Why this checker exists
When a flight falls apart in the United States, the airline's first offer is rarely your full legal position. Since the Department of Transportation's refund rule took effect in late 2024, a cancelled or significantly changed flight earns you an automatic cash refund if you choose not to travel - yet most passengers are still handed a voucher and told it is the best available. For Europe, claim companies will run the same check and keep 25-30% of the money. This checker runs the actual rules - US DOT, EU261 and UK261 - in about a minute, free, and tells you what to ask for. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
The US rules, in one table
| What happened | What the airline owes |
|---|---|
| Flight cancelled, any reason, and you decline the alternative | Full cash refund, automatically - 7 business days by card, 20 days otherwise |
| Significant change (3+ hours domestic, 6+ international, different airport, added stop, downgrade) and you decline | The same full refund |
| You take the rebooked / delayed flight | No refund and no cash compensation by law - but the airline's own DOT commitments (below) apply if the cause was theirs |
| Bumped involuntarily from an oversold flight | 200% of the one-way fare (cap $1,075) arriving 1-2 hours late; 400% (cap $2,150) arriving 2+ hours late - in cash or check, at the airport |
| Checked bag delayed 12+ hours (domestic) | The bag fee back, once you file a mishandled-bag report |
| Bag declared lost | Contents compensated up to $3,800 domestic (about $1,700 international) |
| Booked 7+ days ahead, changed your mind within 24 hours | Full refund or a free hold under the 24-hour rule |
The promises airlines make beyond the law
Separately from refunds, each major US airline files commitments with the DOT for disruptions within its control - crew, maintenance, IT, cleaning, fueling. The DOT holds airlines to these promises. As listed on the DOT dashboard (checked November 2026): all ten majors commit to a meal voucher after a 3-hour wait; every one of them except Frontier commits to a free hotel and ground transport when you are stuck overnight; and six - Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue and United - commit to rebooking you on a partner airline at no extra cost. None commits to cash compensation for a delay. A DOT rule effective October 19, 2026 moved ten specific causes out of the "controllable" category, which narrows when these commitments bite - one more reason to get the stated cause of your disruption in writing.
Europe and the UK pay more - and differently
Flights departing the EU or UK (and arrivals there on EU/UK airlines) sit under EU261/UK261: fixed compensation of €250-€600 (£220-£520 in the UK) by distance for 3+ hour arrival delays, most short-notice cancellations and involuntary bumping, provided the cause was not extraordinary. You can claim it yourself on the airline's own form; the claim companies in the search results charge a quarter to a third of the payout for filling in the same form.
Stuck right now? Read the companion guide: Flight Cancelled? What the Airline Owes You. Planning the trip itself: Christmas shipping deadlines for the gifts, and the Christmas Card Maker for the people.
Frequently asked questions
Does the airline have to refund me if my flight is cancelled?
Yes - if the airline cancels your flight, for any reason including weather, and you choose not to accept the rebooking or a voucher, US DOT rules require a full refund to your original payment method, including bag and seat fees, even on non-refundable tickets. Refunds must be automatic: within 7 business days for card payments and 20 days for other payment methods.
How much compensation do I get for a delayed flight in the US?
US law pays no cash compensation for delays - a proposed rule that would have added it was withdrawn in November 2025. What you get instead: a full refund if the delay is significant (3+ hours domestic, 6+ international) and you decide not to travel, or your airline's DOT-filed commitments if you do travel and the cause was the airline's fault - a meal voucher at 3+ hours at all ten majors, and a hotel if you are stuck overnight at all of them except Frontier.
What am I owed if I get bumped from an overbooked flight?
If you are bumped involuntarily from a US departure and the airline cannot get you there within an hour of schedule, federal rules (14 CFR Part 250) pay 200% of your one-way fare, capped at $1,075, for arriving 1-2 hours late, and 400%, capped at $2,150, for arriving more than 2 hours late (international thresholds are 1-4 and 4+ hours). It is payable in cash or check at the airport the same day; you may refuse a voucher. Volunteers who accept an offer get only what they negotiated.
Do I get my bag fee back if my luggage is delayed?
Yes - if your checked bag is delayed 12 hours or more on a domestic trip (15-30 hours internationally, by route), the airline must refund the bag fee once you have filed a mishandled-bag report. If the bag is declared lost, the airline must compensate the contents up to $3,800 domestic or about $1,700 under the Montreal Convention internationally.
What is the difference between the US rules and EU261?
EU261 (and the UK's UK261) pays fixed cash compensation - €250 to €600 by distance - for 3+ hour delays, most short-notice cancellations and bumping, on top of refunds and care. US rules guarantee the refund but pay no delay compensation; the only US cash amounts are for involuntary bumping and lost bags. Which system applies follows the flight - where it departs and which airline operates it - not your passport.
The airline offered me a voucher instead of a refund. Do I have to take it?
No. If you are entitled to a refund, you are entitled to it in your original form of payment. An airline may offer a voucher or credit, sometimes with a bonus on top, but accepting it is your choice. If an airline refuses a refund you believe you are owed, you can file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation, which tracks and acts on them.