Rules / US DOT
14 CFR Parts 250 and 260 · checked 2026-10-20
US flight delay rules
No US law pays cash for a late or cancelled flight. What the Department of Transportation's rules give is a full refund when a flight is cancelled or arrives 3+ hours late (domestic) or 6+ hours late (international) and you decline to fly, plus compensation of up to $2,150 when you are bumped.
- 1Refund from 3 h (domestic)
- 2Law 14 CFR Parts 250 and 260
- 3Notice cut-off n/a
- 4Claim within No deadline
Who US DOT covers
- Scheduled flights operated or marketed by a US or foreign airline to, from or within the United States (14 CFR 260.2, "covered flight").
- There is no federal rule that pays cash for a delay or a cancellation. What the law gives is a refund when the flight is cancelled or significantly changed and you decline the alternative, plus denied-boarding compensation for bumping.
Of the 53 routes on this site, 19 can fall under US DOT: 19 whatever the airline in at least one direction. Foreign airlines flying to or from the US are covered on those flights, as well as US airlines.
Refunds: the right US law does give
Under 14 CFR Part 260 an airline must refund the ticket — even a non-refundable one — when it cancels a flight or makes a significant change and you do not accept the new flight, a rebooking or a voucher. A significant change includes departing 3 or more hours early or arriving 3 or more hours late on a domestic itinerary, 6 or more on an international one. The money is due within 7 business days on a credit card and 20 calendar days for other payment types.
| Arrival delay | Domestic itinerary | International itinerary |
|---|---|---|
| 2 h 30 min | No refund right | No refund right |
| 3 h 30 min | Refund if you decline | No refund right |
| 6 h 30 min | Refund if you decline | Refund if you decline |
Bumping: the only US cash compensation
If an oversold flight leaves without you against your will, 14 CFR 250.5 sets the payment as a share of the one-way fare, capped. On a domestic flight it is 200% of the fare (maximum $1,075) if the replacement gets you there 1 to 2 hours late, and 400% (maximum $2,150) beyond that. On an international flight from the US the 200% band runs from 1 to 4 hours. Under 1 hour late, nothing is owed.
| Example | One-way fare | Hours late | Owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | $150 | 1 h 30 min | $300 |
| Domestic | $150 | 3 hours | $600 |
| International | $600 | 3 hours | $1,075 |
| International | $600 | 5 hours | $2,150 |
The airlines' own promises
Beyond the law, the Department of Transportation publishes what each large US airline commits to when a delay or cancellation is its own fault: meals after a 3-hour wait, a hotel overnight, rebooking, and in a few cases vouchers or miles. None of the 8 airlines on the dashboard commits to cash compensation. Each airline page lists its commitments and its on-time record.
Extraordinary circumstances and other exceptions
Because there is no delay compensation, there is no extraordinary-circumstances test in US law. The refund right applies whatever the cause: weather, air traffic control or a mechanical problem all lead to the same refund if you decline the alternative.
How to claim US DOT for free
1. Ask the airline for the refund (it is due within 7 business days on a card, 20 calendar days otherwise) or for the meal, hotel or voucher it lists on the DOT dashboard.
2. If it refuses, file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection office.
Deadline: Part 260 sets no claim deadline; the clock that matters is the airline's: it must refund within 7 business days (card) or 20 calendar days (other payment) of the request. (14 CFR 260.2 (eCFR))
Give the airline the booking reference, the flight number and date, the scheduled and actual arrival times and the names of everyone on the booking. Ask for the refund under 14 CFR 260.6, or the dashboard commitment that applies. Keep receipts. A claim company can do the same, for a share of the payout; their published fees are in the comparison guide.
What the text says
"three hours or more for domestic itineraries and six hours or more for international itineraries"
Routes under US DOT
LHR–JFK · LHR–LAX · LHR–BOS · CDG–JFK · FRA–JFK · AMS–JFK · MAD–MIA · FCO–JFK · DUB–BOS · LIS–EWR · AMS–SFO · YYZ–JFK · YVR–LAX · JFK–LAX · ORD–ATL · BOS–MIA · SFO–ORD · JFK–CUN · LAX–CUN
By distance band: Up to 1,500 km (2), 1,500 to 3,500 km (5), Over 3,500 km (12).
Sources: 14 CFR 260.2 (eCFR); 14 CFR Part 260, Refunds (eCFR); 14 CFR 250.5 (eCFR); US DOT Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard (text version). Checked 2026-10-20. General information, not legal advice.