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Flight delays and cancellations are regular occurrences in air travel. When one or the other happens, it’s important to understand your rights and what compensation you are entitled to as a result of a delay or cancellation.
The U.S. and European Union (EU) have different regulations and policies regarding delays and cancellations for passengers on flights to/from/within their respective countries. When you read through the U.S. and EU guidelines, you’ll notice that air travel involving the EU offers more passenger protection than what’s available in the U.S.
This article will outline when you’re entitled to compensation as a passenger, what rights you have, and credit cards that provide travel coverage when flight issues occur.
Paying for flights or just the taxes and fees on award flights with the right credit card can alleviate many of the problems noted above.
Rewards cards are a powerful resource to ensure you’re compensated fairly for problems that occur both within and outside of the airline’s control.
Hot Tip: We recommend digging into this in-depth article on credit cards with trip cancellation and interruption coverage to see which card would suit you best.
We recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card because if your trip is canceled for a covered reason, you or a covered immediate family member could be reimbursed for the non-refundable amount of your trip. The limit for each coverage is $10,000 per occurrence.
Some of our top picks for trip delay insurance also offer up to $500 if your trip is delayed by more than 6 hours:
Unlike the EU, the U.S. does not have an umbrella regulation protecting passengers with flight issues. While you don’t have as much protection in the U.S. as with the EU, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) does provide compensation in some instances including:
Bad weather, air traffic delays, and mechanical issues can be difficult to predict and sometimes outside of the control of the airline. With that said, passengers are not required to be compensated by the airline if your flight is delayed or canceled for these bad weather, air traffic delays, or mechanical issues.
If you find yourself with a delayed flight due to one of these reasons, ask the original airline if it will pay for a ticket on another airline. The DOT does not require the airline to offer compensation, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
With no federal compensation requirement for delayed passengers, refer to the policies of the operating airline to determine what compensation the airline will offer. If a significant delay occurs, ask the airline if it will compensate you for meals during the delay.
If the airline doesn’t immediately offer you compensation for your meals or expenses incurred during the delay, you may be able to get reimbursed for expenses incurred under Article 19 of the Montreal Convention by filing a claim with the airline. If that claim is denied, you could also pursue reimbursement in court.
For travelers with a canceled flight, the airline should re-book you on its first flight with available space to your destination at no additional charge. If the rebooked flight requires a significant delay, ask the original airline if it will pay for a ticket on another airline.
Flights From/In Europe Delayed?If you’ve been flying within Europe, or have departed from the EU to the U.S (and other countries), you could receive up to $700 in compensation. AirHelp can help you with all of the paperwork to get your compensation. (This service cannot help you with delays within the U.S.)
Another situation that may arise that does not require compensation is a tarmac delay on a domestic flight. These can occur before taking off or after landing.
The DOT prohibits most U.S. airlines from remaining on the tarmac for more than 3 hours unless one of the following occurs:
If you experience a tarmac delay on an international flight operated by a U.S. airline, the DOT time limits do not apply. Any time limits and/or corresponding protocols are set by the airlines.
U.S. airlines must provide passengers on domestic and international flights with food and water no later than 2 hours after a tarmac delay begins. The airline is required to keep the lavatories operable and medical attention must be available.
Overbooking is a strategy airlines use to ensure a full flight and accounts for passenger “no-shows.” When a flight is overbooked, the DOT requires airlines to compensate for voluntary and involuntary bumped passengers.
To better understand these definitions:
The DOT requires airlines to ask passengers if they are willing to give up their seats in exchange for compensation before involuntarily bumping passengers. If you agree to be voluntarily be bumped, the airline will book you on a later flight and will likely provide compensation in the form of vouchers.
Before agreeing to be bumped, ask the airline the following questions to ensure you know what you’re agreeing to:
It’s important to ask these questions because there is not a standard form or amount of compensation that the DOT mandates. Airlines have the flexibility to negotiate with prospective volunteers so you should know what you’re agreeing to before giving up your seat. If the airline offers a free flight or free transportation as compensation, ask if there are any restrictions when redeeming these forms of compensation.
If you are involuntarily bumped, the DOT requires each airline to compensate involuntarily bumped passengers via check or cash. The amount you receive from the airline depends on the price of the ticket you purchased and the length of the delay.
Update: As of April 13, 2021, a new DOT ruling took effect that indicates that passengers may not be involuntarily bumped once their “boarding pass has been collected or scanned and the passenger has boarded.”
The amount you will be compensation is determined by the following factors:
Unfortunately, there are conditions and exceptions to the compensation rules above. You will not be compensated if:
Lastly, if being bumped costs you more money than the airline will pay you at the airport, you can try to negotiate a higher reimbursement with the airline’s complaint department. If you decline the compensation and are unable to receive higher compensation from the airline’s complaint department, you can take the airline to court.
It’s happened to us all — your bag is damaged, delayed, or even lost. While this is frustrating, it’s helpful to know how you can be compensated when one of the following occurs to your luggage:
The following situations are likely to result in compensation for your damaged luggage:
The following situations may result in compensation if your bags are delayed:
It’s important to keep in mind that if the airline is found liable for consequential damages, the airline’s liability limit is currently $3,500 per passenger on domestic flights and approximately $1,545 for international round-trip flights that originate in the U.S.
If your luggage is lost, you should submit a claim to initiate the compensation negotiation process. In the situation where you flew 2 airlines involving a connection, the final airline is traditionally responsible for processing your claim.
When you start the claims process, keep in mind that the airline is not required to pay you the full amount on your claim.
The claims process follows this generally timeline:
Bottom Line:
Every passenger’s situation is unique. If you find that your flight is canceled or delayed, your bag has been damaged, delayed, or lost, or the flight is overbooked, we recommend that you read the DOT’s Consumer Guide to Air Travel to familiarize yourself with the rules.
EU Legislation 261/2004 is the regulation you’ll turn to with issues traveling to/from/within the EU. The regulation establishes rules and a compensation structure for passengers who experience travel issues like denied boarding or flight delays.
As a passenger on flights to/from/within the EU, the passenger rights apply if:
The EU covers 27 countries, including special territories like the Azores and the Canary Islands and several non-EU European countries like Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
If you experience flight issues to/from/within the EU, the EU passenger rights do not apply if:
Speaking of Europe, check out the best ways to fly to Europe with points and miles.
Need To Make a Claim?You could get up to $700 in compensation for a flight delay or cancellation.
If you arrive at your flight on time with the correct boarding documents, but you’re denied boarding due to overbooking or operational reasons and you don’t voluntarily give up your seat, you are entitled to all of the following:
Compensation for denied boarding is as follows:
It’s important to know that your compensation may be reduced by 50% if you are rerouted by the airline and arrive at your destination within 2 to 4 hours of your originally scheduled arrival. However, if you meet the qualifications above, you should always receive compensation.
Hot Tip: The airline must also offer compensation in the case of a missed connection — for example, if the airline denied you boarding on your first flight, causing you to miss your second flight.
If you are connecting on a different airline, airlines are not required to provide compensation if a delay on the first flight causes you to miss your connection. However, if your first flight is delayed for more than 3 hours, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline that caused the delay.
In addition to compensation, the airline must offer you a choice between:
Once you have chosen the option that is best for you, you no longer have rights to the other 2 options. However, the airline may still be required to compensate you:
If the outbound and return flights are operated by different airlines but part of the same reservation and the outbound flight was canceled, you have the right to compensation and choice between:
Assistance is another item you are entitled if you’re denied boarding. “Assistance” provided by the airline includes:
If the airline does not provide assistance and you pay for these expenses out-of-pocket, the airline is required to reimburse you as long as the expenses were necessary, reasonable, and appropriate.
Hot Tip:
If the airline doesn’t pay your out-of-pocket expenses for assistance items directly, consider using the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. This credit card earns 5x points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 3x points on other travel and dining purchases. Since the airline is required to reimburse you, not only will you be reimbursed, but you’ll also earn 3x points on those purchases.
When a flight cancellation occurs, you are entitled to the same 3 rights as if you were denied boarding:
The airline is required to compensate you for a canceled flight if you were notified less than 14 days before your original scheduled departure date. However, compensation is not required if the airline proves that extraordinary circumstances (e.g., weather) caused the cancellation.
Here’s yet another wrinkle! If your flight is canceled, you are not entitled to compensation if:
When a flight delay occurs, you are entitled to assistance and a choice between rerouting, reimbursement, or rebooking.
If you arrive at your destination more than 3 hours after your scheduled arrival time, you are entitled to the same reimbursement, rerouting, and rebooking structure as a denied boarding.
Hot Tip:
Before you get stranded in the airport with a delayed/canceled flight, consider applying for a credit card with lounge access like the Amex Business Platinum card or the Amex Platinum card.
If the luggage you checked is lost, damaged, or delayed, you are entitled up to €1,300 (~$1,550) in compensation from the airline. However, if the damage was caused by a product defect, you are not entitled to compensation.
The airline is also responsible for any damage it caused to your carry-on item.
If you decide to file a claim for your luggage, do so in writing to the airline within 7 days or within 21 days if your luggage was delayed in getting back to you. You need to file the claim directly with the airline, as there is no standard EU form to use.
Airlines that operate out of the Middle East (like Etihad Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways), Africa (like Ethiopian or South African Airways), or Asia (like ANA, Cathay Pacific, or Singapore Airlines) are not required to compensate passengers like the airlines regulated by the DOT and EU.
With that said, consider using a company like AirHelp or Service to receive compensation. Each company has pros and cons, so research each company to determine which 1 aligns best with your needs.
Filing a claim depends on your specific situation, which is why it’s important to read through the U.S. rights and EU rights.
If you find yourself in a situation needing to request compensation, follow these steps:
The EU provides more protections for its passengers. If you need to file a claim for reimbursement, follow these steps:
For help and advice related to your rights, contact your local European Consumer Center.
Understanding your rights as a passenger is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you’re compensated fairly. Reading through the applicable policies can be very beneficial since passengers’ rights on EU vs. U.S. flights are significantly different.
Credit cards can also be an important component of your compensation strategy. Taking advantage of 3-hour delay reimbursements will save you money, time, and a headache.
Though delays are always frustrating, knowing that out-of-pocket expenses will be covered can make the problem seem much more manageable.
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For the trip delay insurance benefits of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/
For the trip delay insurance benefits of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/
For the trip delay insurance benefits of The Platinum Card® from American Express, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
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Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.
Michael first caught wind of the points and miles game in 2014 while at a bar in Washington, DC where the conversation amongst friends was quickly derailed because of an alert on a friend’s phone about a mistake fare. That’s where the love affair with points and miles began.
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90 comments
Bo
April 20, 2018
I’ve had a case flying from Paris to Budapest where Transavia canceled my flight and tried to get around the EU regulations by saying they had an adjustment to their flight schedule so they don’t have to compensate me.
Michael McHugh
April 24, 2018
Hi Bo
I would recommend using the “Check Your Rights” option here to determine the compensation option available for your specific situation.
Jenny Dang
July 14, 2019
We were on delayed 4 hrs and 40 mins by JetBlue from long beach to San Jose. They experienced fog in the morning and delayed flights for an hour but then they couldn’t get the pilot from Salt Lake City to Long Beach so they had to get an on-call pilot. How much compensation will Chase or JetBlue provide?
Jarrod West
July 16, 2019
Hi Jenny,
Which Chase card did you book with? The Chase Sapphire Reserves trip delay insurance requires a 6-hour delay, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred requires a 12-hour delay. AS for JetBlue, passengers are not required to be compensated by the airline if your flight is delayed or canceled for bad weather, air traffic delays, or mechanical issues. Being that fog would classify as bad weather, Jetblue is not required to compensate you for the delay.
With that said, you could still try and reach out to their customer service line to see if they would be willing to make a gesture of goodwill given that your delay was quite long.
Thanks for reading!
Ralph Pluer
April 24, 2019
My wife and I were flying through Iceland on Icelandair and had one of the free stopovers for 2 days. We were to leave on April 13th and our flight was cancelled due to high winds. We did not leave until April 18. Icelandair flights were leaving from the 14th on. Icelandair has their claim form and a European form both on their site, which do I use? The European says 600E the Icelandair has a daily reimbursement amount. If I submit a European claim is it 600E per day or per claim? Do I submit for the 4 days with good weather or the whole 5 day delay? Any information would be helpful.
Christine Krzyszton
May 09, 2019
Hi Ralph. Sorry for your trip experience. I would file a claim with the airline and include all of the 5 day delay. The EU compensation is 600 Euro per claim, not per day. If the airline does not respond to your satisfaction, follow the steps in the article to pursue your claim further.
Shawn
December 21, 2020
We were in Saint Lucia for 11 days, used Delta Airlines. Arrived at terminal 3+ hours. All was good, the plane did load, pulled from the gate, and realized a mechanical problem with the plane. Sat on the plane while they attempted to fix. Notified us part not available in Saint Lucia, will have repaired in MORNING. Provide us with transportation and hotel hour and a half away from the airport. We were then notified the part would not arrive until 3:45 p.m. the next day and would TRY to take off at 7 p.m., a 28-hour delay. Delta would have no connection flight for us in the U.S. until the following morning arriving home Monday afternoon. Husband attorney, owner in firm had to be back working Monday morning. I am self-employed and needed back to work too, had issues with the house and dog sitter not being able to stay additional days. Bought a ticket with American Airlines to get back Sunday night, still 24 hours behind schedule. What compensation can I get? Reimbursement of original unused tickets? Double baggage fee of $60? Saint Lucia staff would not even discuss with us but have Delta email and all paperwork to support the chain of events.
Christine Krzyszton
December 21, 2020
Hi Shawn, sorry for your experience. As mentioned in the article, passengers are not required to be compensated by the airline if their flight is delayed or canceled for bad weather, air traffic delays, or mechanical issues. However, you should certainly write to Delta and ask for the ticket reimbursement and baggage fees. Additionally, you might try filing a claim with your credit card company (the one with which you paid for the trip) if Delta does not provide any compensation.
Ched
July 17, 2023
This website is a complete contradiction to the Us Transportation website that is linked in this article.
This article says airlines are required to compensate passengers 200% of their ticket price if arriving between 1hr and 2hr late to their destination. And more if the delay is longer.
However the US Transportation website says “contrary to popular belief, air lines do no have to compensate passengers if the flight is delayed for a domestic flight”… 😒
Christine Krzyszton
July 18, 2023
Hi Ched. The article statement you’re referring to is under the heading of “involuntary bumping”, and does not apply to a general flight delay.
Maria
April 23, 2018
Booked a flight for my friend from Europe, used miles for her flight tomorrow. Do these rules apply to miles usage too from Europe to US and vice versa?
Michael McHugh
April 24, 2018
Hi Maria
The EU passenger rights will apply if the flight is departing from Europe. If the flight is departing from the U.S. to Europe and operated by an EU airline, the EU passenger rights apply. If the flight is departing from the U.S. to Europe and not operate by an EU airline, the U.S. DOT rules apply.
Viki
July 20, 2019
Hi there,
My flight was delayed by American airlines for mechanical issues from san francisco, California to key west, Florida. I could not make the connection in miami, so we arrived in key west the next day. They did pay for hotel that night but I lost one day from my vacation. Would they compensate? Thank you
Jarrod West
July 20, 2019
Hi Viki,
Passengers are not required to be compensated by the airline if your flight is delayed or canceled for bad weather, air traffic delays, or mechanical issues. If you prefer, you can still submit a claim for compensation with American Airlines, but keep in mind they are not required to do so.
Thanks for reading!
Henry
August 14, 2018
Hey Michael, does the trip delay from credit card consider inbound and outbound flight as two different trips?
Also, do they consider infant as passenger as well? Does that mean infant is also eligible for credit card compensation?
Michael McHugh
August 15, 2018
Hi Henry
Per the language on the Chase website, trip delay insurance covers:
– Cardholder
– Cardholder’s spouse or domestic partner
– Dependent children under age 22
As far as coverage amount, the language states coverage:
– Up to $500 for each purchased ticket
– Coverage is limited to one covered hazard per trip
The way that I understand the coverage is that if you booked two one-way tickets, the $500 covers each segment (inbound and abound). Regarding infants, the terms state dependent children under the age of 22 are covered.
Malie
September 24, 2018
Hi,
I had a flight with Norwegian airline from Helsinki to Oakland (California) via London Gatwick. My connecting flight (London-Oakland) was delayed more than 3h due to aircraft problems. The Norwegian airline is an EU airline but the delay happened in London airport. Given that UK is not part of EU, is the “EU complaint form” that you kindly uploaded under the “How to File a Complaint” title works?
Thanks
Stephen Au
September 26, 2018
Hi Malie,
You’re most likely out of luck. The EU compensation guidelines are for flights that involve the EU. It doesn’t matter the nationality of the carrier in these claims. Sorry about that!
Lorraine
December 27, 2018
The UK is still part of the EU
Stephen Au
December 31, 2018
Hey Lorraine,
This is still a controversial topic. With Brexit being at news headlines, this is true. However, the UK may not be a part of the EU next year. Good point!
Emre
September 05, 2019
This is a very late reply but I guess you’re confusing Shengen with EU. UK is still a member of EU despite Brexit until the deal is finalised.
Michael McHugh
September 06, 2019
Thanks for letting us know Emre!
Stefan
October 05, 2018
Hey Michael,
Thanks for the great information.
I have a question regarding my flight from Seattle to Munich via Detroit. I bought my ticket through KLM but the operating airline was Delta. I had a delay of more than 5 hours in Seattle. After 5 hours and 30 min we were able to take a Delta flight to Munich via Paris. Is it still possible to claim a compensation under European rights through KLM or what compensation would Delta offer me in that case? How would you recommend I pursue this matter?
Thanks so much in advance.
Stephen Au
October 08, 2018
Hey Stefan,
We would recommend going through KLM AND Delta. If you explore both ways, you’ll have a higher chance of getting it right the first time.
Albina
October 10, 2018
Hi,
Can you please tell me if I would be eligible for compensation in this case:
I purchased 2 separate flights. My flight out of Kishenev, Moldova to Istanbul, Turkey was delayed by an hour and a half. The airline was Turkish Airlines. The delay caused me to be late for check in by 10-15 min for our next flight out of Istanbul to Dan Francisco. We were denied check in and boarding, missing our flight, and having to rebook different tickets for the following morning (at over $1000 out of pocket). We also spent the night at a nearby hotel and incurred expenses there also. I booked both flights through Expedia. Any luck for me being able to get back the money we spent for having to change our flight? Who do I contact? Expedia? Or Turkish Airlines because of their delay? Are they part of the EU? Any insight would be helpful. Thank you.
Michael McHugh
October 15, 2018
Hi Albina
Did you put this expense on a credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve that provides trip delay reimbursement? If not, it will be up to the airline, not any third party like Expedia, to refund your out-of-pocket spend.
Mingbih Hsu
November 05, 2018
Our trip was delayed by 12hrs due to weather, then routes changed completely but our luggage was stuck with the original route.
Everything would have been ok if it were just one or two days delayed but we later realized no one was addressing our delayed luggage (in Chicago by United) for 3 days after the 2 days of delay. Through social media, finally we got United’s attention and our luggage is coming our way to Asia after 5 total days of delay.
My questions are: Do we only file a claim with United? Will the airline pay all the reasonable expenses?! I used my CSR to pay the airfare, so do I also qualify for $100/day for up to 5 days of luggage insurance? Do I only file a claim with CSR after unpaid charges from the airline?!
Michael McHugh
November 09, 2018
Hi Mingbih
I’d file the claim with Chase being that you used your CSR for the flight. Chase has been good to me about reimbursements on items like this. For example, I booked a flight with my CSP that caused an overnight stay. 6-8 weeks after filing the claim I received $500 in compensation.
Gene
March 09, 2019
You have to file with both the airline that provided the last leg of the itinerary on which the baggage was delayed AND Chase. Chase will only pay a difference between $100/day (their maximum) up to 5 days and whatever your airline gives you. Unfortunately, compared to Amex, all Chase insurance programs suck big time. Prepare to fight.
Christine Krzyszton
March 11, 2019
Hello Gene. The Chase delayed baggage coverage is minimal but it does provide reimbursement for emergency essential purchases if your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours. You must use your Chase credit card when paying for the flight and the $100 in coverage per day is in excess of what the airline/other insurance pays. Thanks for your comment.
compenso
March 17, 2019
How much time is needed to claim compensation?
Erin Miller
March 17, 2019
Hey @compenso – we’re a bit confused on the question here. Are you asking how quickly you should file the claim or are you asking how long it will take to receive the compensation if your claim is approved?
Jonn
November 26, 2018
Hi, My connection flight was delayed in Atlanta due to weather in New york, due that fact I missed my flight in New york and had to stay from friday noon till satarday night in the air port, do I deserve some compenstaion?
Jeff Brownson
November 27, 2018
Hi Jonn. Unfortunately, any time weather is involved the airlines don’t do much in terms of compensation. That is sort of their “out” from having to provide anything to passengers. You can always try and ask for something since you were delayed overnight, but the airline will likely deny the request because it was “out of their control”.
Michel
November 27, 2018
When the airline gives a (useless…) coupon code to use on their flights after a cancellation, are we still eligible to claim compensation ?
Christine Krzyszton
November 27, 2018
Hi Michel. It depends. Receiving a coupon code that allows you to select an online amenity option such as miles, for example, or a $50 voucher towards a future flight does not automatically exclude you from asking for additional compensation. You may, however, be informed when you select that coupon option that you give up any claim for additional compensation. There are applicable compensation rules that differ, of course, depending on your flight. For example EU compensation will apply in some cases even if you select a coupon option and you may receive no compensation at all for a weather cancellation in the U.S. With that said, you are not precluded from asking for additional compensation.
Maggie
December 03, 2018
HI Michael, I stocked Dulles Airport close to 48 hours without any compensation. My United Airlines flight has delayed (maintenance issue than has changed to weather according to UA App) and I missed my connection to Istanbul.They gave me a ticket for the same flight the next day and when I was checking in and found out that the ticket doesn’t exist. Then they gave same ticket the day later. I spent hundreds of dollars to go there 2 days early but I could make it 2 days later. So what are my rights for that? I also found out this happens quite often. How can I know my ticket from United Airlines is real?
Alex Miller
December 07, 2018
Hi Maggie, that unfortunately sounds like a very complex situation with a lot of different factors. I’d recommend getting in contact with United Airlines directly, or going through a service like AirHelp who can do all the legwork for you, for a fee (if you get a claim).
Francesca
December 06, 2018
Last Sunday my flight was delayed for weather condition, about 2 hours of delay. The airline offered me a voucher of $50 for each passengers that bought a ticket, but not for my daughter because she is an infant and she didn’t pay. Is this correct?
Before the trip, I subscribed to AIG insurance with a benefit of $500 per insured in case of trip delay. Can I request the benefit even if my fight on Sunday was the inbound and not the outbound flight? Thanks, Francesca
Christine Krzyszton
December 07, 2018
Hi Francesca! Sorry you were delayed, especially when traveling with your young daughter. The airlines (here in the U.S.) are not required to provide compensation for most weather delays so the voucher was a gesture of goodwill. And yes, normally only ticketed passengers receive this. Regarding the AIG insurance, you should definitely file a claim. I am not sure if both of your flights were on the same ticket for which you purchased the insurance but the worst that can happen is that they say no.
Paul Braude
December 08, 2018
Please advise. Flight schedules for 11:25 now delayed until 3:30pm probably they are getting a new plane. The engine was hit by a truck driving and now unsafe to fly. Everyone is off the plane. Current compensation is a $21 meal voucher. Stuck in boston any help or advice would be great.
Michael McHugh
December 12, 2018
Hi Paul
As I understand the US rules, you are not entitled to compensation by the airline for this delay. I would advise going the credit card route, assuming you booked this flight with a credit card that provides delay insurance.
Maria
December 26, 2018
I had the first leg of a domestic American Airlines flight that was canceled due to crew availability. I was rescheduled on a flight that got me in the next morning, about 5 hours after I was originally schuedled to get in. In addition to this delay I ended up traveling for a total of about 9 hours instead of 6 hours. Does anyone know if I am entitied to any compensation? Also, I asked for an upgrade, but ended up just paying for 5x 500mi upgrades ($200) as customer service did not reply to me in time.
Oscar R
January 03, 2019
Hello. Today I received and email that my flight from LAX to Amsterdam with connection in Iceland, operated my WOW Airline, was canceled “due to unforeseen circumstances”. My flight is still 3 weeks out. Am I owed any compensation? Or because of the time frame are they in the clear? Thank you.
Stephen Au
January 03, 2019
Hey Oscar,
Because the notice was given longer than 2 weeks in advance of the flight, you are not owed any compensation. We are sorry you have to experience this inconvenience, but it’s simply the nature of the beast when it comes to aviation. Hope this helps!
Anna
January 04, 2019
i had the connecting flight from atlanta to chicago with united airlines which was delayed due to the weather in chicago and because of that i didn’t make it on the plane to poland. i called them and was told over the phone that they rebooked my flight and that they will cover for my hotel since it was 1am and the flight was at 2pm, all i had to do was talk to customers service at the airport. so i did and i was told that they can’t do anything and i that they will not cover my stay at the hotel nor i will provided any food or water. i arrived at my destination with 20h delay. do i deserve some compensation?
Stephen Au
January 04, 2019
Hey Anna, on what airline was your flight from Chicago to Poland? If it is a EU airline, you may have a case.
Follow the protocol for filing a complaint in accordance to EU 261: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm#apr-problems
Alexander Azrour
January 14, 2019
Hi Michael,
I had a return flight from Orlando to Copenhagen via Toronto with Air Canada. The flight was first delayed and then cancelled due to technical problems. We had spent almost 10 hours at Orlando Airport before the airline put us in hotel for the night and rebooked us on a flight back with more stopovers than the original flight. It literally took us 3 days to get back home.
We had filed a complaint through the website as it is the only option and still have not heard from the airline. They have sent us an E-coupon to redeem for a future flight with Air Canada;) (That is not an option considering the lousy service) What are our options to get the compensation and which Bill of Right would apply in this case EU or US?
In the past we had a similar situation with Etihad and it was handled in the most professional way. Hotel booking for the night, Meals vouchers, rebooking on a similar flight and similar itinerary and vouchers for 600 Euros for each flight ticket that was deposited into my bank account within two weeks. Top notch airline.
Alex Miller
January 23, 2019
Hi Alexander,
What a nightmare 🙁 Sorry to hear about that, delays and cancelations are zero fun…but I’m glad the airline issued those vouchers. Your best bet, IMO, regarding compensation is to use a service like Airhelp who will give you a pretty quick answer to your question. Hope that helps.
Xavier Brown
January 18, 2019
I bought 3 award tickets with my miles for my family EZE /CDG flight has arrived with 4h:58min delay. My final destination is AGP and now have to wait 8h for connecting flight am I entitled to compensation? If so, what compensation should I get?
Alex Miller
January 23, 2019
Hi Xavier,
I’m sorry to hear about your delay. The fastest way to find out if you’re entitled to compensation is to use a service like AirHelp. You only pay if you’re eligible for compensation, so there’s no harm in trying. Those guys will know! Good luck!
Christian
February 05, 2019
I had some issues with Turkish Airlines a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if EU 261 will give me rights to compensation during my delay from Budapest (EU-country) -> Istanbul (connection flight) -> Bangkok.
Istanbul to Bangkok was 6h delayed.
From what I understand, I should be given a 600 euro compensation. From “Frequently Asked Questions on Air Passenger Rights” (https://ec.europa.eu/ireland/services/air-travel_en): “Compensation may also be payable for long delays of connecting flights to third countries with stopovers outside the EU. This was confirmed by the Court of Justice of the EU in the case of Claudia Wegener v Royal Air Maroc SA, C-537/17. In this case, the Court decided that, in the circumstances, flights from Berlin to Casablanca and then from Casablanca to Agadir should be treated as a single connecting flight and therefore within the scope of the Regulation.”
Am I correct to say I should have EU rights even though a have a delay at a non-EU airport?
Stephen Au
February 09, 2019
Hi Christian,
Thanks for reading. Your conditions should meet the criteria as listed on EU 261. Please contact the appropriate authorities to begin your compensation claim. Good luck!
AJR
February 17, 2019
trying to figure this complicated situation out….
Booked Route: CPH-BEG-JFK on Air Serbia
Route Taken: CPH-CDG-JFK on Air France
I was supposed to fly the booked route but the Air Serbia plane from CPH-BEG was delayed by 2 hours and I only had a 1 hour connection in BEG thus I would be missing the connecting flight.
The Air Serbia flight from BEG-JFK only flies every other day.
Given that I would miss the connection, Air Serbia puts me on Air France connecting through CDG with a 40 minute connection. It takes me 45 minutes to get through customs, let alone run to another concourse.
I miss the flight and AF puts me up at the Holiday Inn-CDG overnight and I catch an AF flight to JFK the next morning.
Is EU261 possible here? If so, who is responsible…Air Serbia? Air France? This is the first time this has ever happened so I did not get a reason for the CPH-BEG delay. Does this matter?
Michael McHugh
February 20, 2019
Hi AJR
You’re right. This is unique and complicated for sure!
If you’re unable to find an answer via a combination of research and the article, please let me know and I’ll dig into it to help out.
Jagadeesh Patil
March 10, 2019
Trying to find if I am eligible for single compensation or double compensation.
I booked a flight from Bangalore to Paris to Chicago to MN. My flight in Bangalore was delayed and then canceled due to a technical issue. Airline re-booked me for next day through Bangalore to Delhi to Amsterdam to MN.
Next day’s flight in Delhi was delayed by 1 hour and took different air route to reach Amsterdam. It was delayed by more than 3 hours. Due to this, I missed my connecting flight from Amsterdam to MN. I was re-booked after 5 hours delay in Amsterdam.
My first inbound flight to Paris was cancelled. So I am eligible for compensation as per EU law. But my question is, again my flight from Amsterdam to MN was delayed by more than 5 hours. So Am I eligible for double compensation?
Note: I don’t think it as greedy as I went through many challenges during this travel. I was travelling with 2 small kids and the 2 year old small kid was not feeling well. My flight was around 22 to 24 hours but we spent more than 2 and half days due to cancellation and delays.
Christine Krzyszton
March 11, 2019
Such a harrowing experience,Jagadeesh, especially with 2 small children. You do not mention the airlines involved but you should definitely pursue compensation for both flights. You can start the process here: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm#apr-problems
jj muir
March 16, 2019
American canceled our flight from Jacksonville on 3/16/19 and stranded us in FL for 2 more days, telling us nothing was available until Monday (Not concerned about what we do in the interim.) They let us know this at 6am for 1:15pm flight and now we’ll miss a family function on Sunday. What should we do to get compensation?
Stephen Au
March 19, 2019
Hey JJ,
Unfortunately, US regulations do not mandate compensation in this instance. The best thing you can do is reach out to American Airlines and ask for a “goodwill gesture” of a certificate or miles.
Veronika K
April 10, 2019
Hello,
we got a flight delay (> 3 hours) in 2018 on our flight with Turkish airlines when frying from Istanbul to New Delhi. We submitted the claim for compensation via an online ‘claim processing’ company and no surprise, our claim was not accepted (non-EU flight..but we still tried). Just few days ago, we received an update from this company, stating that the EC regulations got updated and we can retry to claim the compensation, whose amount has increased to 1200 eur (from original 600 eur). However, I am unable to find any kind of information concerning this update on the web. Is this true, or is it some fraud/false info..? Thanks for any help…
Best,
Veronika
Michael McHugh
April 20, 2019
Hi Veronika
We’re not aware of any updates to the claim compensation. We refer to the latest information on the EU Air Passengers Rights site. Please let us know if you find what you’re looking for on the EU website.
Belcore Deborah
May 19, 2019
So we are all just SOL when dealing with an Asian carrier? Japan AirLine has repeatedly denied my request to refund half the FF miles (or any cash compensation) used to book their NRT-ORD flight (mechanical delay of 6 hours). Even though Alaska Air says it would be “industry standard” to receive compensation for such a long delay. They filed a report on my behalf – but it really doesnt go anywhere. Article 19 says airlines are not liable if they “took measures to prevent the delay…”???? I would never assume that arriving 6 hours late to my destination is what I’m agreeing to in a contract of carriage, but there seems no recourse that I can find:-(.
Christine Krzyszton
May 21, 2019
Hello Deborah. Sorry to hear about your experience. You might consider using the AirHelp or Service for assistance. https://www.airhelp.com/en/ https://getservice.com/
Nancy
June 16, 2019
Hi,
I had a flight booked with Caribbean Airlines and they denied me entrance claiming I needed a yellow fever vaccination. After speaking to the manager I was then told that the flight had been closed (35min early) and that they could not reopen the door.
Two days later, after much calling and pursuing the airline agents at the airport I arrived at my final destination.
The agents told me to contact the main office since they could not further help. On Social media, the airline however keeps on sending the same message that they are looking into the matter.
Thanks
Catherine Luther
June 19, 2019
Hi Nancy,
If you haven’t done so already, you should send your complaint by email to the airline and keep a record of your communication. According to the Department of Transport, an airline should be acknowledging your complaint within 30 days and addressing the issue within 60 days. If they fail to do this, then you can file a consumer complaint to the DOT.
Ketan Gada
July 01, 2019
Hi there,
My 4-month-old son and my mother-in-law were due to fly from UK to India via Air India. The flight was delayed while they were waiting to board at the gate and were notified only 1-2 hours before scheduled take-off. They were later put in a hotel near the airport and provided lunch and dinner and only managed to fly the next morning. Overall, a delay of 20+ hours on scheduled arrival time.
The reason they provided was “technical problem” – that is all. However, there were rumors that another Air India flight going to US had a security issue and had to be grounded in the UK, and since the crew on that flight was overworked, they couldn’t continue the journey to the US.
Apart from the delay, there was an overbooking of the meal my mother in law ordered, so she couldn’t get a proper meal and the flight staff had no resolution for this except giving her couple of apples.
All the more frustrating is this was my 4 month old’s first flight ever and we were nervous as the last thing we wanted was a 20-hour delay.
How can I go about claiming compensation?
Jarrod West
July 02, 2019
Hi Ketan,
I am very sorry to hear that your son and mother in law had a negative experience. Have you spoken with Air India about this situation? If not, I would advise you to reach out to the airline’s social media team to explain your situation. Airlines have social media teams ready to respond and react when the airline is mentioned. Some airlines are more responsive than others so don’t lose hope if the airline isn’t quick to respond.
You can also contact the claims department of the airline from which you purchased your ticket. Explain your situation and ask the department what the process is to submit a claim for reimbursement.
I hope this helps!
Ketan
July 07, 2019
Hi Jarrod – Thanks for the response. I’ve contacted Air India for compensation however it has been rejected on the grounds of “Force Majeure” – the staff of the above mentioned airline was moved to a different flight which was delayed due to a bomb scare and that flight’s crew had to be given mandatory rest.
Any advise or pointers?
Jarrod West
July 07, 2019
Hi Ketan,
If Air India has denied your request for compensation on grounds that are stated in their terms and conditions, then, unfortunately, there is no other recourse for you to take. I am sorry again that you had to deal with what I can only imagine was a very frustrating situation.
Tricia N.
August 29, 2019
Thank you for this information.
I am sure the airlines have powerful lobbyists in order to get legislation that favored them.
Cindy Y
September 06, 2019
The AA flight was delayed due to crew rest and caused us to miss our connecting flight.
An AA staff at the airport customer service that day, suggested to fly to Tampa and rent a car to drive to Orlando, she informed us that AA will reimburse our car rental fee.
We later learned that’s not in the AA policy.
I am very disappointed in the AA customer service and AA policy your staff received that led to my loss of time and money.
It is unacceptable for your staff to state a policy that AA does not have leading me to rent a car, an out of pocket expense ($115), that I was told would be reimbursed by AA.
Katie Seemann
September 06, 2019
Hi Cindy,
I’m sorry that you had that experience. However, we are not American Airlines. We are Upgraded Points — a points and miles travel blog. I would suggest contacting American Airlines directly to see if you can get any compensation. Good Luck!
Miguel Ramos
October 03, 2019
Hello,
My flight was cancelled due to pilot being sick and no additional pilot available until following day. This was a returning flight from Madrid back to Los Angeles and no forehand notice until 2 hours from take off. Accommodations were given and was given a flight the next morning more than 9 hours from original departure time. I would like to know what are the chances of receiving compensation as I know EU has more compensation opportunities.
Christine Krzyszton
October 06, 2019
Hello Miguel. You should definitely file for compensation. Use the step by step instructions listed in the article for EU compensation.
Duane Reade
October 29, 2019
Has anyone filed a claim with AirHelp and had the airline pay you instead of AirHelp? As a US based passenger and since they’re based in the UK, can I ignore their “legal warnings?” Their letters to the airline state that payments made directly to the passenger are “invalid.”
Andrew Kunesh
November 01, 2019
Hello!
We don’t recommend that you ignore the legal warnings on AirHelp regardless of your country of residence. In authorizing AirHelp to get airline compensation for you, you contractually owe them the 35-50% fee that is taken from the compensation you’re paid. We recommend filing the EU261 claim on your own if you’d like to avoid this fee.
Thanks,
Andrew
Ariel Mielnik
March 13, 2020
With all these flights canceled because of the virus, what should we do?
My flight from Buenos Aires to Paris and from Paris to Tel Aviv (it’s where I live, so it’s my way back) were canceled. The company is Air France. I followed your links and the smalls claims and online claims (points n 3 and 4) are only for Europeans. I’m not there yet for point n 2. What can I do if I live in Israel?
The point n 1 I could fill it but where do I submit it?
Thanks in advance.
Christine Krzyszton
March 16, 2020
Hello Ariel. Air France has updated their change and cancel policy. Here is a link to the instructions for requesting a refund if you purchased directly from Air France.https://www.airfrance.us/US/en/common/page_flottante/hp/news-air-traffic-air-france.htm?_ga=2.65528558.1384855.1584393575-708435985.1584393575
Susan
May 25, 2020
My return flight on AirNewZealand to San Francisco, CA from Auckland, NZ in April was canceled due to NZ closing its borders because of Covid19. I am grateful that I’ve been in a safe place, but I need to return to the USA. My original round trip ticket was purchased in CA, USA, and was a discount rate and has the following notation on the receipt: NONEND/NONREF/NZONLY. The AirNZ website tool says I need to make a phone call, and the wait times are terrible. Can you tell me if this code means that AirNZ will provide a credit only, even though it was purchased in the USA? I am confused since it was purchased in the USA and I thought I am entitled to a refund.
Alec
April 04, 2021
I purchased with Amex Plat through Amex Travel. My flight got delayed for 12 hours within US and no compensation.
Jarrod West
April 05, 2021
Hi Alec,
What was the reason for the delay? You can read more about the Amex Platinum’s trip delay terms here to see if you should have received compensation.
Kylene Roth
June 17, 2021
I received an email notification 24 hours before my international return flight home that my flight was cancelled, I needed to rebook. The first available flight was two days away, necessitating 2 nights lodging, meals, and 3 additional covid tests for my travel party to be within the acceptable 72-hour window. We were offered nothing. I had also used miles and had upgraded emergency exit row seats on the flight that was cancelled. In order to rebook and choose any seat, I had to again use my miles; however, they were not the exit row seats. We also had to miss work and could not contact clients and advise them of the situation. I have attempted to contact American Airlines but have not received any response.
Mahin
November 01, 2021
We booked our tickets on United.com from Austin to Istanbul. Our route was AUS-ORD-Amsterdam-Istanbul. Our flight from Chicago to Amsterdam got cancelled due to technical issues. We booked a hotel and got a food voucher. We were rebooked the next day (24 hours later). We lost one day of the trip and also we had non-refundable hotel and car rental reservations. I reached out to United and asked for compensation but it was denied.
Farrell Barnett
November 09, 2021
Hello: I booked a Delta codeshare flight on Air France to fly SFO-ABJ, with a connection in Paris. My SFO-CDG Air France flight was canceled on August 18, 2021 due to mechanical reasons; the flight was rescheduled for the next day, and I arrived in Abidjan about 24 hours later than originally scheduled. I submitted a claim with Air France, and 2.5 months later, received an email saying they are rejecting my claim because per EU regulations 261/2004, flying SFO-ABJ with only a transit at CDG disqualifies me from compensation. I then read the text of the EU regulations 261/2004, and I don’t believe their explanation to be true. I am appealing again to Air France. Am I right that I am due compensation? I am also taking this up with Delta, but have yet to hear from them. Should I have taken this up with Delta first?
Ronald Picha
December 12, 2022
Can someone respond to my question about the status of my Luv voucher? It’s impossible to find any info on this site. I’m left hanging with no help.
Christine Krzyszton
December 12, 2022
Hi Ronald. Please understand that we are not Southwest Airlines, we are Upgraded Points, a blog specializing in credit card rewards and travel resources. You can contact Southwest directly by calling their customer service at 1 (800) 435-9792. You can also find information that could help you in our article regarding Southwest and LUV vouchers. /travel/airlines/southwest-gift-cards-travel-funds-luv-vouchers/
Rob
February 28, 2023
I am looking to find the form on the weather site that customer service told me to use to file receipts. They said it was on the main page but I cannot find it. Please help me find the form to fill out.
Christine Krzyszton
March 01, 2023
Hi Rob. Can you tell us which airline’s website you’re looking for?
tom scott
May 20, 2023
I had a very strange situation. I flew Qatar Airways last May-June to the Philippines. My suitcase was lost for 4 days going to Philippines, I had to buy some clothing and toiletries, only $150 out of pocket. I still have not received any compensation. On the return flight home, they had changed my flight out but did not change the last leg of my flight from JFK to MCO. As a result, when I landed there was no seat for me because my seat was on June 11th and I arrived June 12th. The American staff helped me and I was given an indirect flight (JFK to MIA to MCO) home causing me to arrive over 5 hours after my scheduled arrival – 7:30 p.m. instead of 2 p.m. Do I have any recourse?? I received a message last week (a year after the fact) and they acted like it was nothing.
Keri Stooksbury
May 26, 2023
Hi Tom – It sounds like you have 2 complaints at hand that should likely be separately addressed with Qatar Airways. Ideally, you would file the claim for the baggage using the baggage locator ID you were provided on arrival in the Philippines and also offering any receipts you kept. Separately you could have lodged a complaint regarding the unchanged connection, though with a 5-hour delay, there might not be much recourse. You may want to start a chat with Qatar Airways online to see if you are still within the window to resolve these issues. Best of luck, and thanks for reading.
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