US Flight Delay Compensation: Eligibility and How to Get It
Navigating flight delays can be a frustrating experience for any traveler, causing unforeseen disruptions to carefully planned itineraries. Whether you're flying to a destination in the States or traveling abroad, understanding your rights as a passenger is crucial.
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Here at AirAdvisor, we offer a platform that simplifies the claims process and helps you secure the financial compensation you deserve. We've been assisting passengers for more than 7 years, so join more than 400,000 travelers who’ve trusted AirAdvisor with their claims.
In this comprehensive guide, we explore the ins and outs of flight delay compensation in the US, shedding light on the applicable regulations and potential remedies available to you.
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What is Flight Delay Compensation?
Flight delay compensation refers to the financial reimbursement or benefits that airlines may be required to provide passengers who experience significant delays in their flights. The exact compensation amount and eligibility criteria vary depending on the airline's policies, the governing laws and regulations of the country or region, and the specific circumstances of the delay.
In some cases, passengers may be entitled to receive cash compensation, meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, or alternative transportation arrangements, depending on the length of the delay and the airline's obligations. The overall aim of flight delay compensation is to provide travelers with redress for the inconvenience and potential additional costs incurred as a result of the delay.
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Compensation for Delayed Flights Around the World
While the rules for delayed flight compensation in the US are defined primarily by the airlines themselves, the situation changes in other parts of the world. Different regions have their own passenger rights regulations that describe the compensation you're entitled to in the event of a flight delay.
Comparing Global Compensation Rights
| US | UK | EU | Canada |
Minimum delay for compensation | ❌ | 3 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours |
Compensation Amount | ❌ | £125 - £520 | €250 - €600 | CA$125 - CA$1000 |
Free meals & drinks | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Hotel accommodation for overnight delay | Most airlines | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
- In the UK, the UK261 regulation applies. It states that you can claim flight delay compensation in the UK for delays over 3 hours. Depending on the length of the delay and the distance of the flight, compensation can be as much as $650 (£520). These regulations apply to any flight departing from a UK airport or to any flight arriving at a UK airport on a UK or EU based airline.
- Similarly, Regulation EU261 contains comprehensive rules for flight delay compensation. For delays exceeding 3 hours, you may be entitled to compensation of up to $650 (€600), unless the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances. These regulations apply to any flight departing from an EU airport, regardless of the airline, or to any flight arriving at an EU airport on a EU-based airline.
- Flight delay compensation in Canada is regulated under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, whereby Airlines are required to pay up to $700 ($1,000 CAD) for delays or cancellations within the airline's control. These regulations apply to any flight to, from, or within Canada.
How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation
You can claim by yourself or choose a flight delay compensation company to help you with the stress-free claiming process. Here are 3 quick steps to help you claim compensation:
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility For Free
Start by entering the necessary details about your flight in our compensation calculator, and our system will check your compensation eligibility based on the duration and cause of the delay as well as the relevant laws for your travel region.
Step 2: Submit Necessary Documentation
If you're eligible, we'll ask you for more detailed information about your flight including boarding passes, ticket receipts, or other documentation.
Step 3: Receive Your Compensation
AirAdvisor will work with the airline on your claim. All you have to do is wait for your compensation to land in your bank account. AirAdvisor operates on a "no win, no fee" basis, which means that we'll only charge a fee if we successfully claim your compensation.
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How Long Does It Take to Get Your Money
Regulations require airlines to respond within 30 days, but most carriers will reply late or ignore claims submitted by passengers directly (without representation by a third party or a lawyer).
The whole process can take up to 3 months, but AirAdvisor can speed up the process for you. If the airline is uncooperative, then our experts can help you take them to court, however, this process can take up to a year.
Passengers who have submitted claims on their own have found that airlines will often wait until the last day to reject your claim. They do this because they assume that most passengers are unaware of their rights.
If you want to increase your chances of a successful claim, choose AirAdvisor to help you! We streamline the compensation claim process, offering a step-by-step guide to ensure that no important details are missed.
After your claim is submitted, our team will take all the necessary steps to secure your compensation. And remember - we work on a no-win, no-fee basis to give you a comprehensive, hassle-free solution.
Can You Get Delayed Flight Compensation in the US?
At the moment, the United States does not have specific federal laws mandating airlines to provide flight delay compensation to passengers. Unlike the United Kingdom and European Union where passenger rights regulations are in place, the US doesn’t guarantee its air passengers compensation for flight delays caused by airline operational issues. Instead, compensation policies are at the discretion of individual airlines, and the offered benefits can vary significantly.
However, there are recent developments indicating a potential change in this landscape. The U.S. Department of Transportation is committed to improving consumer protections in the aviation industry, and efforts are being made to introduce legislation requiring airlines to provide compensation to passengers. The aim of these measures is to establish clearer guidelines for airline responsibilities, ensuring that travelers are fairly compensated for significant delays that disrupt their travel plans.
US Airline Policies for Flight Delays
Flight delay policies can vary significantly among different US airlines, with some carriers offering more comprehensive flight compensation and assistance to affected passengers than others. Below, you can see the flight delay compensation policies for 3 major United States airlines. This will give you a better idea of what to expect when you’re faced with flight disruptions:
American Airlines
When it comes to American Airlines' compensation for flight delays, you can expect a range of assistance and benefits, including a rebooking with American at no extra cost in cases of significant delays. Additionally, they provide the option to rebook on partner airlines or other carriers if you have prolonged delays.
If you have a delay lasting longer than 2 hours on international flights, you're entitled to receive meal vouchers or cash equivalents. You can request a refund if your flight is delayed by 5 hours, and you choose not to accept an alternate booking. If you’re traveling internationally, you could request a refund if your delay lasts more than 6 hours.
Moreover, in the event of an overnight delay, American Airlines offers complimentary hotel accommodations when they are responsible for the delay, ensuring you can rest comfortably. To further enhance your travel experience during overnight delays, the airline will provide complimentary ground transportation to and from the hotel.
United Airlines
Like American Airlines, United Airlines' compensation for flight delays includes essential support and services. In the case of significant delays, the airline will try to rebook you on the same airline without any additional charges. Similarly, the airline will look into rebooking you on partner airlines or other carriers with which it has agreements for prolonged delays.
For delays that result in a wait of 3 hours or more, the airline will offer meal vouchers or cash equivalents to cater to your dining needs during the extended wait. In cases of overnight delays, United Airlines will help you by offering complimentary hotel accommodation and complimentary ground transportation to and from the hotel.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines' compensation for delayed flights is the same as that of American and United Airlines, except for the option to be rebooked on a partner airline or other carrier in the case of a significant delay. Aside from this, the airline works to rebook you on the same airline at no additional cost, ensuring minimal disruptions to your travel plans.
In the event of a 3+ hour delay, Southwest Airlines offers meal vouchers or cash equivalents. For overnight delays, the airline will provide complimentary hotel accommodations as long as they were responsible for the delay. They will also provide complimentary ground transportation to and from the hotel if you have an overnight delay.
Your Rights When You Have a US Flight Delay
As an air passenger, it's important to understand your rights and entitlements when your flight is delayed within or when departing from the USA.
Domestic Flights
Anytime you fly domestically in the US, your rights are governed by the airline's contract of carriage and the Passengers' Bill of Rights. The latter was introduced to provide passengers with a basic level of protection against flight disruptions, such as delays and cancellations.
Under the Passengers' Bill of Rights, airlines are required to provide you with accurate information about the status of your flight delay, including the reasons for the delay and the estimated time of departure. However, there's no federal requirement for flight delay compensation in the US.
As mentioned, US airlines usually offer food vouchers for extended delays, accommodation for overnight delays, and rebooking options if the delay causes you to miss a connecting flight and there was no way for them to avoid it.
Your Rights When Flying Internationally
For international flights, your rights can differ significantly depending on the operating airline and the destination. For instance, if your flight is operated by a European airline or you are departing from a European airport, you might be covered by EU regulations, which offer more substantial compensation in case of delays.
If your international flight is delayed and is operated by a US airline, the Passengers' Bill of Rights still applies as long as you are departing from the US.
Extraordinary Circumstances: When You Won’t Get Compensation
'Extraordinary circumstances' are unforeseen events that airlines are unable to control. When a flight is delayed because of extraordinary circumstances, the airline is not required to compensate you.
Airlines are required to prove that they took all possible measures to prevent the delay, even in cases where extraordinary circumstances were present.
Documents You’ll Need For a Compensation Claim
- Booking Confirmation: This document contains vital details about your flight, including the booking reference number or PNR, flight number, and the names of the passengers on the booking.
- Boarding Pass: This is the most fundamental document that you’ll need. It serves as proof that you were a passenger on the flight in question.
- Flight Delay Confirmation: This can be a photo of the departure or arrival board showing the delay or a screenshot of an announcement from the airline confirming the delay.
- Receipts: If you incurred additional expenses due to the delay, such as meals, hotel accommodation, or transportation, keep the receipts. While airlines frequently deny such claims when made by passengers directly, the AirAdvisor team routinely recovers these additional costs from airlines.
Tools to Help You Out
See our list of FREE tools in the links below:
- Flight Delay Checker
- Free Flight Delay Compensation Calculator
- Free Flight Delay Compensation Letter Template
Resources & Additional Reading
Some extra resources to help you better understand flight delay compensation:
- Delayed Flight Compensation Claim Deadlines
- What are Delay Reversals?
- Should I Accept Cash or Vouchers for a Delayed Flight?
- Business Trip Flight Delay Guide
Flight Delays by Issue
Read more about the most popular flight delay causes: