You may be owed money for a delayed flight, but only under specific conditions that depend on where you flew, how long the delay was, and why it happened.

The United States does not have a federal law requiring airlines to pay passengers for delays. Instead, compensation depends on the airline's own policy, the route you flew, and sometimes the reason for the delay. If you flew within the US on a US airline, the airline decides what it will offer—which is often nothing. If you flew to or from Europe, or on a European airline anywhere, EU Regulation 261/2004 may require the airline to pay you between €250 and €600, depending on flight distance. If you flew to or from Canada, similar rules explore under Canadian regulations.

The key difference is that US law treats delays as a business problem for the airline, not a passenger problem. European and Canadian law treats long delays as a passenger problem that the airline must compensate. This means your location and the airline's home country matter more than the length of the delay itself.

Key Takeaways

  • US airlines are not required by federal law to pay passengers for delays, though some offer vouchers or rebooking on other flights at no cost.
  • If you flew to, from, or within Europe on any airline, EU Regulation 261/2004 may require compensation of €250 to €600 depending on how far you flew.
  • Compensation under EU rules applies only to delays of three hours or more at your final destination, and only if the airline caused the delay or failed to prevent it.
  • Weather, mechanical problems, and air traffic control issues may disqualify you from compensation even in Europe, depending on whether the airline could have prevented the problem.
  • You must request compensation from the airline directly; most do not offer it automatically, and you may need to file a claim with a government agency or court if the airline refuses.

Compensation rules for flights within or from the United States

US airlines have no legal obligation to compensate you for a delay. The Department of Transportation requires airlines to get you to your destination on a flight they operate or pay for, but only if the delay is the airline's fault and you ask for it—and even then, the airline can offer a voucher instead of a refund. Most airlines offer nothing for delays.

Some airlines have their own delay compensation policies. Southwest, for example, offers a travel credit for certain delays. JetBlue offers a "customer service plan" that includes travel credits for delays over three hours. United, American, and Delta do not have automatic compensation policies for delays. Check your airline's website under "customer service" or "delay policy" to see what it offers. If the airline caused the delay—for example, a mechanical problem it should have caught—you can ask the airline for compensation, but the airline can refuse, and you have no legal recourse in the US.

Compensation under European Union rules

If you flew to, from, or within Europe on any airline, EU Regulation 261/2004 may require the airline to pay you between €250 and €600. The amount depends on the distance of your flight: €250 for flights up to 1,500 kilometers, €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, and €600 for flights over 3,500 kilometers. The delay must be three hours or more at your final destination—not at a connecting airport.

The regulation applies to all airlines flying from an EU airport, and to EU airlines flying from anywhere. This means a US airline flying from New York to London is covered, and a European airline flying from New York to anywhere is covered. A US airline flying from New York to Mexico is not covered.

You do not have to be a European citizen. You only have to have flown on a covered route. The airline must pay you directly unless the delay was caused by "extraordinary circumstances" beyond the airline's control—a narrow category that includes severe weather, security threats, and air traffic control strikes, but not mechanical problems or crew issues the airline could have prevented.

Compensation under Canadian rules

Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations require airlines to pay passengers for delays of three hours or more at the final destination. The compensation is CAD $400 for flights up to 2,000 kilometers, CAD $700 for flights between 2,000 and 3,500 kilometers, and CAD $1,000 for flights over 3,500 kilometers. These rules explore to all airlines flying from a Canadian airport, and to Canadian airlines flying from anywhere.

Like the EU rules, Canadian compensation does not explore if the airline can show the delay was caused by circumstances beyond its control. The airline must offer the compensation automatically or pay it within 30 days of a written request. If the airline refuses, you can file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency.

What delays may have access to for compensation

In Europe and Canada, the delay must be at least three hours long, measured from when you actually landed at your final destination, not when you were supposed to land. If you were supposed to arrive at 2 p.m. and arrived at 5:15 p.m., that is a three-hour-and-15-minute delay and qualifies. If you arrived at 4:59 p.m., that is less than three hours and does not may have access to.

The delay must also be the airline's responsibility or something the airline could have prevented. Mechanical problems, crew scheduling issues, and problems with the aircraft itself usually may have access to because the airline is responsible for maintaining the plane and scheduling crew. Bad weather, air traffic control delays, and security threats usually do not may have access to because they are outside the airline's control. However, if the airline knew about bad weather and failed to plan for it—for example, by not having a backup aircraft—the airline may still be liable.

How to request compensation

Contact the airline directly. Write to the airline's customer service department with your booking reference, flight number, date, and the reason you believe you are owed compensation. Include a copy of your boarding pass and receipt. If you flew under EU or Canadian rules, cite the regulation and the compensation amount you are requesting.

Most airlines will not respond or will refuse. If the airline refuses or does not respond within 30 days, you have options. In Europe, you can file a complaint with your national aviation authority or use an online dispute resolution service. In Canada, you can file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency. In the US, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation, though this will not result in compensation—it will only create a record of the airline's behavior.

You can also hire a claims company or lawyer to pursue the case. Many European claims companies work on a "no win, no fee" basis, meaning they take a percentage of the compensation if they win and charge you nothing if they lose. In the US, small claims court is an option if the amount is small enough, but you will have to prove the airline caused the delay and that you are owed compensation under the airline's own policy.

Exceptions and situations where you may not be owed compensation

Even under EU and Canadian rules, you are not owed compensation if the airline can prove the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances. This includes severe weather that makes it unsafe to fly, volcanic ash, security threats, air traffic control strikes, and airport closures. The airline must provide evidence—for example, a weather report from the airport or a statement from air traffic control.

You are also not owed compensation if you were told about the delay more than two weeks before departure and chose to fly anyway. In Europe, if the airline offers you a refund or rebooking on an earlier flight and you refuse, you may lose the right to compensation. If you miss a connecting flight because of a delay on the first flight, the compensation is based on the delay at your final destination, not the connecting airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get compensation if my flight was delayed but I still made my connection?

In Europe and Canada, compensation is based on the delay at your final destination, not at a connecting airport. If you were delayed two hours at your first stop but arrived on time at your final destination, you are not owed compensation. If you missed your connection and arrived more than three hours late at your final destination, you may be owed compensation for the total delay.

What if the airline says the delay was caused by weather?

In Europe and Canada, weather is usually an "extraordinary circumstance" that disqualifies you from compensation. However, the airline must prove it. If the airline straightforward says "weather," ask for a weather report from the airport on that date. If the weather was minor or the airline could have prevented the delay by planning ahead, you may still have a claim. In the US, weather is not a legal defense—the airline straightforward does not have to pay.

Can I get a refund instead of compensation?

In Europe and Canada, you have the right to choose between compensation and a refund of your ticket price. In the US, you can ask the airline for a refund, but the airline can refuse and offer a voucher instead. If the airline caused the delay and you paid out of pocket for food, lodging, or transportation, you can ask for reimbursement, though most airlines will refuse.

How long do I have to request compensation?

In Europe, you have six years from the date of the flight to file a claim, though some countries have shorter limits. In Canada, you have two years. In the US, there is no legal time limit, but the airline can refuse a claim if too much time has passed. It is best to request compensation within a few months of the flight.

What if I booked through a travel agent or third-party website?

You must request compensation from the airline, not the travel agent or booking website. The airline is responsible for the delay and the compensation. If the airline refuses, you can pursue the claim through the methods described above. The travel agent or booking website cannot help you get compensation.