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US airline refund rules for cancelled and delayed flights

The United States has no delay compensation rule. It does have a refund rule: cancel or significantly change a flight, and the airline owes you your money back within 7 business days on a card or 20 calendar days otherwise. Legal basis: 14 CFR parts 260 and 399, 89 FR 32760; FAA Reauthorization Act 2024.

Updated

What you are owed

United States federal rules do not require airlines to pay cash compensation for delays or cancellations. They do require a refund when the airline cancels your flight or changes it significantly and you do not accept the alternative.

US Department of Transportation refund rule
ItemRule
Significant change, domestic flightA departure or arrival moved by 3 hours or more
Significant change, international flightA departure or arrival moved by 6 hours or more
Refund to a cardWithin 7 business days
Refund by other meansWithin 20 calendar days

A significant change also includes a different origin or destination airport or a worse connection. Read the rule text for the full list.

Flights between the US and Europe or Canada

A US flight can still fall under EU261, UK261 or Canada APPR. Those rules follow the departure airport and the airline, not the passenger’s nationality. Use the calculator to see which apply. The guide for US flights explains the logic.

Check a flight

Where the trip started. For one booking with connections, the first airport.

Where the trip ended: the final destination.

The operating airline, not the one on the ticket. A boarding pass or the flight status page names it.

What happened

At the final destination, when the aircraft door opened.

We read this to explain the result. We never decide whether it counts as extraordinary.

Carried into the claim letter. It does not change the amount.

Results

Enter both airports and the airline to see a result.

Loading the airport list

Choose where the trip started, where it ended, the airline and what happened. The result updates as you type.

Questions about US refunds

Does a US airline owe cash for a long delay?
No federal rule requires cash compensation for a delay or cancellation. The airline must refund you in the cases below if you do not take the alternative.
What about being bumped from an oversold flight?
Denied boarding rules are separate. We have not researched the amounts, so we do not show them. See the denied boarding guide.
Does the refund rule cover foreign airlines?
Yes, for flights to, from or within the United States.

Information, not advice

Hours Late is not a law firm and not a claims company. It does not file claims for you. The results are estimates from published rules and the details you enter. They are not legal advice. Airlines and courts decide each case.

Sources