A delay is the most common thing that goes wrong with a flight, and the one where passengers have the least information. The departure board tells you the new time. It does not tell you why, whether it is likely to slip again, or what the airline owes you.
In the US there is no federal rule that pays you cash simply because a flight is late. What you do have is the right to a refund if the delay is significant and you decide not to travel, plus a set of written commitments each airline has made for delays within its control, such as meals and hotel rooms. Knowing which of those applies to your delay is most of the battle.
The short version
- A significant delay (3+ hours domestic, 6+ hours international) entitles you to a refund if you choose not to fly.
- Meals, hotels and rebooking on another airline depend on the airline's own commitments and on whether the delay was within its control.
- The stated reason for a delay is not always the whole story, so it is worth checking.
Planning ahead
Flying soon? Look up your airline on the DOT dashboard now, so you know whether it commits to meals and hotels. Note the three hour refund threshold, and check which later flights run on your route. Our pre-trip checklist covers the rest.
Guides in this section
More guides
- Before you fly: how to prepare for delays and cancellations
- Flight cancelled: refunds, rebooking and your options
- Missed and tight connections: how to protect your layover
- US air passenger rights: refunds, bumping and tarmac delays
- Airline delay and cancellation policies, compared
- Flight delays by airport