Many travelers remain unaware of a crucial timeframe that compels airlines to assist during delays, potentially saving them both time and money.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — When stuck at the airport, uncertain about how long the wait might be, there’s an under-the-radar rule that could alleviate your troubles. According to travel expert Katy Nastro from Going.com, once flight delays surpass a particular duration, airlines must offer assistance or even issue refunds.
“Should your flight experience a significant delay or be outright canceled, regardless of the cause—be it weather or operational issues—you are entitled to request a refund if you choose not to travel, or you can opt for a rebooking with the airline,” Nastro explained.
But what exactly qualifies as a “significant delay”? In the United States, this threshold is set at over three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones. Crossing this threshold triggers federal regulations.
“No matter the cause, you’re entitled to choose between these options,” Nastro noted. “Unlike some other countries, in the U.S., we don’t receive additional compensation alongside a new flight. You must decide between a refund or a rebooking, not both.”
Regarding meal and accommodation provisions, major airlines generally supply a meal voucher after a three-hour delay if it results from controllable factors like staffing. However, not all airlines extend hotel accommodations for overnight delays. As 2025 holiday travel approaches, the Department of Transportation has outlined what each airline pledges for controllable delays or cancellations, which include issues like mechanical failures or staffing, excluding weather-related problems.
Here’s what travelers can expect:
Alaska Airlines’ Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
- 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
Allegiant Air’s Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
- 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
American Airlines’ Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
- 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
Delta Air Lines’ Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
- 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
Frontier Airlines’ Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
- 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
Hawaiian Airlines’ Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
- 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
JetBlue Airways’ Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
- 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
Southwest Airlines’ Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
- 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
Spirit Airlines’ Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
- 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
United Airlines’ Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
- 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
Alaska Airlines’ 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
Allegiant Air’s Commitments for Controllable Delays
- 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
American Airlines’ 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
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
Delta Air Lines’ 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
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
Frontier Airlines’ Commitments for Controllable Delays
- 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
Hawaiian Airlines’ 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
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
JetBlue Airways’ 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
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
Southwest Airlines’ Commitments for Controllable Delays
- 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
Spirit Airlines’ Commitments for Controllable Delays
- 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
United Airlines’ 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
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
