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This is general information, not legal advice. Rules were checked as of October 2026, and whether you are owed anything depends on your specific flight.

Last updated: October 31, 2026

If your flight is delayed or canceled, get rebooked first, then save every receipt and screenshot. Depending on the route, you may be owed EU261 compensation or a cash refund, and this guide walks through what to do at the airport and how to claim.

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Knowing your rights before a delay or cancellation helps you make better decisions in the moment, and in some cases it can mean a refund or a cash payment. This guide covers the two sets of rules most travelers run into: the EU's EU261 regulation and the US Department of Transportation (DOT) refund rules.

First steps at the airport

Before thinking about compensation, focus on getting where you need to go.

1. Check the airline app right away. Airlines often rebook passengers automatically, and app options can appear before the desk line moves.
2. Get in line and call at the same time. Whoever answers first can help.
3. Ask for the reason in writing. Whether the cause was weather, a crew issue or a mechanical problem matters for compensation. Screenshot delay notices and announcements in the app.
4. Keep every receipt. Meals, hotels, taxis and other expenses caused by the disruption may be reimbursable.
5. Do not accept a voucher without thinking it through. On US flights, accepting a voucher or a new flight can affect your right to a cash refund.

EU261: compensation for delays and cancellations in Europe

EU Regulation 261/2004 applies to:

• Flights departing from an EU airport, on any airline. Iceland, Norway and Switzerland also apply the rules.
• Flights arriving in the EU from outside it, but only when the operating airline is based in the EU.

So a flight from Paris to New York is covered on any airline. A flight from New York to Paris is covered on an EU airline such as Air France, but not on a US airline. The UK keeps a similar set of rules, often called UK261, after Brexit.

When you may be owed compensation

Under EU261, you may be entitled to fixed compensation when:

• You reach your final destination 3 or more hours late
• Your flight is canceled with less than 14 days' notice, depending on the replacement flight offered
• You are denied boarding because the flight was overbooked

How much

The amount depends on the flight distance, not the ticket price:

• Up to 1,500 km: 250 euros
• Within the EU over 1,500 km, and other flights from 1,500 to 3,500 km: 400 euros
• Over 3,500 km (outside the EU): 600 euros

For the longest flights, the airline can reduce the payment by 50 percent in some cases where you arrive between 3 and 4 hours late.

When compensation does not apply

Airlines do not have to pay compensation when the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided with reasonable measures, such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or security risks. Routine technical problems are generally not treated as extraordinary.

Care while you wait

Separate from compensation, EU261 requires airlines to provide care during long delays, including meals and refreshments, a way to communicate, and a hotel plus transport if you are stuck overnight. This applies even when the cause was extraordinary. For long delays and cancellations, you can also choose between a refund and rerouting.

The 2026 update

The EU adopted an amending regulation, Regulation (EU) 2026/2202, which was published in October 2026. It keeps the 3-hour delay threshold and the 250, 400 and 600 euro amounts, and adds new rules such as a 9-month deadline to request compensation and a 30-day deadline for airlines to respond. It is scheduled to apply from October 23, 2027. Until then, the current rules apply, and claim deadlines are set by each country's national law.

US flights: the DOT automatic refund rule

The US does not require airlines to pay cash compensation for delays. In November 2025, the DOT formally withdrew a proposal that would have required it. What the US does have is a strong refund rule.

Under DOT rules, you are entitled to a refund of your ticket, including taxes and fees, if:

• The airline cancels your flight, for any reason, and you choose not to travel or accept a voucher, credit or other compensation instead.
• The airline significantly delays or changes your flight and you choose not to travel or accept the alternative.

A "significant" change includes:

• Departing 3 or more hours earlier or arriving 3 or more hours later than scheduled on a domestic itinerary, or 6 or more hours on an international itinerary
• A different departure or arrival airport
• More connections than your original itinerary
• A downgrade to a lower class of service

Automatic and fast

When you are owed a refund, the airline must issue it automatically, without making you fill out a request. It must be paid within 7 business days for credit card purchases and within 20 calendar days for other payment methods, and it must go back to your original form of payment unless you agree to something else.

You can also get a refund of a checked bag fee if your bag is significantly delayed (12 hours on domestic flights, 15 or 30 hours on international flights depending on flight length) and you file a mishandled baggage report, plus fees for extras like Wi-Fi or seat selection that you paid for but did not get.

One current exception: as of 2026, the DOT has paused enforcement for flights that are only renumbered, where you are rebooked on the same flight under a new flight number with no significant change. That pause runs through July 7, 2027.

Meals and hotels

US law does not require meals or hotels during delays, but large US airlines publish customer service plans that often cover them when the cause is within the airline's control, such as maintenance or crew issues. Check your airline's plan and ask the gate agent.

How to claim

For a US refund, decline the rebooking or voucher and request the refund through the airline's app or website. If the airline does not pay, you can file a complaint with the DOT.

For EU261 compensation, you can claim directly with the airline, which is free. Use its online claim form, include your booking reference and boarding passes, and state the flight number, date and length of the delay.

If you would rather not handle the paperwork, a claims service can do it for you. AirHelp lets you enter your flight details to check whether it may qualify, including flights from past years within the claim deadline, and handles the claim. Services like this charge a fee only if the claim succeeds, so compare their current fee with the effort of claiming yourself.

Check your flight free with AirHelp

Quick recap

• Rebook first, then document the delay, its stated reason and your receipts.
• EU261 can mean 250 to 600 euros for arriving 3+ hours late on covered flights.
• On US flights, decline the voucher or new flight if you want a cash refund.

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