Flight Delay Compensation Rights: US, EU, and UK
What you're actually owed when a flight is delayed or cancelled in 2026 — by jurisdiction and airline.
United States
The US has historically had no federal cash compensation rule for delays, but the rules have tightened.
- Cancellation: A full refund to your original form of payment, even on non-refundable fares, is now the law if you choose not to travel.
- Significant change: Refunds also apply if your itinerary shifts by more than 3 hours domestic / 6 hours international.
- Bag delays: Refunds of checked-bag fees if your bag isn't delivered within 12 hours (domestic) or 15–30 hours (international).
- Meal/hotel: Required by some airlines under their own contracts of carriage; check yours before assuming.
European Union and United Kingdom (EC 261 / UK 261)
The strongest passenger-rights regime in the world.
If your flight is operated by an EU/UK carrier or departs from the EU/UK, and the delay is the airline's fault, you may be entitled to:
- €250 / £220 for delays of 3+ hours on flights up to 1,500 km.
- €400 / £350 for delays of 3+ hours on flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km within the EU, or 1,500–3,500 km otherwise.
- €600 / £520 for delays of 4+ hours on flights over 3,500 km.
Plus, on any delay over 2 hours: meals, refreshments, and communications. Over 5 hours: a refund option.
Weather and ATC strikes are usually classified as "extraordinary circumstances" and do not require cash compensation, but the meal and accommodation rules still apply.
How to claim
- Document everything at the airport — keep boarding passes, photos of the delay screen, and timestamps.
- Email the airline first. Most have 30 days to respond.
- If they refuse a clearly valid claim, escalate to your country's regulator (DOT in the US, CAA in the UK, national enforcement bodies in EU member states).
- Specialist claim companies will take 25–30% of your award; they're convenient but you can do it yourself for free.
Don't forget travel insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance — including the kind that comes free with premium credit cards — usually covers delay costs (meals, hotel, rebooking on another carrier). Keep receipts.
Stay ahead of the delay
Predictive flight tracking helps you act before the airline does. With FlightyFlow you'll often see a delay coming hours in advance — enough time to call the airline and rebook before the queue forms.
Frequently asked
Does EC 261 apply to flights from the US to Europe?+
Only if the operating carrier is an EU or UK airline. A US-airline flight from JFK to LHR is not covered; a British Airways flight on the same route is.
Is weather a valid reason for an airline to deny compensation?+
Under EC 261, yes — weather is generally an extraordinary circumstance. In the US, weather-driven cancellations still require a refund but rarely additional compensation.
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