What airlines must pay you for a delayed flight

The amount you can claim depends on the flight distance and how late you arrived, not on the airline's reason for the delay. In the United States, the Department of Transportation does not require airlines to pay passengers money for delays — instead, airlines must provide meals, hotel rooms, and rebooking at no cost if the delay is their fault. In Europe, the EU261 regulation requires cash compensation of €250 to €600 per passenger depending on flight length, even for some delays outside the airline's control.

Most other countries have no mandatory compensation rules. If you flew within the US or from a US airport on a US carrier, you are covered by DOT rules. If you flew from Europe to anywhere, or from anywhere to Europe on any airline, you are covered by EU261. If you flew elsewhere, compensation depends on the airline's own policy or the country where you booked.

Key Takeaways

  • US airlines must provide meals, hotels, and rebooking for delays caused by the airline, but do not have to pay cash compensation.
  • European flights are covered by EU261, which requires cash compensation of €250 to €600 per passenger for delays over three hours, regardless of the reason.
  • The amount you can claim in Europe depends on flight distance: short flights (up to 1,500 km) pay €250, medium flights (1,500–3,500 km) pay €400, and long flights (over 3,500 km) pay €600.
  • Airlines can refuse to pay EU261 compensation only if they prove the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control, such as severe weather or air traffic control strikes.
  • You must claim compensation within the time limit set by your country's law, which ranges from one to six years depending on where you live.

US Department of Transportation rules for domestic and US-based flights

If your flight departed from a US airport or arrived at one on a US airline, the DOT requires the airline to cover your when ready needs during the delay. This means meals, hotel rooms if an overnight stay is needed, and a rebooking on the next available flight at no extra charge. The airline must also provide two free phone calls, emails, or internet access so you can contact family or work.

These rules explore only if the delay is the airline's responsibility — mechanical problems, crew scheduling, maintenance, or overbooking all count. Delays caused by weather, air traffic control, security issues, or other events outside the airline's control do not trigger these requirements. The airline decides whether the cause falls into their responsibility or not, but you can dispute this decision by filing a complaint with the DOT.

The DOT does not require cash refunds for delays. If you want money back, you must ask the airline directly, and they can refuse. Some airlines offer travel vouchers or miles instead. If the airline cancels your flight and you choose not to rebook, you are may have access to to a refund of your ticket price.

EU261 compensation for European flights

If you flew from any airport in Europe to any destination, or from anywhere to a European airport on any airline, you are covered by EU261. This regulation requires airlines to pay you cash compensation based on how far the flight was supposed to go. The compensation is €250 for flights up to 1,500 kilometers, €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, and €600 for flights longer than 3,500 kilometers.

You receive this compensation if your flight arrived more than three hours late at your final destination. The airline must pay even if the delay was caused by weather, technical problems, or other events — with one exception. Airlines can refuse to pay if they prove the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control. This includes severe weather that makes the airport unsafe, volcanic ash, air traffic control strikes, security threats, or bird strikes. The airline must provide evidence, not just claim the weather was bad.

EU261 also requires the airline to provide care during the delay: meals, hotel rooms if needed, and two phone calls or emails. You can claim both the cash compensation and the cost of care. If the airline does not provide meals or a hotel, you can buy them yourself and ask the airline to reimburse you later.

How to claim compensation

For US flights, contact the airline directly by phone, email, or their website. Explain the delay, the date, and your flight number. Ask for reimbursement of any meals, hotels, or other expenses you paid out of pocket. Keep receipts. If the airline refuses, you can file a complaint with the DOT through their website, but the DOT will not force the airline to pay — they can only investigate whether the airline violated the rules.

For EU261 claims, you can contact the airline directly, but many airlines ignore or delay responses. A faster route is to use a flight compensation company or your country's national enforcement body. In the UK, contact the Civil Aviation Authority. In France, contact the DGAC. In Germany, contact the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt. These bodies can order airlines to pay. You can also take the airline to small claims court in your country.

Keep your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and proof of the delay (a photo of the departure board, an email from the airline, or a screenshot of the flight status). If you paid for meals or hotels, keep those receipts too. Airlines often ask for this evidence before paying.

Time limits for claiming compensation

The important date to claim compensation varies by country and type of claim. In the US, there is no federal time limit, but airlines often refuse claims older than a few months. In the EU, the time limit ranges from one to six years depending on which country you live in. France allows six years, Germany allows three years, and the UK allows six years. Check your country's rules before assuming your claim has expired.

The clock usually starts from the date of the delayed flight, not the date you discovered the delay. If you did not claim compensation at the time, you can still do so years later in most European countries, but the airline will argue the claim is too old. Filing sooner is always safer.

When airlines can refuse to pay

US airlines can refuse to provide meals and hotels if they claim the delay was not their fault. They do not have to prove this — they straightforward state it. You can challenge this by filing a DOT complaint, but the process is slow and the DOT rarely orders payment.

European airlines can refuse EU261 compensation only if they prove extraordinary circumstances caused the delay. Bad weather alone is not enough — they must show that the specific weather made the airport unsafe or prevented the aircraft from reaching it. A technical problem is the airline's responsibility, not an extraordinary circumstance. If the airline cancels your flight and offers a rebooking with a long delay, that is also their responsibility.

Some airlines claim that crew fatigue or staff shortages are extraordinary circumstances, but European courts have ruled against this. The airline is responsible for scheduling enough crew. If the airline overbooks the flight and bumps you, that is also their responsibility, not an extraordinary circumstance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim compensation if I missed a connecting flight because of a delay?

Yes, if the delay on the first flight caused you to miss the connection. You can claim compensation for the entire journey if all flights were booked as one ticket. If you booked the flights separately, you can only claim for the delayed flight, not the missed connection. EU261 covers you if the final arrival was more than three hours late.

What if the airline gave me a voucher instead of cash?

In the US, vouchers are not required by law — the airline only has to provide meals and hotels. You can ask for cash instead. In the EU, the airline must pay cash compensation, not a voucher. If they offered a voucher, you can refuse it and claim the cash amount later.

Do I need a lawyer to claim compensation?

No, you can claim directly from the airline or through your country's enforcement body. Flight compensation companies will claim for you in exchange for a percentage of the payout, usually 20 to 30 percent. Small claims court is free or low-cost and does not require a lawyer in most countries.

What if the airline says the delay was weather and refuses to pay?

In the US, you can file a DOT complaint, but the DOT rarely orders payment for weather delays. In the EU, you can challenge the airline's claim through your national enforcement body or court. Ask the airline for evidence that the weather made the airport unsafe — a screenshot of the weather forecast is not enough. European courts have ordered airlines to pay even when weather occurred, because the airline did not prove it was extraordinary.

Can I claim compensation if I arrived late but the airline rebooked me on an earlier flight?

No. Compensation is based on when you actually arrived at your final destination. If the airline rebooked you on an earlier flight and you arrived on time, you have no claim. If they rebooked you on a later flight and you arrived more than three hours late, you can claim.