FlightCancellations.com / Flight delay compensation
Checked 15 November 2026Ground stop 13 Nov 2026, 4 h 21 min
Make a claim · Methodology and sources · Passenger rules by country
US airlines owe no cash for a delay. EU and UK flights pay after 3 hours when the airline is at fault
Jeremy CabralGrowth advisor Checked
No US law makes an airline pay cash for a delay1. If a domestic flight is 3 or more hours late (6 international) and you choose not to fly, you're owed a full refund. US airlines promise meals and hotels only for delays they caused. Flights from the EU or UK can owe up to EUR 600 or GBP 5202.
NoneUS cash compensation for a delay
3 h / 6 hRefund trigger, domestic and international
EUR 600EU261 maximum, flights from the EU
US$2,150Most a US airline owes for a bump
Key facts, with sources and dates
- A delay of 3 hours or more on a domestic trip, or 6 hours international, makes the fare refundable under 14 CFR 260.2 if you don't fly (eCFR, checked 15 November 2026)1.
- All nine large US airlines on DOT's dashboard promise a meal or meal voucher after a 3-hour wait they caused, and none promises cash; DOT last updated the dashboard on 11 September 2025 (US DOT, checked 15 November 2026)3.
- EU261 pays EUR 250, 400 or 600 when you reach your final destination 3 hours or more late on a flight leaving the EU (Your Europe, checked 15 November 2026)2.
- DOT's rule moving ten causes out of the airline-caused code takes effect on 1 February 2027, after a delay from 19 October 2026 (Federal Register, checked 15 November 2026)4.
- The FAA ground stop on 13 November 2026 lasted 4 hours 21 minutes and carried no fixed US compensation, because the cause was a government system (Wikipedia, checked 15 November 2026)5.
- A US airline that bumps you from an oversold flight owes up to US$2,150 in cash under 14 CFR 250.5 (eCFR, checked 15 November 2026)6.
How long does a flight have to be delayed before compensation?
3 hours on arrival under the EU, UK and Canadian rules, when the airline caused it. US law sets no compensation for any length of delay; at 3 hours domestic or 6 international the fare becomes refundable if you don't fly. The hour that matters is usually the arrival time at your final destination, measured when the doors open.
| Where | What starts | After | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Refund if you do not fly | 3 hours domestic, 6 hours international | Checked at source |
| United States | Airline meal voucher (airline-caused only, by airline plan) | 3 hours | Checked at source |
| EU and UK | Meals and drinks | 2 hours (1,500 km or less), 3 hours (1,500 to 3,500 km), 4 hours (longer) | Checked at source |
| EU and UK | Fixed compensation | 3 hours late at the final destination | Checked at source |
| EU and UK | Refund if you do not fly | 5 hours | Checked at source |
| Canada | Compensation (airline-caused) | 3 hours late on arrival; CAD 400, 700 from 6 hours, 1,000 from 9 hours | Checked at source |
| Türkiye | Meals, refund | Care from 2, 3 or 4 hours; refund at 5 hours | Checked at source |
| Israel | Meals, refund, compensation | Meals from 2 hours; refund at 5 hours; treated as a cancellation at 8 hours | Reported elsewhere |
| South Korea | Share of the fare | 10% from 2 hours, 20% from 4, 30% beyond 12 | Checked at source |
| Brazil | Food, lodging, choice of refund | Food after 2 hours, lodging and the choice after 4 hours | Checked at source |
| India | Meals (not for air traffic control) | 2, 3 or 4 hours by block time | Checked at source |
| US and UK travel insurance | Delay benefit | Median 6 hours in the US and 9 hours in the UK, among products that state one | Checked at source |
Rules as read on the law or the regulator's page on 15 November 2026; airline meal timing from US customer service plans; insurance medians from the cover table on the main page.
What does each US airline promise when it caused the delay?
The ladder shows what changes as the delay grows, for a delay the airline caused. Weather and air traffic control take away the middle column3.
| Delay | US refund right | US airline promise, airline-caused | EU and UK, flight leaving Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 hours | No | Nothing promised | Nothing |
| 2 to 3 hours | No | Nothing promised | Meals and drinks by distance; no fixed sum |
| 3 to 6 hours | Yes on a domestic trip, if you do not fly | Meal or meal voucher (all nine large airlines) | EUR 250 to 600 when the airline caused it |
| 6 hours or more | Yes, domestic and international, if you do not fly | Meal or meal voucher; rebooking | EUR 250 to 600 when the airline caused it; refund from 5 hours |
| Overnight | Yes, if you do not fly | Hotel and transport (eight of nine large airlines) | Hotel and transport whatever the cause |
Refund right from 14 CFR 260.2; airline promises from the DOT dashboard (last updated 11 September 2025, checked 15 November 2026); EU and UK from Regulation 261/2004 and UK261.
The calculator gives the amount for your route, airline and cause
Pick where you flew, the airline, how late you arrived and the cause the airline gave. The flight compensation calculator lists every rule that applies, side by side, with the clause behind each answer.
Delay compensation rules by where you flew
Fixed sums exist in the EU, the UK, Canada, Türkiye and Israel, plus a fare-percentage standard in South Korea. Each one drops away when the airline proves the cause was outside its control. The US has none.
| Rule | Fixed compensation | Air traffic control, weather and other outside causes | Refund and care | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesFlights to, from or within the US, any airline7 | None | No fixed sum for any cause. The refund right applies whatever the cause. Airline meal and hotel promises cover airline-caused disruptions only. | Full refund if cancelled, or 3 hours late domestic or 6 hours international, and you do not travel. No federal rule on meals or hotels. | Checked at source |
| European Union (EU261)Leaving the EU on any airline; arriving in the EU on an EU airline8 | EUR 250, 400 or 600 by distance, for a cancellation or an arrival 3 hours or more late2 | Not owed when the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. Recital 15 says air traffic management decisions should be deemed extraordinary. Weather is a listed example. | Refund within 7 days or rerouting, whatever the cause. Meals and a hotel owed whatever the cause, from 2, 3 or 4 hours by distance. | Checked at source |
| United Kingdom (UK261)Leaving the UK on any airline; arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline9 | GBP 220, 350 or 520 by distance, for a cancellation or an arrival 3 hours or more late | Not owed for extraordinary circumstances, which Article 2(o)(b) defines to include the impact of an air traffic management decision. | Refund within 7 days or rerouting. Care owed "regardless of the reason", from 2, 3 or 4 hours. | Checked at source |
| Canada (APPR)Flights to, from and within Canada10 | CAD 400, 700 or 1,000 (large airlines) or 125, 250 or 500 (small) by how late you arrive, from 3 hours | Only for disruptions within the airline's control and not required for safety. Air traffic control instructions are named as outside its control. | Rebooking within 48 hours, else refund or further rebooking. Refund within 30 days. Meals and hotels only when the airline is in control. | Checked at source |
| Türkiye (SHY-YOLCU)Turkish airlines to and from Türkiye; any airline leaving Türkiye22 | EUR 100 domestic; EUR 250, 400 or 600 by distance international | Not owed for extraordinary circumstances. The definition lists weather and similar events. It does not name air traffic control. | Refund within 7 days or rerouting on cancellation and on delays of 5 hours or more. Care from 2, 3 or 4 hours. | Checked at source |
| Israel (Aviation Services Law)Flights leaving or arriving in Israel23 | NIS 1,530, 2,450 or 3,670 base amounts by distance, indexed yearly. A delay of 8 hours or more counts as a cancellation | Not owed when the operator proves special circumstances outside its control. | Refund or another ticket on cancellation and on delays of 5 hours or more. Meals and calls from 2 hours. | Reported elsewhere |
| South Korea (consumer dispute standards)Disputes over international flights18 | 10% of the fare for the delayed sector at 2 to 4 hours, 20% at 4 to 12 hours, 30% beyond 12 hours | Not owed where the airline proves weather, airport conditions or unforeseen safety measures. Air traffic control is not named. | Refund of the unflown sector if no substitute flight is given. | Checked at source |
| Montreal ConventionInternational trips between member countries11 | No fixed sum. Proven losses from delay, up to 6,303 SDR a passenger24 | Not owed if the airline proves it took all reasonable measures. A government ground stop gives the airline a strong defence for the delay itself. | Does not deal with refunds or care. Claims must reach a court within 2 years. | Checked at source |
| Mexico12 | At least 25% of the fare, only when the airline is responsible | Not owed when the airline did not cause it. | Refund, next flight with meals and hotel, or later travel, when the airline is responsible. | Checked at source |
| Brazil (ANAC 400)13 | None | No fixed sum for any cause. | Choice of rebooking, refund or other transport after 4 hours. Food after 2 hours and lodging after 4, at airports in Brazil, whatever the cause. | Checked at source |
| India (DGCA)16 | Set amounts for some cancellations, when the airline is at fault | Air traffic control is named as a cause that removes compensation and care. | Alternate flight or refund on cancellation. | Checked at source |
| Australia14 | None | A third-party cause can remove consumer guarantee remedies. | Depends on the booking terms and the consumer guarantees. A new aviation law was before the Senate. | Checked at source |
| New Zealand (domestic)15 | None. Proven losses up to 10 times the fare on domestic flights | Air traffic control instructions are a named defence. | Refunds depend on the ticket terms. | Checked at source |
| Japan17 | None found | Depends on the airline's conditions. | Under the airline's conditions. | Reported elsewhere |
| China (mainland)19 | None prescribed | For air traffic control causes the airline helps arrange meals and lodging and the passenger pays. | Under the airline's conditions. | Checked at source |
| Singapore20 | None | No scheme. | Under the airline's conditions. | Checked at source |
| Hong Kong21 | None found | No scheme found. | Under the airline's conditions. | Reported elsewhere |
Each rule read on the law or the regulator's page on 15 November 2026. Saudi Arabia is left out: its regulator's site did not answer on 15 November 2026 and the figures seen were search extracts only. Canadian amounts in the rules (sections 19 and 12) and the EU and UK amounts are read on the law; Israeli amounts are base figures from a commercial consolidation.
Airline promises for delays they cause, airline by airline
Every US airline plan read limits hotel and meal promises to disruptions within the airline's control, and treats air traffic control or government action as outside it25. DOT's dashboard shows all nine large airlines it lists promising a meal or meal voucher after a 3-hour wait they caused, and none promising cash; the dashboard was last updated on 11 September 20253.
A new DOT reporting rule moves ten kinds of event out of the airline-caused code, including an unexpected failure of government systems. It was due on 19 October 2026 and was put back to 1 February 20274. DOT expects the value of meals and hotels airlines hand out to fall as a result. The refund right is unchanged.
Airline by airline: Delta delay compensation, American Airlines refunds, United refunds.
| Airline | Cause | What the airline says it provides | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Airline caused it | When American causes the delay or cancellation and the customer is held overnight away from home (no departure before 11:59pm local time on the scheduled arrival day), American arranges or pays for an approved hotel, with transport to and from it. The customer service plan adds a food or beverage credit once the delay reaches 3 hours after scheduled departure. Self-booked hotels need American's written authorisation to be sure of reimbursement. The refund page accepts reimbursement requests for hotels, transport and meals where the disruption was within American's control, each reviewed individually.26 | Reported elsewhere |
| American Airlines | Weather, air traffic control or government | When the cause is outside American's control, the customer pays for their own hotel, meals and incidental expenses; an agent may help find a hotel. The only contractual remedy for a cancellation or long delay is a refund of the unused ticket value and optional fees. No force majeure definition naming air traffic control could be confirmed in the domestic conditions; the international tariff (Rule 55) is reported to exclude liability for delay caused by air traffic control and other facilities outside the carrier's control.27 | Reported elsewhere |
| Delta Air Lines | Airline caused it | Contract: when travel is interrupted for more than 4 hours after scheduled departure by a cancellation or delay on the day of travel, for a cause other than force majeure, Delta gives a voucher for one night's lodging if the delay falls between 10pm and 6am and a contracted hotel is available, plus ground transport to the hotel; if no room is available, a travel voucher worth the contracted hotel rate up to US$100. Customer commitment (effective 24 October 2024): for delays or cancellations within Delta's control, a meal or meal voucher after 3 hours, a hotel at a contracted property and transport, or reimbursement of reasonable hotel and transport costs if the customer books their own. Reimbursement page: reasonable meals, hotel and hotel transport when the flight was cancelled or delayed 3 hours or more for an issue caused by Delta; US and Canada residents only.28 | Checked at source |
| Delta Air Lines | Weather, air traffic control or government | Rule 19(B) says Delta has no liability when the cancellation, diversion or delay was due to force majeure. The definition lists weather, civil unrest, labour disputes, government regulation, demand, directive or requirement, shortages of labour, fuel or facilities, and any other condition beyond Delta's control. Air traffic control is not named in the rule, but Delta's reimbursement page lists air traffic control delays and weather delays among the costs it does not cover. The refund right under Rule 19(A) still applies whatever the cause. The customer commitment says staff may give goodwill compensation where individual circumstances warrant.28 | Checked at source |
| United Airlines | Airline caused it | Not read on a United page. A DOT table dated 31 August 2022 records United as committing to a meal or meal voucher after a 3 hour wait, hotel accommodation and hotel ground transport for controllable cancellations and delays. Secondary guides describe the same commitment as current.29 | Not confirmed |
| United Airlines | Weather, air traffic control or government | Not read on a United page. Secondary sources say Rule 24 of United's contract of carriage defines a force majeure event broadly (including government regulation) and that lodging is not provided when the cause is outside United's control. Clause wording and numbering could not be confirmed.30 | Not confirmed |
| Southwest Airlines | Airline caused it | The contract of carriage promises no hotel or meals; it makes a refund the exclusive remedy. The Customer Service Plan (effective 16 October 2026, stated to be no contract) says that for delays of 3 hours or more, or cancellations, that are within Southwest's control (mechanical problems, aircraft swap) it gives a meal voucher on request or honours reasonable meal reimbursement requests; arranges lodging on request or honours reasonable lodging reimbursement for an unplanned overnight stay (customers who live locally excluded); and covers ground transport to the hotel where there is no shuttle. A LUV Voucher of at least US$75 may also apply when arrival is 3 or more hours late.31 | Checked at source |
| Southwest Airlines | Weather, air traffic control or government | For delays of 3 hours or more or cancellations outside its control, with weather, Air Traffic Control, safety and security events, FAA crew duty limits and infrastructure problems given as examples, the Customer Service Plan promises only rebooking on the next available Southwest flight at no extra cost. The contract defines a Force Majeure Event as any event outside Southwest's control and names government action and Air Traffic Control. The refund right for a cancelled or significantly delayed flight still applies.31 | Checked at source |
| JetBlue | Airline caused it | Customer Service Plan (which contains the Customer Bill of Rights): for a cancellation or disruption caused by a controllable irregularity with an arrival delay of 3 hours or more, JetBlue provides a hotel at a contracted property when the customer is away from home or origin city overnight, usually with ground transport. If no contracted hotel or transport is available it reimburses reasonable hotel and ground transport costs against receipts, submitted within 10 days of the expense. It also provides a digital meal voucher, listed at US$12, and 5,000 TrueBlue points for members (controllable delay over 3 hours, or controllable cancellation under 4 hours before departure). The contract of carriage is narrower: after a departure delay of 6 or more hours from a controllable irregularity JetBlue may, on request, provide meal vouchers and or a hotel voucher. The contract also says the customer assurance policies form no part of the contract.32 | Checked at source |
| JetBlue | Weather, air traffic control or government | The plan states that hotels are neither provided nor reimbursed for events that are not a controllable irregularity. The contract defines a Force Majeure Event to include weather and acts of government or airport authorities, naming air traffic control delays as an example, and says knock-on delays reasonably related to an original force majeure event are also treated as uncontrollable. Section 25.c removes liability for delays and cancellations caused by force majeure, a list that includes government regulation, demand, directive or requirement. What remains is rebooking on the next available JetBlue flight or a full refund (Sections 25.a and 37.c).33 | Checked at source |
| Alaska Airlines | Airline caused it | For a cancellation or delay within the airline's control: a reasonable meal voucher at the airport once the delay reaches 3 hours (2 hours on Canada flights) if the guest keeps travelling; a complimentary hotel with round-trip ground transport for an overnight stay at an airport 100 or more miles from home, by voucher or, where no voucher hotel is available, reimbursement of reasonable hotel and transport costs; rebooking on a partner airline on request if no Alaska or Hawaiian flight is available until the next day; and, on request, a choice of compensation that includes a discount code of at least US$50 for a delay of 3 hours or more or a cancellation. The contract adds that the airline may give a travel credit in place of these amenities, and that accepting it waives them.34 | Checked at source |
| Alaska Airlines | Weather, air traffic control or government | The commitment page says the airline is unable to provide the listed amenities when air traffic control, weather, a passenger's illness or another force majeure circumstance occurs at any city in the routing. The contract defines a Force Majeure Event to include acts of government or airport authorities, naming air traffic control delays, plus government regulation, demand or requirement. Under Rule 8.D the airline may cancel or delay without liability, subject to applicable laws, and may rebook on Alaska or another carrier, refund, or give a travel certificate for the unused part of the ticket. Refund rights for cancelled or significantly changed flights remain under Rule 8.B and Rule 17.35 | Checked at source |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Airline caused it | For a cancellation or delay within the airline's control: a reasonable meal voucher at the airport once the delay reaches 3 hours (2 hours on Canada flights) if the guest keeps travelling; a complimentary hotel with round-trip ground transport for an overnight stay at an airport 100 or more miles from home, by voucher or, where no voucher hotel is available, reimbursement of reasonable hotel and transport costs; rebooking on a partner airline on request if no Alaska or Hawaiian flight is available until the next day; and, on request, a choice of compensation that includes a discount code of at least US$50 for a delay of 3 hours or more or a cancellation. The contract adds that the airline may give a travel credit in place of these amenities, and that accepting it waives them.36 | Checked at source |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Weather, air traffic control or government | The commitment page says the airline is unable to provide the listed amenities when air traffic control, weather, a passenger's illness or another force majeure circumstance occurs at any city in the routing. The contract defines a Force Majeure Event to include acts of government or airport authorities, naming air traffic control delays, plus government regulation, demand or requirement. Under Rule 8.D the airline may cancel or delay without liability, subject to applicable laws, and may rebook on Alaska or another carrier, refund, or give a travel certificate for the unused part of the ticket. Refund rights for cancelled or significantly changed flights remain under Rule 8.B and Rule 17.36 | Checked at source |
| Frontier Airlines | Airline caused it | For delays, diversions, cancellations or missed connections within Frontier's control (it gives mechanical issues and some aircraft damage as examples): rebooking on the next available Frontier flight at no extra cost, meal vouchers for a delay of 3 hours or more or a rebooking that departs 3 hours or more after the original time, or a full refund of the unused ticket on request. No hotel is promised in the plan or the contract, and the refund options page says Frontier does not reimburse expenses, provide hotel accommodation or pay monetary compensation for delays or cancellations.37 | Checked at source |
| Frontier Airlines | Weather, air traffic control or government | Uncontrollable situations are those outside Frontier's control; the plan names weather and Air Traffic Control. Frontier offers no compensation beyond rebooking on its next available flight, or a full refund on request if the flight is cancelled or delayed more than 3 hours. The contract's force majeure clause lets Frontier cancel, divert or delay for anything beyond its control with no liability other than a refund of the unused part of the ticket, and Section 17.C says Frontier has no obligation to carry passengers on another airline.37 | Checked at source |
| Allegiant Air | Airline caused it | Customer Service Plan (effective 21 May 2024): for cancellations and delays within Allegiant's control it rebooks at no cost, gives a meal or airport meal voucher after 3 hours, provides a hotel when available for an overnight stay or reimburses reasonable overnight costs (receipts may be required), and reimburses reasonable ground transport if none is arranged. The contract itself (Article 85) lists no hotel or meal benefit and offers rebooking on Allegiant or a refund.38 | Checked at source |
| Allegiant Air | Weather, air traffic control or government | Article 85.B lists causes beyond Allegiant's control, including governmental actions, weather and Air Traffic Control. Article 85.F says the carrier is not liable for consequential damages or incidental costs. The plan makes no hotel or meal commitment for these events and promises only reasonable efforts to reduce inconvenience. The refund right is unaffected.39 | Checked at source |
| Sun Country Airlines | Airline caused it | From a search extract of the Contract of Carriage (updated 15 October 2025) hosted on ir.suncountry.com: for a mechanical delay within Sun Country's control of more than 4 hours on domestic flights (8 hours international) it may reimburse limited expenses against itemised receipts. Exact wording and rule number not read.40 | Reported elsewhere |
| Sun Country Airlines | Weather, air traffic control or government | From the same search extract: Sun Country says it has no liability for delays, misconnections or cancellations, and if it cannot offer acceptable alternative transport after a significant change, a refund of the unused transport is the limit of its liability (involuntary refund, Rule 260). The force majeure wording was not read.40 | Reported elsewhere |
| Breeze Airways | Airline caused it | Contract of Carriage (updated 20 March 2025), Section 8.B: Breeze may rebook on its first flight with seats at no charge, and may provide limited electronic vouchers or expense reimbursement as reasonably necessary for safety, health and welfare. The contract says these are a courtesy and Breeze is under no obligation to provide them. The Guest Service Plan could not be read.41 | Checked at source |
| Breeze Airways | Weather, air traffic control or government | Section 8.B: when a cancellation, modification or misconnection is caused by severe weather, Air Traffic Control decisions or other issues outside Breeze's control, Breeze will not offer expense reimbursement or compensation beyond what DOT regulations require.41 | Checked at source |
| Avelo Airlines | Airline caused it | Flight disruptions page: for causes within Avelo's control, US$25 Avelo Cash per customer for a delay of 3 to 5 hours, US$50 for more than 5 hours, US$100 for a cancellation, plus a move to the next flight or a refund. If Avelo cancels or delays a flight overnight for a controllable event, non-local customers are eligible for a hotel up to US$150 per reservation per qualified night. No meal promise appears.42 | Checked at source |
| Avelo Airlines | Weather, air traffic control or government | Causes outside Avelo's control are defined to include weather and air traffic control restrictions. For uncontrollable delays of any length Avelo provides no compensation or accommodation. For an uncontrollable cancellation it offers the next available flight, a move within 7 days, Avelo Cash, or a refund to the original payment. The contract's Force Majeure Event definition names government action and Air Traffic Control.42 | Checked at source |
From each airline's customer service plan and contract of carriage, read 15 November 2026. Pick a cause in the filter to see what stops applying.
Can I be compensated for a 2-hour delay?
Not with a fixed sum under the US, EU, UK or Canadian rules. South Korea's dispute standards give 10% of the fare from 2 hours, and the EU and UK owe meals from 2 hours on flights of 1,500 km or less18. US airline meal promises start at 3 hours3.
Weather and air traffic control delays carry no airline promise
A 6 hour delay from a crew shortage on a flight out of Paris can earn EUR 400 or 600. The same delay from an air traffic management decision earns nothing fixed8, though the airline still owes meals and a hotel if you are stuck overnight.
In Canada a disruption needed for safety sits in the middle: no compensation, but meals and hotels are owed10. Ask the airline for the cause in writing. Insurers want it too.
Am I entitled to reimbursement if my flight is delayed?
For costs, yes when a US airline caused the delay and its plan promises the item: meals after 3 hours and a hotel overnight are the common ones. American, for example, reviews hotel, transport and meal receipts when the disruption was within its control. For weather or air traffic control, the US airlines read promise rebooking and nothing more43.
On an international trip, the Montreal Convention lets you claim proven losses from delay up to 6,303 SDR, unless the airline shows it took all reasonable measures24.
How do I get compensation for a delayed flight?
- Get the cause in writing. Screenshot the app notice, ask the gate agent, and keep the flight number, scheduled and actual arrival times.
- Claim from the airline that operated the flight. Use its own form. Give the rule, the distance band, the arrival delay and the amount.
- Keep receipts. Meals, transport and hotels are a separate claim from any fixed sum.
- Escalate. Go to the national enforcement body in the EU, the CAA or the airline's dispute body in the UK, or the Canadian Transportation Agency after 30 days.
The Canadian Transportation Agency takes complaints once the airline has had 30 days44. The claim page writes the letters for US refunds, EU and UK care and Montreal Convention costs.
The 13 November 2026 ground stop was a government failure, so US flights carried no fixed compensation
A failure in the FAA's telecommunications network stopped every departure for 4 hours 21 minutes5. Airlines cancelled 9,159 flights by the end of Friday45 and more than 6,000 on Saturday46.
15 of the 62 airlines tracked posted a waiver, and no US airline's page offered hotels or meals47. NBC News reported one airline meal voucher of US$30 a person at Los Angeles48.
For a flight leaving the EU or UK the same day, care was still owed and the fixed sum was very unlikely, because Recital 15 and the UK definition name air traffic management decisions9. A Canadian traveller got rebooking or a refund and no compensation10.
Insurance and card cover can pay when the airline does not
Of the US delay products that state a waiting period, 10 of 14 start at 5 hours or more. Across the US and UK it is 16 of 22, against a ground stop of 4 hours 21 minutes49. Some policies name air traffic control as a covered cause and some exclude it.
Compare waiting periods on the trip delay insurance page, card cover on the credit card page, and how to claim on the claim guide.
Questions people ask
How long does the flight have to be delayed to get compensation?
3 hours or more on arrival under the EU, UK and Canadian rules, when the airline caused it. US law sets no compensation for any length of delay.
Can I be compensated for a 2 hour flight delay?
Not with a fixed sum under the US, EU, UK or Canadian rules. South Korea's standards provide 10% of the fare from 2 hours, and EU and UK meals start at 2 hours on short flights.
At what point does an airline have to compensate me for a delay?
In the US, never in cash, though a refund is owed at 3 hours domestic or 6 international if you do not fly. In the EU and UK, at 3 hours late on arrival unless extraordinary circumstances caused it.
Is flight delay compensation 2 or 3 hours?
3 hours for fixed compensation in the EU, UK and Canada, and for US airline meal promises. 2 hours is when EU and UK meals start on short flights.
Am I entitled to reimbursement if my flight is delayed?
For reasonable meals and a hotel when a US airline caused the delay and its plan promises them. Not for weather or air traffic control in the US. In the EU and UK, care is owed whatever the cause.
Is there a flight delay compensation calculator for US flights?
Yes, the flight compensation calculator on this site covers US flights. For a purely domestic US flight it returns the refund threshold and no fixed sum, because US law has none.
Does air traffic control count as an extraordinary circumstance?
Yes under the EU rule (Recital 15) and the UK rule (Article 2(o)(b)), and Canada names air traffic control instructions as outside the airline's control.
Do American, Delta or United pay compensation for delays?
Not in cash under US law. Their plans promise meal vouchers after 3 hours and hotels for delays they caused. See the Delta delay compensation page and the airline table above.
More on cancellations, delays and claims
Sources
49 sources
Every figure links to its source. "Checked at source" means the law, the regulator's page or the airline's own page was read on or before 15 November 2026. "Reported elsewhere" means it came through another outlet, a search extract of the official page, or a figure worked out from project data. Sources that also feed the main page link to the methodology page.
- eCFR, 14 CFR Part 260 (Refunds), as at 12 November 2026 Checked at source
- European Commission, Your Europe, Air passenger rights Checked at source · methodology ref 154
- US DOT, Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard (last updated 11 September 2025) Checked at source
- Federal Register, documents 2026-18040 and 2026-21058 Checked at source
- Wikipedia Checked at source · methodology ref 6
- eCFR, 14 CFR 250.5(a), as at 12 November 2026 Checked at source
- US refund rule (49 U.S.C. 42305 and 14 CFR Part 260) (United States) Checked at source · methodology ref 89
- EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (European Union (also applied by Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, which was not re-checked today)) Checked at source · methodology ref 90
- UK261 (assimilated Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as amended) (United Kingdom) Checked at source · methodology ref 91
- Air Passenger Protection Regulations (SOR/2019-150) (Canada) Checked at source · methodology ref 92
- Montreal Convention 1999 (International (treaty)) Checked at source · methodology ref 93
- Ley de Aviación Civil, article 47 Bis (Mexico) Checked at source · methodology ref 94
- ANAC Resolution 400 of 13 December 2016, as amended (Brazil) Checked at source · methodology ref 95
- Australian Consumer Law consumer guarantees; proposed Aviation Consumer Protection Framework (Australia) Checked at source · methodology ref 96
- Civil Aviation Act 2023, Part 9 delay provisions (sections 270 to 283) (New Zealand) Checked at source · methodology ref 97
- DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 3, Series M, Part IV (India) Checked at source · methodology ref 98
- Japan (no statutory passenger compensation scheme found) (Japan) Reported elsewhere · methodology ref 99
- Consumer Dispute Resolution Standards, air transport (international passengers) (South Korea) Checked at source · methodology ref 100
- Flight Regularity Management Provisions (Ministry of Transport Order No. 56 of 2016) (China (mainland)) Checked at source · methodology ref 101
- Singapore (no flight delay compensation scheme) (Singapore) Checked at source · methodology ref 102
- Hong Kong (no flight delay compensation scheme found) (Hong Kong SAR) Reported elsewhere · methodology ref 103
- SHY-YOLCU (Regulation on the Rights of Passengers Travelling by Air) (Türkiye) Checked at source · methodology ref 104
- Aviation Services Law (Compensation and Assistance for Flight Cancellation or Change of Conditions), 5772-2012 (Israel) Reported elsewhere · methodology ref 105
- ICAO Checked at source · methodology ref 406
- Delta Air Lines, contract of carriage, Rule 19 Checked at source · methodology ref 344
- American Airlines, customer service plan or contract Reported elsewhere
- American Airlines, customer service plan or contract Reported elsewhere
- Delta Air Lines, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- United Airlines, customer service plan or contract Not confirmed
- United Airlines, customer service plan or contract Not confirmed
- Southwest Airlines, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- JetBlue, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- JetBlue, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- Alaska Airlines, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- Alaska Airlines, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- Hawaiian Airlines, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- Frontier Airlines, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- Allegiant Air, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- Allegiant Air, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- Sun Country Airlines, customer service plan or contract Reported elsewhere
- Breeze Airways, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- Avelo Airlines, customer service plan or contract Checked at source
- American Airlines, customer service plan (updated 26 August 2026) Checked at source
- Canadian Transportation Agency, air travel complaints Checked at source
- FlightAware via Upgraded Points Checked at source · methodology ref 7
- FlightAware via CNBC Checked at source · methodology ref 12
- American Airlines Newsroom Checked at source · methodology ref 348
- NBC News live blog Checked at source · methodology ref 3
- Insurance cover table, main page Checked at source