Does the airline pay for a hotel?
It depends on what caused the delay and where the flight leaves from. A US airline pays for a hotel only when it caused the overnight stay, because its own plan says so; no US law requires a room.1 Leave from the EU or the UK and the airline owes you a room whatever the cause.35
Of the 12 US airlines whose plans we read, 8 promise a hotel for an overnight delay they cause. None promises one for weather or air traffic control. After the FAA ground stop of 13 November 2026, no US airline's page offered hotels or meals.8
Check your airline in two questions
Eight US airlines promise a room when they cause the overnight stay
Each row quotes the airline's own customer service plan or contract of carriage. US airlines put these promises in writing, and the DOT treats them as enforceable for disruptions within the airline's control.2 Frontier promises meals only. Breeze calls any help a courtesy.
| Airline | Country | Cause within its control | Weather or air traffic control | Clause | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | United States | Approved hotel and transport when held overnight away from home. Food or drink credit from 3 hours.9 | You pay. An agent may help find a room.10 | Conditions of carriage, section 'Delays, cancellations and diversions' (unnumbered); Customer service plan, delays section; Conditions of carriage, section 'Delays, cancellations and diversions'; Customer service plan | Reported elsewhere |
| Delta Air Lines | United States | Hotel at a contracted property and transport, or reasonable costs if you book yourself. Meal from 3 hours.11 | No liability for force majeure, which lists government directives. Delta's reimbursement page excludes air traffic control delays.11 | Domestic General Rules Tariff, Rule 19(B); Customer Commitment, delays and cancellations section; Domestic General Rules Tariff, Rule 19(B)(4) and 19(B)(6) | Checked at source |
| United Airlines | United States | Reported: meal after 3 hours, hotel and transport. Not read on a United page.12 | Reported: no lodging. Not read on a United page.13 | Not read | Not confirmed |
| Southwest Airlines | United States | On request, lodging or reasonable reimbursement and transport for an unplanned overnight stay (locals excluded). Meal voucher.14 | Rebooking only. The plan names weather and Air Traffic Control.14 | Customer Service Plan, section 14; Contract of Carriage, section 9.b.(2); Customer Service Plan, section 14 (final paragraph); Contract of Carriage, section 1.b. definition of Force Majeure Event and section 9.b. | Checked at source |
| JetBlue | United States | Contracted hotel and transport when away from home overnight, or reimbursement with receipts sent within 10 days. US$12 meal voucher.15 | Hotels neither provided nor reimbursed. The contract names air traffic control delays.16 | Customer Service Plan, sections Hotel Accommodation, Meals and Compensation; Contract of Carriage Revision 104 (3 November 2026), Section 38.a.12 and Section 37.e; Section 1 definition of Controllable Irregularity; Customer Service Plan, Hotel Accommodation; Contract of Carriage Section 1 (Force Majeure Event, Uncontrollable Irregularity), Section 25.a and 25.c, Section 37.c | Checked at source |
| Alaska Airlines | United States | Hotel and transport for an overnight stay 100 or more miles from home, by voucher or reimbursement. Meal voucher from 3 hours.17 | No amenities when air traffic control or weather is the cause.18 | Contract of Carriage (revised 25 August 2026) Rule 8.E.a to 8.E.d; customer commitment page Care During a Delay; Contract of Carriage Rule 1.AA (Force Majeure Event), Rule 8.B and Rule 8.D; customer commitment page Care During a Delay, Exceptions | Checked at source |
| Hawaiian Airlines | United States | Hotel and transport for an overnight stay 100 or more miles from home, by voucher or reimbursement. Meal voucher from 3 hours.19 | No amenities when air traffic control or weather is the cause.19 | Contract of Carriage (revised 25 August 2026) Rule 8.E.a to 8.E.d; customer commitment page Care During a Delay; Contract of Carriage Rule 1.AA (Force Majeure Event), Rule 8.B and Rule 8.D; customer commitment page Care During a Delay, Exceptions | Checked at source |
| Frontier Airlines | United States | No hotel. Meal vouchers from 3 hours.20 | Rebooking or a refund only.20 | Customer Service Plan item 12 (Controllable Situations); Contract of Carriage Section 17.C; Customer Service Plan item 12 (Uncontrollable Situations); Contract of Carriage Section 17.B (Force Majeure) and 17.C | Checked at source |
| Allegiant Air | United States | Hotel when available, or reasonable overnight costs. Meal after 3 hours. (Plan; the contract lists neither.)21 | No hotel or meals. The contract lists Air Traffic Control.22 | Customer Service Plan, delays and cancellations section; Contract of Carriage, Article 85.D; Contract of Carriage, Article 85.B and 85.F | Checked at source |
| Sun Country Airlines | United States | Reported: may reimburse limited expenses for a mechanical delay over 4 hours domestic. Wording not read.23 | Reported: no liability beyond a refund.23 | Rule 260 (involuntary refunds), per search extract | Reported elsewhere |
| Breeze Airways | United States | Vouchers or reimbursement "solely as a courtesy".24 | No reimbursement for severe weather or Air Traffic Control decisions.24 | Contract of Carriage, Section 8.B; Contract of Carriage, Section 8.B | Checked at source |
| Avelo Airlines | United States | Hotel up to US$150 a night for non-local customers. No meal promise.25 | No compensation or accommodation.25 | Flight disruptions page, "Controllable events"; Customer Service Commitment, item 12; Flight disruptions page, "Uncontrollable events"; Contract of Carriage, Section 2 (Force Majeure Event) and Section 12 | Checked at source |
| Air Canada | Canada | No hotel promise of its own. Follows the Canadian regulations, which owe a hotel for overnight disruptions within its control.26 | Not read on an Air Canada page. Canadian rules owe no care.27 | Air Passenger Protection Regulations notice (form ACF519); tariff rule not read; Customer Service Plan, tarmac delay section | Reported elsewhere |
| WestJet | Canada | Hotel and transfers when a cancellation within its control needs an overnight stay. US plan: hotel voucher and up to three meal vouchers a day.28 | Not read. Its reimbursement pages cover disruptions within its control only.29 | Flight delay and cancellation claims page; reimbursement page; US service disruptions plan; US service disruptions plan, "Am I entitled to a refund?" | Checked at source |
| Porter Airlines | Canada | Reported: reasonable expenses reimbursed against itemised receipts.30 | Reported: a credit valid for one year.30 | Tariff rule not read | Reported elsewhere |
Read on each airline's own plan, contract or help page, checked 15 November 2026. Airlines outside the US and Canada have not been read yet.
Airlines outside the US and Canada are listed as not yet read. During this outage Cathay Pacific arranged hotels in some cases under its standard disruption policy.31
Europe and the UK owe a room whatever the cause
EU and UK rules switch off cash compensation for extraordinary circumstances. They leave the duty of care in place, so the hotel is still owed.34 Canada and the US tie any hotel to the airline's own fault.
| Where the flight leaves | Airline caused it | Weather or air traffic control |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No law. Airline plans only. | No law, and the airline plans exclude it.1 |
| Leaving the EU, any airline | Hotel and transfers when an overnight stay becomes necessary (Article 9). | Same. Owed whatever the cause.3 |
| Leaving the UK, any airline | Hotel and transfers if delayed overnight. | Same, "regardless of the reason for the delay". Claim reasonable costs with receipts if none is arranged.5 |
| To, from or within Canada | Hotel and transport for an overnight stay (section 14). | Not owed. Air traffic control instructions are outside the carrier's control (section 10).6 |
| Brazil | Lodging and transport after 4 hours when an overnight stay is needed (ANAC Resolution 400, article 27). | See the rule.32 |
| China | Airline rules apply. | The passenger pays for meals and lodging when air traffic control delays a flight at origin. The carrier helps arrange them (Article 29).33 |
| Any international trip | Proven hotel costs can be claimed as damage for delay, up to 6,303 Special Drawing Rights (Montreal Convention). | Same claim, but the airline can defend it by showing it took all reasonable measures.7 |
Read on the law or the regulator's own page, checked 15 November 2026. All 18 regimes on the main page.
A card or policy may pay the hotel after 3 to 12 hours
Trip delay cover on a card or travel policy repays a room and meals once the delay passes a waiting period. Of the US delay products that state a waiting period, 10 of 14 start at 5 hours or more. The 13 November stop ran 4 hours 21 minutes.57
Pay for the room on the card that carries the benefit if you can, and ask the airline for the cause in writing. A policy bought after the disruption is known will not cover it.58
| Product | Market | Type | Starts after | Pays up to | Position on this cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | US | Card | 6 hours or overnight | Depends34 | |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | US | Card | Denied a hotel claim after an air traffic control ground delay35 | ||
| Capital One Venture X | US | Card | 6 hours | Depends35 | |
| American Express Platinum-tier Trip Delay | US | Card | More than 6 hours | US$500 a trip | Refused FAA-order delays in 202536 |
| Citi Strata Elite and Premier | US | Card | More than 6 hours | US$500 | Depends (wording not read)37 |
| Bilt Palladium | US | Card | More than 6 hours | US$300 a trip, one claim a year | Carrier equipment failure only38 |
| US Bank Altitude Reserve | US | Card | 6 hours or overnight | US$500 a ticket | Depends (wording not read)39 |
| Allianz OneTrip | US | Insurance | 3 hours (Premier), 5 (Prime), 6 (Basic) | US$200 a day; US$1,600 Premier, US$800 Prime, US$300 Basic | Carrier delay, no cause attached40 |
| AIG Travel Guard Preferred | US | Insurance | 5 hours | US$200 a day, US$800 | Carrier delay, documented41 |
| Generali | US | Insurance | 10 hours (Standard), 8 (Preferred), 6 (Premium) | US$1,000 a person | Carrier delay, no cause attached42 |
| World Nomads (US residents) | US | Insurance | 6 hours | US$250 a day, US$1,000 to US$5,000 by plan | Carrier delay, secondary to the airline43 |
| Nationwide Travel Prime and Essential | US | Insurance | 6 hours | US$150 to US$250 a day, US$600 to US$2,000 | Any common carrier delay44 |
| Travel Insured International | US | Insurance | 3 hours (Platinum), 6 (Deluxe), 12 (Essential) | US$100 to US$200 a day, US$500 to US$2,000 | Carrier delay, documented45 |
| Travelex Ultimate | US | Insurance | 5 hours | US$250 a day, US$2,000 | Plans bought from 13 November 2026 exclude this outage46 |
| Berkshire Hathaway ExactCare Extra | US | Insurance | More than 2 hours | US$50 fixed (no receipts) | No list of causes47 |
| TuGo Traveller | Canada | Insurance | More than 4 hours | C$900 hotel and meals, C$400 transport | No cause test48 |
| BCAA Travel Insurance | Canada | Insurance | More than 4 hours | C$900 hotel and meals, C$400 transport | No cause test49 |
| CAA Travel Insurance | Canada | Insurance | 6 hours | C$400 a day, C$4,000 overall | No cause test50 |
| American Express Canada Platinum | Canada | Card | 4 hours | C$1,000 per occurrence | No cause test51 |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite | Canada | Card | 4 hours | C$250 a day per person, C$500 per occurrence | No cause test52 |
| Staysure | UK | Insurance | 12 hours (6 on Signature) | Up to GBP 1,500 | Names failure of air traffic control systems53 |
| Aviva | UK | Insurance | 12 hours | GBP 25 a person per 12 hours, up to GBP 250 | Lists no causes54 |
| Admiral Enhanced Trip Disruption add-on | UK | Insurance | 6 hours | GBP 500 a person, onward travel | Names air traffic control restrictions55 |
| Cover-More Australia Comprehensive | Australia | Insurance | 6 hours | Extra accommodation (room only), A$3,000 section limit on Comprehensive+ | Open cause, cyber incidents included56 |
Read on each provider's own wording or benefit page unless tagged reported elsewhere, checked 15 November 2026. 126 insurance positions on the main page.
Airport hotels sold out and one rate jumped from US$300 to US$700
These are reported examples from the night of 13 November 2026, one traveller or one hotel at a time. Read them as single cases. No hotel company published rates or occupancy for the event.71
| Place | What was reported |
|---|---|
| San Francisco | A couple booked a room at US$300 and saw the rate reach US$700 minutes later. Hotel not named.59 |
| San Francisco | An airport hotel at US$600 a night. The traveller took a room farther away for less than half that.59 |
| Columbus, Ohio | Airport-area rooms at "hundreds of dollars" a night. The traveller slept in the airport.60 |
| Burbank | Hotels near the airport almost all sold out. Rooms near LAX largely full.61 |
| Boston | Hilton Boston Logan had 9 vacant rooms before the stop. All were taken.62 |
| Detroit | At least 50 people queued at the Skyline Hotel at about 8:30pm.63 |
| Raleigh | Hilton availability across Raleigh sold out, by one passenger's account.64 |
| Newark | A hotel cancelled a traveller's booking for lack of capacity.65 |
| Atlanta | Dozens of airport-area hotels sold out on Friday night.66 |
| Jacksonville | Everything near the airport sold out. The traveller took a downtown hotel.67 |
| Orlando | Visit Orlando, Rosen Hotels and Hilton Orlando arranged discounted rates. No rate or code published.68 |
| Reagan National | Terminals stayed open overnight for travellers without hotels.69 |
| Any | Airbnb's disruption policy excludes flight cancellations.70 |
Reported examples, each from one news report. What hotel and car hire companies said.
In a survey before this outage, 42% of disrupted US travellers paid out of pocket, and 60% of those spent US$100 or more.7272
Ask for the voucher at the desk before you book a room
- Ask the agent what caused the delay. "Mechanical" or "crew" points to a room at most large airlines; "weather" or "air traffic control" means no room in the US.
- Ask for the hotel voucher and the meal voucher by name. Alaska, Hawaiian and Southwest say some amenities come on request.14
- If you book yourself, get approval first where you can. American says a self-booked hotel needs its written authorisation to be sure of reimbursement.9
- Keep itemised receipts and send them quickly. JetBlue wants hotel and transport receipts within 10 days.15
- If the airline says no, claim from your card or policy, and from the airline under EU or UK rules where they apply. The claim tool drafts the letters.
Missed your onward flight? What happens when you miss a connecting flight covers rebooking and bags.
Questions people ask
Do airlines have to pay for your hotel if they cancel your flight?
In the US, no law requires it. Most large US airlines promise a hotel in their own plans when they caused an overnight cancellation. Leaving the EU or UK, the airline must provide one whatever the cause.
What are you entitled to if an airline cancels your flight?
In the US: a full refund if you choose not to travel, or rebooking. Meals and a hotel only if the airline caused it. EU and UK departures add care whatever the cause, and cash compensation when the airline caused it.
Can you claim hotel costs if your flight is cancelled?
From the airline, when it caused the cancellation or when you left from the EU or UK. Otherwise from a card or travel policy once its waiting period has passed, usually 3 to 12 hours.
Does an airline have to accommodate you if they cancel your flight?
US airlines rebook you under their own contracts, and owe a refund if you decline. Canada requires rebooking within 48 hours, then on any airline for large carriers.
Does American Airlines pay for a hotel if a flight is cancelled?
Yes, an approved hotel and transport when American caused the delay and you are held overnight away from home. No, when the cause is outside its control, such as weather.
Does Delta pay for a hotel if a flight is cancelled?
Yes, for delays or cancellations within Delta's control: a contracted hotel and transport, or reasonable costs if you book yourself. Its contract excludes force majeure, which lists government directives.
Does United pay for a hotel if a flight is cancelled?
Reported yes for causes within United's control, with no lodging otherwise. We could not read this on a United page.
Does Southwest pay for a hotel if a flight is cancelled?
On request, for an unplanned overnight stay within Southwest's control. Weather and Air Traffic Control get rebooking only.
Does JetBlue pay for a hotel if a flight is cancelled?
Yes, a contracted hotel for a controllable disruption with an arrival delay of 3 hours or more when you are away from home. Never for causes outside its control.
Does Alaska Airlines pay for a hotel?
Yes, for an overnight stay 100 or more miles from home when the cause is within its control. Not when air traffic control or weather is the cause.
Does Frontier pay for a hotel?
No. Frontier promises meal vouchers from 3 hours for delays it causes, and no hotel.
Does Spirit pay for a hotel?
We have not read Spirit's plan yet.
Does Allegiant pay for a hotel?
Its plan promises a hotel when available, or reasonable overnight costs, for delays within its control. The contract itself lists no hotel benefit.
Does the airline pay for a hotel for a weather delay?
Not in the US or Canada. Yes on a flight leaving the EU or UK.
Does the airline pay for a hotel after a missed connection?
On one ticket, when the airline caused the first delay, most large US airlines treat it like any other overnight disruption they caused. On separate tickets, no.
What is a distressed passenger rate?
A reduced room rate some hotels offer stranded travellers. During this outage Visit Orlando, Rosen Hotels and Hilton Orlando arranged discounted rates without publishing them.
Will the airline pay for a hotel I book myself?
Several will, for causes within their control: Delta, JetBlue, Alaska and Allegiant say they reimburse reasonable costs. American wants written authorisation first. Keep itemised receipts.
Sources
72 sources
Every figure links to its source. "Checked at source" means the original page was read on or before 15 November 2026. "Reported elsewhere" means it came through another outlet. Numbers that also appear on the main page link to the methodology page.
- US refund rule, 14 CFR Part 260 and 49 U.S.C. 42305 Checked at source · methodology ref 89
- DOT enforcement policy on customer service commitments, 10 December 2025 Checked at source
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 Checked at source · methodology ref 90
- UK261 as it has effect in UK law Checked at source · methodology ref 91
- UK CAA, delays Checked at source
- Air Passenger Protection Regulations, SOR/2019-150 Checked at source · methodology ref 92
- Montreal Convention 1999 (UK Carriage by Air Act 1961, Schedule 1B) Checked at source · methodology ref 93
- JetBlue, Southwest, Frontier, Avelo and Alaska pages Checked at source · methodology ref 55
- American Airlines, customer plan or contract (within its control) Reported elsewhere
- American Airlines, contract or plan (outside its control) Reported elsewhere
- Delta Air Lines, customer plan or contract (within its control) Checked at source
- United Airlines, customer plan or contract (within its control) Not confirmed
- United Airlines, contract or plan (outside its control) Not confirmed
- Southwest Airlines, customer plan or contract (within its control) Checked at source
- JetBlue, customer plan or contract (within its control) Checked at source
- JetBlue, contract or plan (outside its control) Checked at source
- Alaska Airlines, customer plan or contract (within its control) Checked at source
- Alaska Airlines, contract or plan (outside its control) Checked at source
- Hawaiian Airlines, customer plan or contract (within its control) Checked at source
- Frontier Airlines, customer plan or contract (within its control) Checked at source
- Allegiant Air, customer plan or contract (within its control) Checked at source
- Allegiant Air, contract or plan (outside its control) Checked at source
- Sun Country Airlines, customer plan or contract (within its control) Reported elsewhere
- Breeze Airways, customer plan or contract (within its control) Checked at source
- Avelo Airlines, customer plan or contract (within its control) Checked at source
- Air Canada, customer plan or contract (within its control) Reported elsewhere
- Air Canada, contract or plan (outside its control) Reported elsewhere
- WestJet, customer plan or contract (within its control) Checked at source
- WestJet, contract or plan (outside its control) Checked at source
- Porter Airlines, customer plan or contract (within its control) Reported elsewhere
- The Traveler Reported elsewhere · methodology ref 77
- ANAC Checked at source · methodology ref 95
- CNA Reported elsewhere · methodology ref 465
- Upgraded Points Checked at source · methodology ref 7
- Thrifty Traveler Checked at source · methodology ref 205
- American Express benefits guide Checked at source · methodology ref 136
- Your Mileage May Vary Reported elsewhere · methodology ref 218
- Your Mileage May Vary Checked at source · methodology ref 219
- Frequent Miler Reported elsewhere · methodology ref 220
- Allianz Global Assistance (Allianz Travel Insurance), OneTrip (Basic, Prime, Premier, Cancellation Plus, Emergency Medical) Checked at source
- AIG Travel Guard (Travel Guard), Preferred and Deluxe Checked at source
- Generali Global Assistance, Standard, Preferred and Premium Checked at source
- World Nomads (US residents), Standard, Explorer, Epic and Annual plans Checked at source · methodology ref 214
- Nationwide, Travel Prime, Travel Essential and Cruise Choice Checked at source
- Travel Insured International, Worldwide Trip Protector Platinum, Deluxe and Essential Checked at source
- Travelex Checked at source · methodology ref 215
- Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection Checked at source · methodology ref 216
- TuGo, Traveller policy: Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption, and Air Tra Checked at source · methodology ref 266
- BCAA Travel Insurance, BCAA Travel Insurance policy wording (file dated 2026-10-29): Trip Can Checked at source
- CAA Travel Insurance, CAA Travel Insurance Policy, Trip Cancellation and Interruption (TI-58 Checked at source
- American Express Canada, The Platinum Card, Flight and Baggage Delay and Hotel Burglary Insuran Checked at source
- RBC cards, RBC Avion Visa Infinite, Delayed Baggage and Flight Delay Insurance (c Checked at source
- Staysure Checked at source · methodology ref 227
- Aviva Checked at source · methodology ref 226
- Admiral Checked at source · methodology ref 148
- Cover-More Australia, Cover-More Travel Insurance Combined FSG and PDS, effective 15 October Checked at source
- Waiting period count, FlightCancellations.com insurance table Checked at source
- Upgraded Points Checked at source · methodology ref 206
- ABC7 KGO San Francisco Checked at source · methodology ref 121
- USA TODAY via AOL Checked at source · methodology ref 140
- NBC Los Angeles Checked at source · methodology ref 21
- Boston Globe Checked at source · methodology ref 305
- Detroit Free Press via Yahoo Checked at source · methodology ref 312
- ABC11 WTVD Checked at source · methodology ref 313
- DPA via Yahoo News Checked at source · methodology ref 13
- WSB-TV live blog Reported elsewhere · methodology ref 17
- News4JAX Checked at source · methodology ref 393
- WESH 2 Checked at source · methodology ref 34
- ARLnow Checked at source · methodology ref 374
- Airbnb Help Centre Checked at source · methodology ref 85
- No public statement located Checked at source
- Hopper via Fortune Checked at source · methodology ref 127