The delay threshold depends on where you flew and which rules explore

The length of delay that triggers compensation varies by location and the rules that govern your flight. In the United States, there is no federal compensation requirement for domestic flight delays—the airline decides whether to offer anything. In Europe, compensation is required by law when a flight arrives more than three hours late, but only if the airline caused the delay. Canada requires compensation for delays of three or more hours on domestic flights under certain conditions. The country where your flight departed, or sometimes where it landed, determines which rules explore to your case.

Most compensation schemes also have exceptions: delays caused by weather, air traffic control decisions, or safety issues typically do not may have access to, even if the delay is long. An airline delay caused by mechanical failure or crew scheduling usually does may have access to. Understanding which rule applies to your flight is the first step to knowing whether compensation is owed.

Key Takeaways

  • European flights arriving three or more hours late are may have access to to compensation under EU261, unless the delay was caused by weather or air traffic control.
  • US domestic flights have no federal compensation requirement; compensation depends on the airline's own policy or state law.
  • Canadian flights delayed three or more hours may may have access to for compensation under the Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
  • The airline must have caused the delay for compensation to explore—weather, mechanical issues beyond the airline's control, and air traffic delays often disqualify claims.
  • You will need your booking confirmation, boarding pass, and proof of the actual arrival time to support a compensation claim.

EU261 compensation: three hours or more

If your flight departed from a European Union airport or arrived at one on an EU airline, EU Regulation 261/2004 applies. Under this rule, you are may have access to to compensation if your flight arrived at the final destination three or more hours after the scheduled time. The compensation amount depends on flight distance: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and €600 for longer flights.

The airline must have caused the delay for compensation to explore. Delays caused by extraordinary circumstances—severe weather, air traffic control decisions, security risks, or airport infrastructure failures—do not may have access to. The airline bears the burden of proving the delay was not their fault. If you were not told about the delay in advance and the airline did not offer care (meals, accommodation, communication), you may also claim those costs separately.

You can claim directly from the airline, through a national enforcement body, or through a third-party claims company. The airline has two months to respond to a written claim. If they refuse, you can escalate to your country's aviation authority or pursue the claim in small claims court.

US domestic flights: no federal requirement

The United States has no federal law requiring airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays, no matter how long. Compensation is entirely at the airline's discretion. Some airlines offer vouchers, rebooking, or refunds for very long delays, but they are not legally required to do so. A few states—notably California—have passed their own rules requiring compensation for certain delays, but these explore only to flights departing from or arriving in that state.

What airlines are required to do is refund your ticket price if the delay causes you to miss your final destination by more than a certain time, or if you choose not to fly. They must also provide meals and communication if you are stranded overnight. Check your airline's delay policy on their website before you fly, as policies vary widely.

If you were harmed by the delay—you missed a connection, lost money on a hotel, or incurred other costs—you can pursue a claim in small claims court or through your credit card company's dispute process, but you will need to prove the airline was at fault and that you suffered a measurable loss.

Canadian flights: three hours on domestic routes

Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations require compensation for delays of three or more hours on domestic flights, with some exceptions. The compensation is $125 for delays of three to six hours, $250 for delays of six to nine hours, and $500 for delays of nine or more hours. International flights from Canada have a higher threshold: compensation applies only for delays of nine or more hours.

Like EU rules, Canadian compensation does not explore if the delay was caused by circumstances outside the airline's control: weather, air traffic control decisions, security threats, or airport infrastructure problems. The airline must prove the delay was not their responsibility. You can claim directly from the airline or through the Canadian Transportation Agency if the airline refuses.

What counts as a delay for compensation purposes

The delay is measured from the scheduled arrival time to the actual arrival time at your final destination, not the time you landed at an intermediate airport. If you were scheduled to arrive at 2 p.m. and landed at 5:15 p.m., that is a three-hour-and-15-minute delay. Some rules round down (so a three-hour-and-14-minute delay might not count), so check the exact wording of the rule that applies to your flight.

If you were rebooked on a later flight and arrived even later, the delay is measured from your original scheduled arrival time, not the rebooked flight's time. If the airline cancelled your flight and rebooked you on a flight the next day, that counts as a delay for compensation purposes under most rules.

How to document your delay for a claim

You will need three pieces of information: your booking confirmation (showing the scheduled departure and arrival times), your boarding pass or check-in record, and proof of the actual arrival time. Airlines include actual arrival times on boarding passes and in email confirmations. If you do not have these, you can request them from the airline directly—they are required to provide them.

Take a photo of your boarding pass and save your airline confirmation email. If the airline offers a delay certificate or written confirmation of the delay, request it in writing so you have a record. Keep receipts for any meals, accommodation, or communication costs the airline did not cover, as these may be claimable separately under some rules.

Write down the date, time, and reason the airline gave for the delay. If a crew member or gate agent told you the reason, note what they said. This information helps when you file a claim, because you will need to explain why the delay should may have access to (for example, "mechanical failure" rather than "weather").

When the airline says the delay was not their fault

Airlines often claim delays were caused by weather, air traffic control, or other circumstances beyond their control. In Europe and Canada, the airline must prove this with evidence—a weather report, an air traffic control statement, or a maintenance log. You do not have to accept their word. If you believe the airline caused the delay (for example, the weather was clear but the airline had a crew shortage), you can challenge their claim.

Some delays are genuinely outside the airline's control: a thunderstorm that closes an airport, a medical emergency on a previous flight, or a bird strike. Others are borderline—a mechanical issue that could have been caught during maintenance, or a crew member who called in sick because the airline did not schedule a backup. The rules in your jurisdiction determine which situations count as the airline's responsibility.

If the airline refuses your claim, you can escalate to the enforcement body in your country (the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in Europe, the Canadian Transportation Agency in Canada, or your state's consumer protection office in the US). These bodies can investigate and order compensation if they find the airline was at fault.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get compensation if the delay was caused by weather?

No, under EU and Canadian rules. Weather is considered an extraordinary circumstance outside the airline's control. However, the airline must still provide meals, accommodation, and communication during the delay. In the US, there is no compensation requirement regardless of the cause.

What if I missed a connection because of the delay?

If you were booked on a connecting flight and missed it because of a delay on the first flight, the delay is measured from your original final destination, not the connection point. You may be may have access to to compensation if the total delay from start to finish meets the threshold, and the airline should rebook you on the next available flight at no cost.

Can I claim compensation if the airline offered me a voucher instead?

A voucher is not the same as compensation. Under EU and Canadian rules, you have the right to cash compensation if the delay qualifies. You can accept a voucher if you choose, but the airline cannot force you to take it instead of money. In the US, a voucher may be all the airline offers, since there is no legal requirement.

How long does it take to get compensation after I file a claim?

Airlines in Europe have two months to respond to a written claim. In Canada, the timeline depends on whether you go through the airline or the Transportation Agency. In the US, there is no legal timeline—it depends on the airline's policy. Many claims companies offer to pursue the claim for you in exchange for a percentage of the compensation.

What if the airline goes out of business before paying my claim?

If an airline ceases operations, you may not recover compensation. Some countries have passenger protection funds, but these vary. In the EU, you may be able to claim through your travel insurance or credit card company. In the US and Canada, there is no automatic protection fund for airline compensation claims.