Flight Delay Compensation & Passenger Rights
Learn when significant delays qualify for a refund and what meals or hotels your airline commits to providing for controllable disruptions.
Your Rights Under US Rules
What US Department of Transportation rules and airline commitments say for this situation. Use it to frame your request and escalate if needed.
No federal law requires airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation for non-significant delays.
For controllable disruptions, most major carriers commit to meals after a three-hour wait and hotels for overnight disruptions, subject to their policies.
If scheduled arrival is delayed at least three hours domestically or six internationally, you qualify for a refund if you decline travel and any offered credit.
US delay compensation · American · Delta · United · Southwest
Sources: DOT: Refunds · DOT: Fly Rights · DOT: Airline Customer Service Dashboard · 14 CFR Part 260
Last reviewed October 6, 2026. General information, not legal advice; rules and airline commitments change.
What to say to the airline
Keep the request factual, specific, and supported by the records you saved.
Ask exactly what caused the delay. You need to know if it's 'manageable' (crew/maintenance) or 'unmanageable' (weather/ATC).
If the delay is their fault and stretches overnight, ask for a hotel voucher and ground transportation.
Request to be rebooked on a partner airline if yours has no available flights.
Avoid: Do not accept a travel voucher if you no longer wish to travel and want a cash refund instead.
Avoid: Do not yell at the gate agents—they do not control the policy. Stand firm but remain polite.
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