How to get flight delay compensation and understand your rights as a US passenger

How to get flight delay compensation and understand your rights as a US passenger - Decoding DOT Regulations: When Are You Legally Entitled to a Refund?

We’ve all been there, stuck in a terminal staring at a departure board that keeps pushing your flight back further into the night. It’s frustrating because, for the longest time, what counted as a "significant delay" was basically whatever the airline felt like telling you that day. But now, things are much clearer thanks to the DOT’s "three-six" rule, which draws a hard line: three hours for domestic flights and six for international ones. If the delay hits those marks and you decide not to fly, you’re legally entitled to your money back, period. I’ve noticed people often worry about the "how" and "when," but federal law actually mandates a seven-business-day turnaround for credit card refunds. If you paid with cash or a check, the airline has a bit more breathing room—twenty calendar days—but they still can’t just leave you hanging. It isn’t just about the ticket price either; if you paid for extra legroom or Wi-Fi and didn’t get it, or if they bump you to a lower cabin, that money has to come back to you too. Airlines love to hand out travel vouchers like candy, but they’re strictly prohibited from forcing those on you unless you explicitly agree after they’ve told you a cash refund is an option. Then there’s the baggage headache—if your suitcase doesn’t show up within twelve hours for a domestic trip, you’re entitled to a refund of those checked bag fees. I think one of the best changes is the requirement for automated notifications, so you aren’t left guessing while sitting at the gate. And if you do choose to take a voucher instead of cash, it now has to stay valid for at least five years, so it doesn’t just evaporate before your next big trip. Knowing these specific triggers is the only way to make sure you aren't leaving hundreds of dollars on the table when your travel plans go sideways.

How to get flight delay compensation and understand your rights as a US passenger - The Difference Between US Domestic Rules and International Compensation Rights

I’ve spent a lot of time looking into why your rights seem to shift the moment you cross a border, and honestly, the gap between US domestic rules and international law is kind of wild. Think about it this way: if you’re flying from NYC to LA, the airline doesn’t really owe you a dime for your time, but if you’re headed to Paris, the Montreal Convention kicks in with some serious teeth. Under those international rules, you can claim up to roughly $7,100 for proven damages caused by a delay—a protection that just flat-out doesn't exist for a quick hop within the States. And then there's the gold standard, EC 261, which forces even US carriers to cough up 600 if

How to get flight delay compensation and understand your rights as a US passenger - Beyond the Ticket: Securing Meals, Hotels, and Rebooking Vouchers

Honestly, there’s nothing quite like that sinking feeling when you realize you’re not just late, but actually stranded. It’s one thing to get your ticket money back eventually, but right now, you need a sandwich and a place to sleep. The good news is that all ten major US carriers have finally locked in formal promises to feed you once a controllable delay hits that three-hour mark. I’ve noticed these digital meal vouchers they text you usually have a strict 24-hour expiration, so you’ve got to use that $15 or $20 at the airport snack bar before it just vanishes. But if things go south overnight, the situation gets a bit more interesting regarding hotel rooms and shuttles. Most airlines will put you up for the night if the delay is

How to get flight delay compensation and understand your rights as a US passenger - A Step-by-Step Guide to Documenting Your Delay and Filing a Claim

Honestly, when you're sitting on a cold airport floor, the last thing you want to do is play detective, but building your case right then and there is how you actually win. I’ve found that the real "secret sauce" is asking the gate agent for the airline’s internal delay code—look for a two-letter tag like "MX" for maintenance. This little piece of jargon is your best friend because it proves the delay was "controllable," which is exactly what the airline might try to walk back later. Don't just take a quick photo of the departure board; make sure your phone’s GPS is on so the EXIF metadata creates a verified digital footprint that matches your location and time. Here’s what I mean: airlines use "OOOI" logs—that’s Out, Off, On, In—to track flights, and sometimes their internal clocks don't quite match the reality of when you were actually stuck. You should also pull up a tracker and check your plane's specific tail number to see if it was really "weather" or if the aircraft was just late coming in from a perfectly sunny city. It’s kind of wild how often a "late-arriving aircraft" gets blamed on a storm that happened three states away six hours ago. And look, whatever you do, save those chat transcripts from the airline app because they often contain admissions of operational failures that the official customer service emails conveniently leave out. If the airline is being difficult, remember that your credit card’s trip delay reimbursement is often a much easier path to getting that $500 back for your hotel and dinner once you hit that six-hour mark. For the true researchers out there—and I say that with love—you can even look up METAR data to see if the visibility was actually below the minimums for your specific plane type. If you're stuck on the tarmac for over three hours, you should reference the DOT’s Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan, which creates a public record of the timeline the airline has to defend. It’s a lot of legwork, I know, but having these receipts makes you the person the airline simply can't ignore with a canned response.