The United States does not pay EU-style compensation because a flight arrived three hours late. A mechanical delay, a crew timeout, or a storm can ruin a day and still create no federal cheque for inconvenience. The federal rule that does write a number is involuntary denied boarding on an oversold flight. Treating a weather delay at Newark as a €400 claim is a good way to waste a month.
Delays and cancellations
Airlines set their own commitments for meals, hotels, and rebooking in their customer service plans. Those promises differ. They are not a statute that says $400 after three hours. If an airline cancels and you do not travel, a refund of the unused ticket is the right to insist on, for the part they did not provide. That is a refund, not compensation for lost time.
Bumped from an oversold flight
If you are denied boarding involuntarily because the flight was oversold, US Department of Transportation rules require compensation based on the fare and the delay, within caps. The DOT bumping page and 14 CFR 250.5, with the caps in effect from January 2025, work like this.
| Arrival delay of the alternative | Domestic | International, leaving the US |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 hour | No compensation | No compensation |
| Middle band | 1 to 2 hours: 200% of the one-way fare, capped at $1,075 | 1 to 4 hours: 200% of the one-way fare, capped at $1,075 |
| Longer | Over 2 hours: 400% of the one-way fare, capped at $2,150 | Over 4 hours: 400% of the one-way fare, capped at $2,150 |
You generally have to have a confirmed reservation, have met the check-in deadline, and not be in one of the rule's exceptions. Volunteers who take a deal are in a negotiation, not in this table. Payment is supposed to be offered at the airport, or within 24 hours if you have already left on the alternative.
My US flight was delayed six hours. What is the federal amount?
There isn't one for delay alone. Ask the airline what its customer service plan offers, and whether a refund applies if you do not take the trip.