Summary
Depending on the circumstances and airline, you may be eligible for meal vouchers, hotel stays, or cash.
It’s a moment travelers dread: You’re sitting at the gate, waiting to board your plane, and the terrible word “delayed” pops up on the screen. Even if you have carefully packed your bag for this exact occasion, it is unwelcome news.
Airlines, of course, try to avoid this situation. Delays don’t benefit airlines or passengers; however, they are a somewhat frequent part of travel. Over the past decade, between 11.6 percent and 24.5 percent of flights in the U.S. have been delayed each year, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
If there’s an upside to this, perhaps it’s that travelers experiencing delays might be eligible for compensation. There is a lot of fine print involved, as well as some gray areas that individual airlines leave open to interpretation. But at least meal vouchers or a hotel stay is something to ease the inconvenience of your delay.
Since the whole business of flight delay compensation is tricky, we’ve compiled a helpful set of need-to-know basics. Here’s hoping it helps you navigate your next unfortunate delay.
What types of delays are eligible for compensation?
Flights can be delayed for various reasons, but generally, these fall into two categories: controllable and uncontrollable. Controllable delays are those within the airline’s control, including aircraft maintenance, crew scheduling, or aircraft preparation like fuel loading and cabin cleaning. Conversely, uncontrollable delays are those that the airline cannot manage, such as weather, air traffic, and security-related events. Depending on your airline and route, compensation may be awarded for some delays but not others.
Delays in the United States
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), “Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers waiting at the airport; there are no federal requirements.” Consequently, it’s essentially a free-for-all when it comes to U.S.-based airlines. On a positive note, they have set some standards for flight delay compensation, so you won’t entirely be left in the dust if your flight is delayed.
Generally speaking, controllable delays are eligible for compensation, whereas uncontrollable delays are not. However, each airline sets its own rules, so you’ll need to read the fine print on your airline’s website. For quick information, the DOT has published an Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard, explaining each airline’s commitments to passengers when their flight is canceled or delayed.
Flight delay compensation criteria also depend on the length of the delay. Each airline sets its threshold; however, it’s typically around three hours. The DOT has proposed regulations regarding compensation lengths: three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights, though these proposals have yet to be approved.
Delays in Europe
The European Union (EU) regulates flight delay compensation through a regulation known as EU261, which protects passengers flying within the EU, to the EU on an EU-based airline, or from the EU on any airline. EU261 also covers Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and various EU territories.
Like in the U.S., compensation is not granted for delays due to uncontrollable reasons. EU261 defines these as “extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.” Such circumstances include weather issues, political instability, and strikes.
What kind of flight delay compensation are you owed in the United States?
Since passenger compensation is not federally regulated in the U.S., it is entirely up to individual airlines to set their compensation policies. Nonetheless, most major U.S.-based airlines tend to align on what they offer passengers experiencing delays. Currently, they agree to issue meals or meal vouchers for delays of three hours or more. Furthermore, all but one airline have agreed to provide complimentary hotel accommodations for overnight delays, along with ground transportation to those accommodations.
For example, American Airlines has a robust flight delay compensation policy. If your flight is delayed for four hours or more and you reject the rebooking options, you may receive a cash refund for any remaining ticket value, as well as fees paid for seat assignments or baggage.
Additionally, delayed passengers might receive a “gesture of goodwill” in the form of frequent flyer miles or airline credits. Although this is not obligatory, it does happen occasionally.
What kind of flight delay compensation are you owed in Europe?
If your delay is covered under EU261, you are likely eligible for cash compensation. You must be flying within the EU, to or from the EU on an EU-based airline, or from the EU on any airline, and arrive at your destination at least three hours later than scheduled. If eligible, you can claim compensation: 250 Euros for flights 1,500 kilometers or less, 400 Euros for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, and 600 Euros for flights longer than 3,500 kilometers.
Passengers may also receive compensation in the form of meals. For instance, delayed flights require meals if delayed at least two hours for flights under 1,500 kilometers; at least three hours for intra-EU flights over 1,500 kilometers; and longer delays for flights over 3,000 kilometers.
If a delay necessitates a flight the next day, the airline must cover your hotel and transportation costs. If the airline does not make arrangements, you can submit receipts for reimbursement, as long as expenses were “necessary, reasonable, and appropriate,” according to the EU website.
Does travel insurance cover delays?
Most travel insurance policies include coverage for delays; however, specifics can vary. Typically, delays need to reach a certain length—usually between six and 12 hours—before compensation is applicable, and generally only after an airline’s provisions have been exhausted. Therefore, it often acts as ancillary coverage. Furthermore, maximum compensation varies with each plan and is meant to cover necessary expenses, such as meals, lodging, and personal items.
In addition, your credit card company may offer travel insurance for delays, provided you paid for part of the flight with that card. For example, if you used miles to purchase a flight but paid taxes with your credit card, your travel insurance may still apply.
Here’s how to claim compensation.
The process of claiming compensation varies based on factors like your airline, the origin and destination of your flight, and the length of the delay.
Meal Vouchers and Hotel Stays
If your flight is delayed and you’re eligible for meal vouchers or overnight accommodations, an airline agent at the airport should assist you. However, lines for compensation can become lengthy. In some scenarios, you might pay for reasonable meals and lodging out of pocket and then be reimbursed by the airline. “Reasonable” is the key term—expectations for reimbursement for extravagant expenses, like gourmet dinners or luxury hotels, may not be met. Furthermore, reimbursement could take days or even weeks.
EU261
If your flight delay qualifies under EU261, the airline is responsible for covering meals, lodging, and transportation. If they fail to do so, you can file for reimbursement online. Typically, claims take several days to weeks to process.
Reimbursement from Travel Insurance
Keep all receipts from your delay, as these will be necessary for your travel insurance claim. Claims can usually be submitted online or through your insurance company’s app, but processing time for approval and payment can also take days to weeks.
Points or Miles as a Gesture of Goodwill
If you are not automatically granted points or miles following a lengthy delay, you can file a complaint with the airline. This may result in bonuses. Moreover, if you’re looking for a silver lining to your delay, at least you’re not grappling with a canceled flight.
