How to Claim Reimbursement from United Airlines for Extra Expenses

Amy Lancelotte

By:  Amy Lancelotte

Last Updated:  5 December 2025

Reviewed by:  Anton Radchenko

It can be frustrating dealing with airlines that don’t want to reimburse you. Not only are you potentially stuck at an airport in a strange city for hours, but you may also not receive your luggage. Don’t leave money on the table, and learn how to get your Delta reimbursement for flight disruption-related expenses.

So, what exactly is eligible for a Delta reimbursement? We’ll answer this question and dive into the proper procedures, potential pitfalls, and example scenarios to make sure you get the full Delta reimbursement you’re owed.

When To Request a Delta Air Lines Reimbursement

A Delta reimbursement refers to getting paid back for out-of-pocket expenses you incurred during a delay, cancellation, or other disruption. It covers the money you spend during the disruption for essentials like food and accommodation.

Reimbursement isn’t guaranteed. It will depend on Delta’s discretion, the situation, and the proof/document quality. In general, passengers can check their eligibility for reimbursement when:

• A flight is canceled unexpectedly.
• A delay or cancellation causes a missed connection.
• There are long delays, especially overnight ones.
• An alternate flight is significantly different from the original one.

What Reimbursement Expenses Are Valid?

Put simply, your expenses need to meet the following criteria to be valid:

☑ Delta is at fault for the interruption
☑ No vouchers or arrangements are offered by Delta
☑ You have clear proof of the expenses you incurred
☑ The expenses relate directly to the disruption
☑ The expenses are reasonable and not overly inflated

Acceptable Expense Types

Not everything is eligible for a Delta reimbursement. Things like lost wages and missed events are not covered, but these items generally are:

• Accommodation – For overnight delays or replacement flights that depart the following day, Delta agrees to provide a place to stay as long as you’re at a destination away from home.
• Hotel transportation – Also assuming you’re away from home, Delta will provide complimentary transportation to and from the hotel or other accommodation.
• Food and drinks – Provided the interruption means you’re waiting 3 or more hours at the airport beyond the original departure time, Delta offers vouchers (or reimbursement) for meals.
• Clothing and toiletries – In the event of a luggage delay, passengers can request reimbursement for essential basic clothing and toiletries while waiting for the checked bag(s). 

When Delta can’t arrange for accommodation at a Delta-contracted hotel or can’t provide vouchers, that’s when reimbursement kicks in. Remember that only reasonable costs are covered. Let’s put this into context according to AirAdvisor’s founder and passenger rights advocate, Anton Radchenko:

Airlines will only reimburse ‘reasonable’ expenses. Think business-style hotel, not luxury resort. If you keep costs modest, your claim is much more likely to get approved in full.

Important: For every expense you want Delta to reimburse, you need a clear receipt or other proof of purchase.

The Documentation You’ll Need to Provide

As mentioned, when Delta vouchers aren’t available, the airline can’t find space for you in a partner hotel, or pre-arranged transportation isn’t possible, they agree to cover the associated reasonable costs. To get your money back, you’ll need:

• Your boarding pass
• A confirmation of the interruption, which Delta will provide by filling out this form.
• All your receipts. If no itemized receipt is available, many apps will allow you to retrieve booking confirmations, which are generally also acceptable.
• A clear description of each item you’re claiming, such as “meal for 2 people at 7:30 pm on November 1.”
• A detailed summary of exactly what happened.
  Here’s an example: “I was scheduled to depart at 2:45 pm for flight DL 753 from Atlanta (ATL) to Los Angeles (LAX) on November 1. The flight did not depart until 7:48 pm. I was stuck waiting at the airport for an extra 5 hours, and I’m requesting reimbursement for food and drinks totaling $34.50.”

How to File a Reimbursement Request with Delta Air Lines

There are two separate Delta reimbursement processes depending on where you live.

US and Canada Residents

1. Go to the reimbursement form.
2. Fill in your personal details (name, phone, address) and select the number of passengers impacted from the drop-down menu.
3. Enter your flight information, including the confirmation number, origin and destination airports, and flight number.
4. Attach your receipts and explanation for all the expenses you’re claiming.
5. Once everything looks good, submit the reimbursement request.

Non-US/Canada Residents

1. Use this form for compliments and complaints.
2. Click “Submit Feedback.”
3. Either log in or continue as a guest.
4. Click “File a Complaint” and then “Delayed, canceled, rebooked flights.”
5. Choose the type of disruption, such as “flight delayed” or “flight canceled.” Click “Continue.”
6. Enter your personal details and click “Continue to Comment.”
7. Add your flight details and attach receipts and descriptions of your expenses.
8. Click “Continue to Review” and then submit once you’re satisfied with everything.

How to Handle Hotels and Vouchers Provided by Delta

Whenever you’re offered a meal, transportation, or hotel prepaid by the airline, take it. You’ll often run into trouble trying to request a Delta reimbursement when you declined the offer of a voucher or a complimentary stay at a partner hotel.

If you do refuse, you’ll need to offer proof that the items or conditions were unsuitable, which can be difficult.

Potential Reimbursement Challenges

It’s possible to run into certain obstacles, mostly related to Delta’s policies. These are the most likely ones:

• Force majeure – Delta’s Customer Commitment makes a point of saying that reimbursement for incidental expenses is only possible when the interruption is within the airline’s control. The opposite of this, something outside Delta’s control, is called “force majeure.”
  Causes within Delta’s control: aircraft technical issues, staff strikes.
  Causes outside Delta’s control: weather, air traffic control restrictions. 
• Short delays – Meal vouchers or reimbursement are only possible when your trip is delayed by a minimum of 3 hours. Accommodation and transportation are for overnight delays only. Delta will most likely refuse your reimbursement request if the interruption wasn’t long enough.
• Partial reimbursements – In cases where you’ve splurged on luxury hotels or elaborate meals, Delta will likely only reimburse you for what’s reasonable. That means you’ll only get a portion of the money you spent. Written prior approval from Delta for expenses is also recommended.
• Codeshares – Codeshares, where you purchase a ticket from one airline and it’s operated by another, may mean you’re requesting reimbursement from the wrong company. You always claim with the airline that actually operates the route – just look for the name on the side of the plane.
• Failure to respond – Delta may ignore or delay your claim, hoping you won’t pursue it further, so prepare to follow up consistently. Typically, Delta reimbursements are finalized within no more than 4 weeks. Note that the US Department of Transportation requires airlines to acknowledge the complaint within 30 days and resolve it within 60 days.

Delta Reimbursements – Real Passengers' Stories

After all our explanations of the policies and procedures, let’s see how that translates in the real world with flight cancellations, the most common reason for Delta reimbursement: 

Significant Delay

Flight DL 209 from Edinburgh Airport to New York JFK was canceled on the day of travel. Delta was only able to offer a new flight the following day, resulting in a total delay of 26 hours. The cancellation was due to aircraft technical problems, so the passenger received €176.21 (approx. US$200) for:

• The overnight stay in Edinburgh (New York was home)
• Meals
• Transportation to and from the hotel

Cancellation

A flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK (DL 2) was canceled overnight on the day before the flight. The cause? A replacement part for the plane was unavailable. After the passengers spent hours with Delta agents to find a new flight, the only option was two days later.

This family paid out of pocket for all the necessities during this delay and received a Delta reimbursement of €596.02 (approximately US$685) for:

• Two nights in a hotel
• Meals for one and a half days
• Bus service from the hotel to the airport

Other Important Protections

Sometimes, the airline refuses to reimburse you, but other protections may come to the rescue:

The Montreal Convention

The Montreal Convention applies to international passengers and maxes out at approximately €7,800 (US$9,000) for:

• Expenses incurred due to long delays
• Lost, damaged, or delayed baggage

Credit Cards

There are no US DOT federal rules that require Delta (or any other US airline) to issue reimbursements for expenses. But if you used a credit card for your ticket purchase, check with the credit card company for additional protection. 

With certain card types, things like delayed luggage and trip interruption are covered, so contact them right away to start your claim and avoid missing any deadlines.

Now that you know the ins and outs of the Delta reimbursement process, you can get the money you’re owed. And if you’re short on time, patience, or both, AirAdvisor is a trusted partner that can get the Delta reimbursement for you. Benefit from our expertise and start the process now!

Have you been successful with a Delta reimbursement? Or maybe they refused? Let AirAdvisor handle the process for you.Check if Your Flight Qualifies Now

Author:

Amy Lancelotte

Job/Position: Senior Writer & Content Creator

Amy Lancelotte is a Senior Content Writer and editorial contributor at AirAdvisor with more than seven years of experience producing research-driven articles for global audiences. Her work focuses on travel, aviation, and air passenger rights, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, verified data, and clear, reader-first explanations.

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