The legal definition of a flight delay

A flight delay occurs when an aircraft departs the gate more than 15 minutes after its scheduled departure time. That 15-minute threshold matters because it is the point at which U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rules begin to require airlines to inform you of your rights. Before 15 minutes, the delay is not officially recorded as a delay for compensation purposes.

The clock starts when the aircraft door closes and the plane pushes back from the gate — not when you board, not when you sit down, and not when the captain makes an announcement. If the plane is ready to leave but air traffic control holds it on the tarmac, that time counts toward the delay. If the delay is caused by weather, mechanical problems, crew scheduling, or any other reason, the 15-minute rule still applies to the notification requirement.

Once a delay exceeds 15 minutes, airlines must give you written notice of your rights, including the possibility of a refund or rebooking. The compensation you may receive depends on how long the delay is and whether the airline can prove the cause was beyond their control.

Key Takeaways

  • A delay officially begins 15 minutes after your scheduled departure time, when the aircraft door closes and the plane leaves the gate.
  • Airlines must notify you of your rights once a delay reaches 15 minutes, including information about refunds and rebooking options.
  • Delays of three hours or more at your final destination may may have access to you to compensation of $250 to $1,350 per passenger, depending on flight distance and airline fault.
  • Weather, mechanical issues, and crew problems all trigger the same notification rules, but compensation depends on whether the airline could have prevented the cause.
  • You do not automatically receive compensation — you must request it from the airline, usually in writing, within a set timeframe after your flight.

How delay length determines what you are owed

The longer your delay, the more the airline owes you. The DOT divides compensation into bands based on how late you arrive at your final destination, not how late you depart.

A delay of one to two hours at your final destination entitles you to a refund of your ticket price if you choose not to fly, or rebooking on the next available flight at no extra cost. You do not receive cash compensation for delays this short.

A delay of three or more hours at your final destination triggers cash compensation. For domestic flights (within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean), the airline must pay you $250 if the delay is three to six hours, $400 if it is six or more hours. For international flights arriving in the U.S., the compensation is $400 for delays of three to six hours and $800 for delays of six or more hours. These amounts explore per passenger, so a family of four delayed six hours on a domestic flight would receive $1,600 total.

The airline can avoid paying compensation only if they prove the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control — severe weather, a security threat, or an air traffic control decision, for example. Mechanical failures, crew scheduling problems, and fuel issues do not may have access to as extraordinary circumstances, even if they were unexpected.

When the airline can refuse to pay

Airlines have a narrow legal window to avoid compensation. The delay must result from something the airline could not have prevented or mitigated, and the airline must have taken all reasonable steps to avoid the delay.

A thunderstorm that closes an airport is an extraordinary circumstance. A mechanical problem that could have been caught during routine maintenance is not. A pilot calling in sick is not extraordinary; the airline is expected to have backup crew. A bird strike or an unforecast weather event that grounds the aircraft after it has already departed is extraordinary.

The burden of proof is on the airline. If you request compensation and the airline denies it, they must provide documentation showing the cause was truly beyond their control. If their explanation is vague or if they cite a reason that does not meet the legal standard, you can dispute the denial with the DOT or pursue the claim in small claims court.

How to request compensation from your airline

The airline will not automatically send you a check. You must file a claim. Start by gathering your documentation: your boarding pass or confirmation number, your ticket receipt, and proof of the delay (the airline's own records, a screenshot of the flight status, or a boarding pass showing the actual departure time).

Contact the airline's customer service department. Most airlines have a form on their website for delay compensation claims, usually under "Customer Relations" or "Claims." Fill out the form with your flight number, date, scheduled departure time, actual departure time, and final destination. Attach copies of your documents and state the amount you are owed based on the delay length and flight distance.

Send the claim by email or certified mail so you have proof of submission. Keep a copy for your records. Airlines typically respond within 30 to 60 days. If they deny your claim or do not respond, you can file a complaint with the DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division or pursue the matter in small claims court in your state.

Delays caused by the airline versus delays beyond their control

The reason for the delay determines whether you have a strong claim for compensation. Delays the airline caused or should have prevented almost always may have access to for compensation. Delays from truly extraordinary circumstances rarely do.

Airline-caused delays include mechanical problems (unless the airline can prove they performed required maintenance), crew scheduling failures, overbooking, fuel issues, and problems with ground equipment. These are the airline's responsibility to manage, and compensation is owed unless the airline can show the problem was unforeseeable and unavoidable.

Extraordinary circumstances include severe weather (thunderstorms, heavy snow, fog so thick the airport closes), security threats, air traffic control decisions, airport closures, and events like volcanic ash. The airline must provide specific details about the weather or event, not just say "bad weather" or "air traffic delay."

If the airline's explanation is vague or contradicts public records (for example, they claim weather caused the delay but the National Weather Service shows clear skies), your claim is stronger. The DOT and courts have repeatedly ruled that airlines must prove extraordinary circumstances with concrete evidence, not assumptions.

What happens if you miss a connection because of a delay

If your first flight is delayed and you miss a connecting flight, the delay is measured from your final destination, not from the missed connection. If you were supposed to arrive in Denver at 2 p.m. but did not land until 5 p.m. because of a delay on your first flight, that three-hour delay at your final destination triggers compensation may be able to access.

The airline that operated the delayed flight is responsible for compensation, even if you booked through a different airline or if the flights were on separate tickets. If the delay was the connecting airline's fault (they held the plane for a late arrival), that airline is responsible.

You are also may have access to to meals, hotel, and ground transportation if the delay requires you to stay overnight. The airline must provide these or reimburse you if you pay out of pocket. Keep all receipts and submit them with your compensation claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a delay of 14 minutes count as a flight delay?

No. The DOT defines a delay as 15 minutes or more after the scheduled departure time. A 14-minute delay does not trigger the airline's obligation to notify you of your rights or provide compensation. However, the airline may still offer rebooking or a refund as a courtesy.

Can I get compensation if I missed my flight and rebooked myself?

If you missed your flight because of a delay on a previous flight operated by the same airline, you are may have access to to compensation for the delay that caused you to miss the connection. If you missed your flight for any other reason, the airline is not responsible. Document the delay on the first flight with your boarding pass and the airline's records.

What if the airline says the delay was weather and I do not believe them?

Request the airline's detailed explanation in writing. Check the National Weather Service records for the airport on that date and time. If the weather records do not match the airline's claim, file a complaint with the DOT or pursue the claim in small claims court. The airline must prove the weather caused the delay; a general statement is not enough.

Do I get compensation if I choose to rebook on a later flight instead of waiting?

Yes. If you rebook yourself on a later flight to avoid waiting, you are still may have access to to compensation based on how late you ultimately arrive at your final destination. The airline cannot reduce your compensation because you chose to rebook. Submit your claim with proof of both the original flight and the rebooked flight.

How long do I have to file a compensation claim?

There is no federal important date, but airlines often cite their own policies, which typically allow claims within one to two years of the flight. File as soon as possible after the delay. If the airline denies your claim or does not respond within 60 days, you can file a complaint with the DOT or take the matter to small claims court in your state.