United Flight Delay Compensation: Complete Guide to Claims & Refunds 2025

Maybe you’re hopping on a short flight for a weekend getaway, or perhaps you’re a seasoned globetrotter about to embark on your next grand adventure. 

But when the United Airlines display starts flashing later and later departure times, we all get a familiar sinking feeling. 

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

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

As a major carrier with a huge network offering global connections, United Airlines has fairly average policies for flight delays and cancellations. 

For the most part, United’s compensation only applies to delays that are significant and controllable:

• 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 United does not offer cash compensation for any flight delays. In fact, no domestic airlines have committed to this. 

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), if a controllable issue causes a significant delay, United will automatically rebook you at no additional cost on the next available flight. 

If they can't get you on a United flight, they've committed to rebooking you on a partner airline to get you to your destination. 

Vouchers

If you’re stuck in the airport because of a 3-hour (or longer) delay, United says they’ll provide you with snacks and/or food and beverage vouchers. 

The fine print is vague as to how much exactly the meal voucher is for, but it’s expected that the airline covers a reasonable meal for you.

Note that if you’re offered vouchers but don’t accept them, United won’t reimburse you for any food you bought at the airport.

Complimentary accommodations

If you have an extensive delay of 4 hours or longer, and the disruption is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., United says they will put you up in a hotel for free. This only applies if the delay is in a city that is not your “permanent domicile, origin point, or stopover point.”

Most often, this looks like a gate agent booking you a hotel room and you’d take a shuttle from the airport to the hotel.

If the airline cannot find a room for you at a partner hotel, United says they will reimburse you, upon request, for reasonable accommodation that you secure yourself. 

However, the reimbursement comes in the form of an electronic travel certificate that can only be used for future travel with United.

United also promises to get you to the hotel and back, whether that’s via the hotel shuttle or an arranged third-party rideshare service.

Unfortunately, United 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 them via their customer care form.

Refunds 

If the delay results in a significant change to your itinerary and you decide not to fly at all, United should provide you with a refund for your unused ticket. This is required under a rule from the Biden-Harris administration.

Be careful, because the airline may try to convince you to accept a travel credit instead of a refund. This is a great deal for the airline because the odds of you remembering to come back and spend the 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 as a plain old refund!

It’s important to understand that this refund is only available if you’ve chosen to decline all rebooking options and other forms of compensation!

Understanding Your Rights for United 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 DOT 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 United Airline’s control

While you are entitled to compensation from United 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 the airline’s control, passengers have fewer protections. 

United lists the following as examples of force majeure events:

• Weather issues
• Civil unrest, terrorism, and other security concerns
• Labor shortages, such as strikes and lockouts
• Government regulation
• Shortage of fuel, supplies, labor, etc.
• Damage to United’s aircraft or equipment by a third party
• Medical emergencies

United claims that in the case of a force majeure event, they ”without notice, may cancel, terminate, divert, postpone, or delay any flight…without any liability on the part of UA.”

They follow up and say they might rebook passengers on another United flight or partner airline, or could refund any portions of unused tickets as travel credit.

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

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 in 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 United 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. 

United Airlines says they will communicate with you accurately and in a timely manner, so keep your phone handy for those text alerts or other notifications!

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 United 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 United 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 chat function on the United Airlines website. 

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 United 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. This includes paying the taxes and fees on flights booked with miles. 

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 Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you might receive compensation of up to $500 per ticket if you’re delayed 6 hours or more. Its sister card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, offers travel delay compensation after 12 hours or more. 

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TL;DR: How To Get United Flight Delay Compensation

United Airlines has specific compensation policies for delays within their control. For delays over 3 hours, you should get rebooked for free, meal vouchers, and potentially a hotel stay. Don't be afraid to ask for what you're owed!

Remember: These aren't just courtesies — these are commitments United has made to its passengers. They have to follow through on them!

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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.