communicate 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. In these situations, you may need to pay out-of-pocket and seek reimbursement later, assuming the airline's policy covers these expenses.
Always photograph and save the receipts for the meal, hotel room, and related transportation services you purchase. 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
In addition to knowing the airline's policies, there are two other ways to help cover the costs of a flight delay: the credit card you used to purchase your flight and travel insurance coverage.
Credit card coverage for flight delay compensation
Most travel credit cards include travel insurance as part of their benefits package.
How much you can claim will depend on the card and how long your delay or interruption was, but they can be great for covering expenses like food in the airport or a hotel stay.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great travel rewards card that will reimburse you up to $500 for delays over 12 hours or that require an overnight stay.
More premium cards like the American Express Platinum Card® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also reimburse you up to $500, but coverage kicks in after just 6 hours of being delayed.
To get reimbursed, you’ll need to have purchased your ticket with your credit card, use that same card to cover any costs incurred from your delay, and keep all your receipts.
COMPARE: Best Credit Cards for Flight Delay Compensation
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards Rate
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee
$95
American Express Platinum Card®
Rewards Rate
- 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year; 1x thereafter
- 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®
- 1x points on all other spending
Welcome Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Annual Fee
$895 (rates and fees)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Annual Fee
$395
Travel insurance for flight delay compensation
Another way to ensure you get compensation for a flight delay is through a separate travel insurance policy. This can be especially handy if you don’t have a credit card or if you’re flying on a budget airline.
But remember that travel insurance must be bought before your trip — you can't buy a policy after you've heard there's a delay!
Here are some things a travel insurance policy might cover:
- Incidental trip expenses incurred due to a delay (meals, hotels, etc.)
- Prepaid trip expenses that you miss out on due to a delay (like concert tickets or excursion tickets)
- Force majeure delays that aren’t covered by an airline’s contract of carriage, like bad weather or civil unrest
- Many other travel snafus, like medical expenses and lost luggage
READ MORE: Trip Cancellation Insurance: How It Works
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 3 hours (domestic flights) or 6 hours (international flights) later than scheduled.
If I accept a meal voucher, does that disqualify me from a full refund?
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 whether you have trip cancellation insurance.
What happens if you miss your connecting flight?
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 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.
TL;DR: What You're Owed If Your Flight Is Delayed
Under DOT rules, you're entitled to a full refund if your domestic flight is delayed by more than 3 hours, or your international flight by more than 6 hours, regardless of the ticket type or reason for delay.
Refunds must be provided within 7 business days for credit card payments or 20 days for other payment methods.
Major U.S. airlines also provide meals or meal vouchers for delays over 3 hours due to controllable circumstances, and most offer hotel accommodations for overnight delays. However, they may not volunteer these compensations — you'll need to proactively request them.
Flight Delay Compensation Checklist
- 🇺🇸 Domestic flights: Must be delayed 3+ hours
- 🌍 International flights: Must be delayed 6+ hours
- ✓ Delay must be airline's fault (maintenance, crew problems, fueling)
- ❌ NOT covered: weather, strikes, or other force majeure events
Option A: Cancel your trip entirely → Get automatic full refund (within 7 business days for credit card payments; 20 calendar days for cash or check)
Option B: Accept rebooking → Continue to next steps for compensation
- ✓ Ask for meal vouchers
- ✓ Request hotel accommodations if overnight delay
- ✓ Get transportation vouchers to/from hotel
- ✓ Don't wait for them to offer – YOU must request these
- ✓ Photograph every receipt for meals, hotels, transportation
- ✓ Keep unused vouchers from the airline
- ✓ Have proof you don't live near airport (driver's license)
- ✓ Document all out-of-pocket expenses for later reimbursement
- ✓ Review your credit card's travel insurance benefits
- ✓ Many cards cover delays 6-12+ hours ($500+ reimbursement)
- ✓ Must have purchased ticket with that card
- ✓ Submit receipts to airline for reimbursement if paid out-of-pocket
- ✓ Contact customer service if compensation wasn't provided
- ✓ Reference airline's policy for meal vouchers and accommodations
- ✓ File insurance claim if applicable
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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.
