U.S. airlines aren't required to compensate passengers for flight delays. Refunds are only guaranteed for entirely canceled flights (assuming the passenger opts not to be rebooked by the airline). There's also no legal requirement for airlines to offer additional flight delay compensation.

Whether you are entitled to monetary compensation for a delayed flight depends entirely on the "jurisdiction" of the flight and the cause of the delay. If you are flying within, to, or from the United Kingdom or the European Union (under laws like UK261 or EU 261/2004), you can claim up to £520 (€600) if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late, provided the delay was within the airline's control (such as a technical fault or staffing issue). If the delay was caused by "extraordinary circumstances" like extreme weather or air traffic control strikes, you aren't eligible for the cash, but the airline must still provide "duty of care," including food vouchers and hotel accommodation if the delay is overnight. In the United States, the laws are much less generous; there is no federal law requiring airlines to pay passengers for delays. However, as of late 2024 and 2025, new Department of Transportation (DOT) rules require U.S. airlines to provide automatic refunds if a flight is "significantly changed" (usually a delay of 3+ hours for domestic or 6+ hours for international) and the passenger chooses not to travel. For those who do still travel, compensation is usually limited to what the airline's own "Customer Service Plan" promises, such as meal vouchers or frequent flyer miles.