There’s a magic number of hours you have to wait before airlines are required to help you during a delay, and most travelers don’t know it.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — If you’ve ever been stuck in an airport wondering how long you’ll be stranded, there’s a little-known rule that could save you time, money, and frustration. Travel expert Katy Nastro with Going.com says once your flight hits a certain delay threshold, airlines are required to give you help or even your money back.
“If your flight is significantly delayed or outright canceled for whatever reason, whether it’s weather or operational issues, you are entitled to a refund if you decide you don’t want to travel — you just want your money back — or a rebooking on that airline,” Nastro said.
So what counts as a “significant delay”? In the U.S., the magic number is more than 3 hours for a domestic flight and 6 hours for an international one. Once you cross that line, federal rules kick in.
“Regardless of the reason behind it, you are entitled to either option,” Nastro said. “Unfortunately, in the U.S. we don’t have compensation on top of a new flight. You can’t get both a refund and a rebooking — you have to choose.”
When it comes to meals and hotel rooms, every major airline offers a meal voucher once your delay hits three hours if it’s because of a reason the airline can control like staffing. But not every airline offers a hotel if the delay stretches overnight. Ahead of 2025 holiday travel, the Department of Transportation published a breakdown of what each airline promises during controllable delays or cancellations. Controllable delays include issues like mechanical problems or staffing — anything the airline can manage, not weather.
Here’s what travelers can expect:
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for a new flight
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Credit/travel voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
Alaska Airlines does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for a new flight
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
Allegiant Air does not commit to
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for a new flight
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
American Airlines does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for a new flight
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
Delta Air Lines does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for a new flight
Frontier Airlines does not commit to
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for a new flight
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
Hawaiian Airlines does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for a new flight
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
JetBlue Airways does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for a new flight
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
Southwest Airlines does not commit to
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for a new flight
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
Spirit Airlines does not commit to
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for a new flight
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation
United Airlines does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
Commitments for Controllable Delays
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
Alaska Airlines does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
Allegiant Air does not commit to
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
American Airlines does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
Delta Air Lines does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more
Frontier Airlines does not commit to
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
Hawaiian Airlines does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
JetBlue Airways does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
Southwest Airlines does not commit to
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
Spirit Airlines does not commit to
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delay
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays
- Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays
- Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
- Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay
United Airlines does not commit to
- Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time
- Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time