Airlines must compensate you in some cases, but the rules depend on how long the delay is and why it happened

If your flight is delayed, what the airline owes you depends on three things: how long you wait, whether the delay was the airline's fault, and which country's rules explore. In the United States, airlines are not required to pay you money for delays — they must only rebook you on the next available flight or refund your ticket. In Europe, the rules are stricter: delays of three hours or more can trigger compensation of €250 to €600 per passenger, depending on flight distance, unless the airline can prove the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances like severe weather or a security threat.

The airline must tell you what is happening and when you can expect to leave. They must also provide meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation if the delay stretches into the next day. If you miss a connection because of the delay, the airline that sold you the ticket is responsible for getting you to your final destination, even if you booked separate tickets.

Key Takeaways

  • In the United States, airlines must rebook you or refund your ticket but do not have to pay compensation for delays; in Europe, delays of three hours or more may may have access to you to €250–€600 depending on flight distance.
  • Airlines must provide meals, refreshments, and hotel rooms if the delay lasts overnight, and must cover the cost of reasonable communication like phone calls or emails.
  • If you booked connecting flights on one ticket, the airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination even if you arrive late; if you booked separate tickets, you may lose the connection.
  • Extraordinary circumstances like severe weather, security threats, or air traffic control decisions usually exempt airlines from paying compensation, though they still must care for you.
  • Keep your boarding pass, receipts for meals and hotels, and any written communication from the airline, because you will need these to request compensation or reimbursement.

What the airline must provide during the delay

Once the airline knows the delay will be significant, they must offer you meals and refreshments that match the length of the wait. For a two-hour delay, this might be a meal voucher; for an overnight delay, they must book and pay for a hotel room. They must also provide access to communication — a phone call, email, or text message — so you can contact family or your next destination.

If you need to stay overnight, the airline must arrange transportation between the airport and the hotel. They cannot charge you for any of this. If you pay out of pocket for meals or a hotel because the airline did not offer one, keep your receipts; you can request reimbursement later, though the airline may dispute what counts as reasonable.

The airline is not required to provide compensation for your time, lost wages, or missed events. They are only required to cover the direct costs of care during the delay.

Compensation rules in Europe versus the United States

European Union Regulation 261/2004 sets a fixed compensation amount based on flight distance. A delay of three or more hours entitles you to €250 for flights up to 1,500 kilometers, €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, and €600 for longer flights. This applies to flights departing from an EU airport or arriving at one on an EU airline, regardless of where you bought the ticket.

The United States has no federal compensation requirement for delays. Airlines set their own policies. Some offer travel vouchers or rebooking on a competitor's flight, but they are not legally required to do so. The only may provide is that you can refuse the delayed flight and get a refund of your ticket price.

If you are traveling within the UK, UK law (which mirrors the EU rule) still applies even though the UK left the European Union. Other countries like Canada and Australia have their own delay compensation rules; check your airline's website or your country's aviation authority for specifics.

When airlines do not have to pay compensation

Airlines can refuse to pay compensation if they prove the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control. This includes severe weather, volcanic ash, security threats, air traffic control strikes, and airport closures. A mechanical failure of the aircraft, crew scheduling problems, or overbooking do not count as extraordinary circumstances — those are the airline's responsibility.

The airline must prove the extraordinary circumstance caused the delay. If they say "bad weather" but the weather was minor and other airlines departed on time, you have grounds to dispute their claim. Keep records of the actual weather conditions and what other flights did that day.

Even when an extraordinary circumstance applies, the airline still must provide meals, hotels, and communication. They are only exempt from paying the fixed compensation amount.

How to request compensation or reimbursement

Start by contacting the airline directly. Most airlines have a customer service form on their website where you can submit a delay compensation claim. You will need your booking reference, flight number, date, and proof of the delay (your boarding pass or airline receipt). If you paid for meals or a hotel out of pocket, include those receipts.

The airline has a set time to respond — usually 6 to 8 weeks in Europe, longer in the United States. If they refuse, you can escalate to your country's aviation authority or file a claim in small claims court. In Europe, you can also use an online dispute resolution service or hire a claims company, though they typically take a percentage of what you recover.

If the airline offers you a voucher instead of cash, you are not required to accept it. You can insist on a refund of your ticket price if you choose not to fly.

What to do if you miss a connection because of the delay

If you booked all your flights on a single ticket (one confirmation number), the airline that issued the ticket is responsible for getting you to your final destination, even if you arrive late. They must rebook you on the next available flight at no cost, even if it is with a competitor.

If you booked two separate tickets — for example, one ticket from New York to London and another from London to Paris — you are responsible for making the connection. If you miss the second flight because the first one was late, the second airline is not required to rebook you. You would have to buy a new ticket or request a refund for the unused portion. This is why booking a buffer of at least two hours between connecting flights is important, especially on separate tickets.

Tell the airline at the airport that you have a connection. They can sometimes hold the connecting flight or rebook you on an earlier one if the delay is short. Do not assume they know about your connection; inform them directly.

Keeping records and documentation

Save everything related to the delay. This includes your boarding pass, the airline's written statement about the reason for the delay, receipts for meals and hotels, and any emails or messages from the airline. Take a photo of the departure board showing the delay time, or note the exact time the flight eventually departed.

If the airline provides a written reason for the delay, ask for it in writing rather than relying on what a gate agent told you verbally. Written documentation is much stronger if you need to dispute the airline's later claim that an extraordinary circumstance caused the delay.

If you paid for anything out of pocket — a meal, a hotel, transportation, or a phone call — keep the receipt and note what it was for. Some airlines will reimburse reasonable expenses; others will not, but you cannot ask if you do not have proof of what you spent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get money back if my flight is delayed in the United States?

No. US airlines are not required to pay compensation for delays. You can request a refund of your ticket price and rebook on another flight, but the airline does not owe you money for the inconvenience. Some airlines offer vouchers or rebooking on a competitor's flight as a courtesy, but this is their choice, not a legal requirement.

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

Ask the airline for written proof of the weather condition. Check the National Weather Service or your airport's website for the actual conditions that day. If other airlines departed on time or the weather was minor, you have grounds to dispute their claim. In Europe, you can file a complaint with your aviation authority if the airline refuses to reconsider.

Can I get a refund instead of being rebooked on a later flight?

Yes. You have the right to refuse the delayed flight and receive a refund of your ticket price. You do not have to accept rebooking. However, if you refuse the flight, you lose any compensation you might have been may have access to to in Europe, so weigh your options before deciding.

What if I paid for a hotel because the airline did not offer one?

Keep your receipt and request reimbursement from the airline. They must cover reasonable accommodation costs if the delay is their fault or if they failed to offer a hotel when required. The airline may dispute what counts as reasonable, so choose a mid-range hotel, not a luxury one, if you are paying out of pocket.

If my flight is delayed, do I have to accept a voucher or can I get cash?

You can request cash instead of a voucher. In Europe, compensation must be paid in cash or by bank transfer. In the United States, airlines can offer vouchers, but you can refuse and request a refund of your ticket price instead. Do not accept a voucher if you would rather have cash; the airline will not offer both.