Your Airport Survival Guide to Flight Delay Compensation in the US

It's Nor'easter season in the US, and if you've spent anytime at an airport recently, you know what that means: flight delays.No matter the season, it's a good idea for every frequent flier to become well-versed on flight delay compensation policies in the US, which have shifted quite a bit in recent years (and could change even more in October, which you can read about here).In the past few months alone, thousands of travelers have been stranded by air traffic control equipment meltdowns, airline IT outages, or just plain bad weather. But passengers don’t have to be helpless during these stressful ordeals. You can be prepared by becoming familiar with US passenger compensation rights. (Which are different than those in Canada and Europe.)Since 2024, the Department of Transportation has required all airlines flying to, from, or within the US to give passengers automatic refunds for flights that are canceled or significantly changed for any reason. But in order to qualify for the refund, passengers must refuse any alternate flight bookings, reject any changed flight schedule, and deny any offers for other compensation like a travel voucher.Although the rules have been in place for a while now, airlines don't always follow them. To make sure you're not leaving money on the table, consider this your comprehensive guide to air passenger rights in the US.This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.How long does a flight have to be delayed to get compensation?Can you claim compensation for a 2-hour delay?How long does a flight have to be delayed to get refunded?Can I get a refund if my flight is delayed because of bad weather?When—and how—will I receive the refund for my flight?Can I get a refund if my luggage arrives late?Can I get a refund if the in-flight Wi-Fi doesn't work?Can I get a refund for my flight if I'm too sick to fly?What if my airline refuses to refund me?Do flight delay compensation policies vary by airline?How long does a flight have to be delayed to get compensation?Airlines are required to provide compensation if your flight is delayed by more than three hours domestically or six hours internationally.The below is how the DOT defines what constitutes a “significant change.” Any of the following changes to your flight itinerary meet the official definition and entitle travelers to a full refund:Changes to departure or arrival times that are more than three hours domestically and six hours internationallyDepartures or arrivals from a different airportIncreases in the number of connectionsInstances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of serviceConnections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disabilityCan you claim compensation for a 2-hour delay?In the US, airlines are not required to compensate passengers for 2-hour flight delays. However, airline customer service may choose to offer compensation such as travel vouchers or meal credits based on their own discretion.How long does a flight have to be delayed to get refunded?If your flight is delayed by more than by more than three hours domestically or six hours internationally, you're entitled to a full refund—but only if you refuse an alternate flight or travel voucher from the airline. That’s the key condition. After a disruption, air carriers will often automatically rebook passengers on a new flight the same day or the following day. If you accept the new itinerary, you’re no longer entitled to an automatic refund. But if you reject the new flight, the refund rules apply. The same logic applies to travel vouchers.Can I get a refund if my flight is delayed because of bad weather?The DOT rules say that passengers are entitled to automatic refunds for flights that are canceled, significantly delayed, or experience a “significant change” for any reason—including “uncontrollable” factors such as weather. But again, this only applies if your flight is delayed by more than by more than three hours domestically or six hours internationally.When—and how—will I receive the refund for my flight?According to the DOT, all refunds must be automatically issued once a traveler rejects an alternate flight itinerary. That means travelers refunds should arrive “without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops,” the federal rule states. They must also be prompt, given within seven business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other methods of payment. The refunds must equal the full amount a customer paid, including taxes and fees, minus any used portion of the ticket.Can I get a refund if my luggage arrives late?If your plane arrives on time but your baggage doesn’t, you could also be eligible for a refund. Passengers’ delayed luggage must be delivered to them within 12 hours of a domestic flight or within 15 to 30 hours of an international flight, depending on the length of the route. If fliers don’t receive their luggage by those benchmarks, they are entitled to a full refund of their baggage fee.However, passengers must file a mishandled baggage report with their airline. To file a mishandled baggage report, go to your airline's baggage service office at the airport (typically right next to the baggage claim area) and request a "Property Irregularity Report" (PIR) with a reference number that you can then use to fill out the mishandled baggage report on the airline's website. While it might seem like a lot of paperwork just to reclaim an extra fee, the refund could actually be significant as most carriers have raised checked baggage fees in 2026.Can I get a refund if the in-flight Wi-Fi doesn't work?Passengers are also now entitled to automatic refunds for in-flight services they paid for but the airline failed to provide. These charges include services like seat selection, in-flight Wi-Fi, and in-flight entertainment purchases. If you pay for one of these add-ons and it’s not provided (for example, if the Wi-Fi doesn’t work, or you don't get the seat you paid for) you will be refunded for those services.Can I get a refund for my flight if I'm too sick to fly?Since 2024, the DOT has had a framework for travelers to be protected if they can’t travel due to “a serious communicable disease” such as COVID-19 or norovirus. If a country or medical professional advises passengers not to travel to, from, or within the US for this reason, airline customers will be entitled to be issued a travel voucher or airline credit that’s valid for at least five years.Unlike the above scenarios, medical refunds are not automatic. The process for claiming a refund varies by airline, but most require you cancel your flight prior to departure and submit a claim with additional documentation such as a doctor's note stating you are medically unfit to fly.These protections are designed to prevent issues that arose during the pandemic from repeating themselves. In 2020, many passengers whose flights were canceled due to travel restrictions struggled to get a cash refund from their airline. Airlines were later collectively fined $7.5 million by the DOT for delaying the refunds and forced to issue $600 million back to customers.However, the new protections for sick travelers apply even if the US government has not declared a public health emergency, as long as a licensed treating medical professional has advised you not to travel because you have contracted (or likely to have contracted) “a serious communicable disease and would pose a direct threat to the health of others,” per the final rule.What if my airline refuses to refund me?The DOT’s regulations are the law of the land—and sky—but that doesn’t guarantee every airline will follow every refund rule perfectly in every scenario. In fact, airlines are regularly fined by the DOT for violating various federal rules, so travelers should be ready to advocate for themselves when these situations arise.Regulations require airlines to notify travelers when delayed or canceled flights mean they have the right to a refunded airfare and fees for extra services. But at the same time, your carrier might offer you a travel voucher or another form of compensation. That offer does not negate your right to a refund. "Be aware that even if the airlines may offer you a voucher or air miles, you are entitled to your money back,” says Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, which assists passengers with airline refunds and compensation, tells Condé Nast Traveler. “Always request cash compensation. We recommend passengers avoid accepting vouchers unless they are satisfied they are getting a fair deal.”In most situations, airlines offer flight vouchers that are equal to the unused portion of your airfare, so the better deal is usually to opt for the cash refund. “If they decide not to take the flight, they don’t have to settle for a mere voucher that can go towards a future flight on the same airline but can get their money back,” Napoli says.Documenting all airline communications and keeping meticulous records is a good practice, too. “Even when passenger protections are in place, it’s still important to gather evidence to support your claim for a refund or compensation depending on the circumstance,” Napoli says. “Keep hold of any SMS messages, emails, or notifications sent by the airline. Hold on to your boarding pass and any boarding passes for alternative flights. Take photos of any flyers or flight information boards showing your itinerary charge or disruption. Make a note of the time you arrive at your final destination. Keep receipts of everything you had to buy. Request that the airline tells you the cause of the disruption.” All of this evidence will be helpful if you need to follow up with the airline’s customer service department or file a complaint with the DOT.Travelers who follow these steps and still don’t believe their airline is following the refund rules can submit a formal complaint to the DOT. Officials process each of these consumer complaints, and they can result in fines, mass refunds, and additional consequences for airlines, so they are worth filling out.Which airlines provide hotel and meal vouchers for overnight delays?Although ticket refund rules are clear-cut federal regulation, extra support and compensation in the event of a significant delay or cancellation is murkier. In fact, airlines aren’t required to provide any extra support, such as hotel or meal vouchers, to travelers during a disruption.However, many airlines voluntarily offer courtesy support, like meals, hotel vouchers, transportation to and from the airport, and more. Some carriers will even give passengers frequent flier miles or flight vouchers for their trouble.Fortunately for travelers, the DOT has a convenient online dashboard that shows each US airline’s policy on what they offer travelers during a delay. Fliers can also find these policies in their individual carrier’s customer service plan, which is available on the airline’s website.Even though these policies are voluntary, they are completely enforceable if an airline lists them in their customer service plan. Carriers are required to deliver on the promises they make in those documents, the DOT says, including support for passengers during controllable cancellations and delays. “The Department will hold airlines accountable if they fail to do so,” according to the DOT.Here's what each US airline offers, according to the DOT dashboard as well as the carriers' official websites.Alaska AirlinesSeattle-based carrier Alaska Airlines offers travelers numerous benefits during long flight delays. The airline will rebook passengers facing significant delays on another Alaska flight or a flight with another airline with which it has an agreement or partnership. Passengers with overnight delays are provided free hotel accommodation and ground transportation to and from the airport, while travelers who have a delay of three hours or more are compensated with either frequent flier points (2,000 Atmos Rewards points) or a travel voucher (at least $50) toward a future flight.Allegiant AirAllegiant offers passengers with overnight delays free hotel stays with free ground transport. Fliers will also receive a meal or meal voucher for delays stretching three hours or longer. All significantly delayed fliers can be rebooked on another Allegiant flight at no extra cost.American AirlinesFliers with delayed American Airlines flights receive meal vouchers when the delay stretches for three hours or more. For overnight delays, the airline offers complimentary hotel accommodations with free ground transportation to and from the airport. The carrier will also rebook significantly delayed passengers on a different American flight or a flight with one of its partner carriers at no extra cost.Delta Air LinesDelta passengers receive complimentary hotel stays and ground transportation for overnight delays, as well as meal vouchers for delays stretching over three hours. The carrier often brings its “care while waiting” carts to gates experiencing delays to hand out free snacks and water bottles to waiting passengers. During significant delays, the airline will rebook passengers for free on different Delta flights or flights with a different airline.Frontier AirlinesDelayed passengers on Frontier Airlines flights will be rebooked for free on another flight with the carrier during significant delays. The low-cost airline also provides a meal voucher for travelers when their delay is three hours or longer.Hawaiian AirlinesAs Hawaiian recently merged with Alaska Airlines, the two carriers have similar delay accommodation policies. Like Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines offers travelers with flights delayed for at least three hours extra compensation in the form of frequent flier points (at least 2,000 Atmos Rewards points) or a voucher toward a future flight of at least $50. Meal vouchers are also distributed for delays of three-plus hours. Hotel stays and ground transportation are provided for overnight delays, and the carrier will rebook significantly delayed passengers on another Hawaiian flight or with a partner airline.JetBlueAs far as delay support policies, JetBlue’s ranks among the most generous. The carrier will offer a travel voucher for delays of at least three hours. Plus, the airline will rebook fliers on another one of its flights or a partner carrier’s flights during a significant delay. Hotel stays and ground transport are available during overnight flights and meal vouchers are guaranteed to travelers in delays of at least three hours.Southwest AirlinesBudget carrier Southwest is also among the few airlines that offer some type of additional compensation to delayed travelers. The airline will offer travelers a voucher of at least $75 toward a future flight when they are stuck in a delay of at least three hours. Additionally, Southwest books complimentary hotels and ground transport for passengers with overnight delays and distributes meal vouchers for passengers waiting for three hours or more. Significantly delayed passengers can expect to be rebooked on another Southwest flight at no extra charge.Spirit AirlinesCustomers of Spirit Airlines who are stuck overnight due to a delay will receive a complimentary hotel stay and free ground transportation to and from the airport. They can also expect to receive a meal voucher during three-hour-plus delays and to be rebooked on another Spirit flight for free during significant delays.United AirlinesDuring significant delays, United will rebook passengers on another one of its flights or with a partner carrier for free. The airline also provides complimentary hotel accommodations and ground transportation to and from the airport in the event of a delay that stretches overnight. For delays of at least three hours, United also gives its passengers meal vouchers.