Airline Compensation: How to Claim What You’re Owed
Has your flight been delayed, canceled, or were you bumped? In these cases, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline. Domestic flights are generally regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), but flights from (and in many cases to) Europe are protected by EC 261 regulation, which grants passengers the right to compensation from the airline in case of delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through discovering your passenger rights and the situations where the airline must compensate you. We’ll also show you how to claim and ensure you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Key Points About Airline Compensation
Airline delay and cancellation compensation: under DOT rules, airlines are not required to compensate for delays or cancellations. Under EU 261, you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600 (~$650).
In case of overbooking, both DOT rules and EU 261 provide the possibility of airline compensation.
In case of baggage issues, you may be entitled to airline compensation.
In the event of a flight disruption, you must file a claim to get airline compensation: AirHelp is here to help you receive what you’re entitled to.
When Do Airlines Have to Compensate You?
Your Passenger Rights: EU 261 and US DOT Rules
Passenger rights in case of flight disruptions can be your best ally. Under DOT rules and EU 261 regulation it is your right to request a money refund, re-routing or other form of compensation from your airline.
US law does not mandate monetary compensation for delayed and canceled flights, but denied boarding due to overbooking could entitle you to compensation of up to $1,550. The European Regulation EC 261 provides that, under certain circumstances, airlines must compensate passengers in case of delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights.
EC 261 applies not only to European citizens but to all passengers on flights covered by this regulation, regardless of nationality. All passengers departing from a European airport are covered under EC 261. In some circumstances, passengers flying into Europe from other worldwide destinations may be covered as well. If you’re confused, here’s a simple chart to help:
| Itinerary | EU Air Carrier | Non-EU Air Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| From inside the EU to inside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| From inside the EU to outside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| From outside the EU to inside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
| From outside the EU to outside the EU | ❌ Not Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
Use our calculator below to check if you're owed compensation from the airline:
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Airline Delay Compensation in the EU and US
You can claim airline delay compensation under EC 261 in the following circumstances:
You arrived at your destination more than 3 hours late
The delay was within the airline's control (not caused by extraordinary circumstances)
Your flight took off in the EU (flights from the US to the EU may also qualify)
You checked in for your flight on time
If these conditions apply, you could be entitled to compensation of up to $650. The amount depends on your flight distance and length of delay:
| Flight distance | Delay | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| All flights under 1,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to $270 per person |
| Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to $430 per person |
| Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to $430 per person |
| Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km | 4+ hours | Up to $650 per person |
The DOT regulation does not require airlines to compensate passengers in case of delayed flights. However, in the case of controllable flight delays, it recognizes rights such as an automatic refund of the ticket cost and the obligation for airlines to comply with passenger protection policies outlined in their terms. To learn more, check out our flight delay compensation guide.
Airline Compensation for Canceled Flights
Under the European Regulation EC 261, you could be entitled to airline compensation if:
You were notified less than 14 days before departure
The flight departs from an EU/UK airport or is operated by an EU/UK-based airline arriving at an EU/UK destination.
Your replacement flight arrives over 3 hours later than your original booking
The reason for the cancellation was within the airline's control (e.g. operational circumstances, technical difficulties, or airline staff strikes).
The cancellation is not due to extraordinary circumstances, such as extreme weather, security issues, or external strikes beyond the airline’s control.
For canceled flights, as well as delayed flights, the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations do not mandate airline cash compensation. Check out our flight cancellation compensation guide for more information.
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Overbooking Compensation
When an airline overbooks, it may deny you boarding. If your flight is covered by EU 261, the airline may owe you up to €600 (~$650) in compensation if:
You did not volunteer to surrender your seat in exchange for vouchers or other benefits.
You were not denied boarding for a reason under your control (for example, you showed up too late at the departure gate, or did not have the correct documentation).
Airlines in the US are more likely to overbook their flights than airlines in Europe. If you are denied boarding due to overbooking in the US you could be entitled to up to $1,550 compensation. Check out our overbooked flights guide for more information.
Airline Compensation for Missed Connections
If your ticket includes a flight with multiple stopovers, delay or cancellation of one of the legs could result in missing a connecting flight or otherwise arriving at your final destination late. Under EU rules, it’s the airline’s responsibility to offer you an alternative flight, but you may also be entitled to compensation:
If you miss a connection due to a canceled flight and arrive at your final destination at least 3 hours late, you may be entitled to compensation..
Your right to compensation depends on the total delay of your journey, not the delay of individual legs.
Check out our airline compensation for missed connecting flights guide for more information.
Airline Strike Compensation
Under EU 261, you could be eligible for airline strike compensation if:
You had a flight disrupted by an airline staff strike.
As a consequence of the strike, your flight was either delayed by 3 hours or more, or canceled less than 14 days before departure.
Your flight departed from an EU airport, or landed at an EU airport and was operated by a European airline.
You had a confirmed flight reservation.
If you took a replacement flight, your new arrival time was significantly different to your original flight.
Under EU 261, airlines are required to compensate passengers for flight disruptions that they are responsible for. While airline staff strikes are within the control of the airline, all other airport strikes are considered extraordinary circumstances.
Check out our strike compensation guide for more information.
Airline Compensation for Lost or Delayed Baggage
If your luggage is delayed, lost, or damaged, you could be owed compensation from the airline. This right, as well as the compensation amount, depends on the type of flight:
U.S. domestic flights, covered by DOT regulations
International flights, covered by the Montreal Convention
Domestic Flights
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has set a maximum care liability of $4,700 for each domestic flight passenger whose baggage is delayed, lost, or damaged. Although they are not obligated to, airlines are free to pay you more than this cap.
The costs you must pay for delayed or improperly handled baggage cannot be arbitrarily limited by airlines on a daily basis. For instance, they must refund reasonable expenses that can be adequately documented with receipts, but they cannot enforce a $50 daily limit on spending.
International Flights
When it comes to international flights, the Montreal Convention typically applies. Should your baggage be delayed, lost, or destroyed, you could be able to get up to $1,950 under this treaty (1,519 SDRs, or Special Drawing Rights). At their option, airlines may provide higher pay.
The Warsaw Convention may be applicable in the rare instances where international flights to and from the United States are not covered by the Montreal Convention.
AirHelp Score: Best Airlines in the US
AirHelp is here to assist you at every stage of your journey. Our mission is to get everyone the compensation they’re entitled to, but we’ve also decided to help you choose the airline best suited to your travel needs. Our AirHelp Score is a step in this direction: each year, we evaluate the world’s top airlines based on three criteria:
On-time performance
Customer service
Claim processing
According to our latest AirHelp Score 2024 assessment, the highest-rated airlines in the US are:
| Rank | Airline | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Airlines | 8.04/10 |
| 2 | American Airlines | 8.04/10 |
| 3 | Delta Air Lines | 7.31/10 |
Globally, Brussels Airlines took first place, followed by Qatar Airways, with United Airlines in third.
To learn more, check out the full AirHelp Score and the methodology behind it.
How to Claim Airline Compensation
You can claim compensation by contacting the airline, consulting a lawyer, or relying on the specialists at AirHelp. Whatever your choice, here's how to proceed with your claim:
Hold onto your boarding pass and travel documents.
Gather proof (e.g. photos of departure boards or emails from the airline)
Check for compensation with our Free Eligibility Checker.
File your claim through AirHelp.
That's it! We’ll take it from here.
How AirHelp Simplifies Your Airline Claims
We understand that many air passengers do not have the time, experience or inclination to fight with airlines in order to make a delayed flight claim for the compensation they’re owed.
AirHelp is able to submit claims on passengers’ behalf:
We'll tell you quickly if we think you're eligible for compensation.
We'll handle all communication with the airline.
There's no risk, we only charge a fee when we're successful in getting your compensation.
Commonly asked questions
Can I claim airline compensation for weather-related delays?
Usually, no. Most flight delays caused by bad weather are seen as extraordinary circumstances.
But — there are times you could be compensated for a weather-related delay. For example, if bad weather conditions are expected (e.g. a cold country should anticipate snow in winter) airlines should make plans that allow them to take off in good time. If your airline didn’t but others did, you could be owed compensation
If I had a codeshare flight, can I get compensation?
You can get compensation if your disrupted flight meets the criteria. Usually, if you have a codeshare flight, it is the operating airline at the time of the delay or cancellation who is responsible for pay out. You can claim compensation if the connecting flights are part of the same booking and departing from the EU, or if it is an EU airline.
If my flight was part of a package holiday, can I claim airline compensation?
Yes, you can claim as long as it meets the necessary criteria. Airlines are the ones responsible for compensating their passengers, so the laws apply even if the ticket was sold as part of a package holiday. Use our Compensation Checker to see if you are eligible, or contact the airline.