Flight Compensation Guides
Plain-language guides on passenger rights, how to claim what airlines owe you, and what to do when they say no.
Showing 34 of 34 articles
Bumped From Your Flight? Here Is What You Are Owed
If you were involuntarily bumped from a flight, US DOT rules entitle you to up to 1,550 dollars in cash. EU261 gives up to 600 euros. Airlines rely on passengers not knowing these rights.
EU261 Compensation: The Complete Guide
EU Regulation 261/2004 entitles passengers to up to 600 euros for delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. US residents are fully covered on qualifying routes. Here is how to claim it.
How to Get a Refund From Your Airline
Airlines are required by law to issue cash refunds for canceled flights and significant delays. Most passengers accept vouchers without knowing they have a choice. Here is how to get the money you are owed.
AirHelp vs Doing It Yourself: Is It Worth Paying 35%?
AirHelp charges 35% of whatever you recover. On a 600 euro EU261 claim, that is 210 euros in fees. Whether paying that fee is worth it depends on your claim type, the amount at stake, and how much time you have. Here is a clear-eyed comparison.
How to File a DOT Complaint Against an Airline (and Why It Works)
The DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of thousands of complaints per year, and airlines are required to respond to every one. Filing a DOT complaint is often the single most effective step a passenger can take after a refund denial.
Overbooked Flight? Don't Accept the First Offer
Airlines legally oversell flights. If you are involuntarily bumped, federal rules mandate cash compensation of up to 1,550 dollars. Gate agents routinely understate what you are owed. Here is what to do and what to say.
Missed Your Connecting Flight? You Might Be Owed Money
Missing a connection because of an airline-caused delay can entitle you to a full refund, rebooking at no cost, and in some cases cash compensation. Whether you qualify depends on your booking and which rules apply. Here is how to claim.
Can You Get Compensation for Weather Delays?
Airlines cite "weather" to avoid paying EU261 compensation. US DOT rules still require full refunds for weather cancellations. Here is what airlines actually owe you for weather disruptions and how to push back on extraordinary circumstances denials.
How to Get a Refund from easyJet
easyJet is covered by EU261 for EU departures and UK261 for UK departures. The claim process requires your original booking email. Here is the complete step-by-step guide.
How Long Does a Flight Have to Be Delayed for Compensation?
The threshold depends on whether US DOT rules or EU261 apply to your flight. Under DOT, the magic number for domestic flights is 3 hours. EU261 sets different thresholds for different types of compensation. Here is a full breakdown.
How to Get a Refund from Ryanair
Ryanair denies first -- nearly every passenger who files an EU261 claim gets an initial rejection. Here is the complete guide to getting your EU261 compensation and Ryanair refund, and how to escalate when they say no.
Airline Offering a Voucher? Why You Should Demand Cash
When a flight is canceled, airlines almost always lead with a voucher offer. Under DOT rules, you are entitled to cash. Here is exactly why vouchers cost you money and what to say to get cash instead.
How to Get a Refund from Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines has a reputation for strong passenger care. Their refund process is more straightforward than most carriers -- here is the step-by-step guide and what Alaska's Care Policy covers.
Southwest Travel Credit vs Cash Refund: Know Your Rights
Southwest is known for flexible policies, but passengers routinely accept Travel Funds when they are legally entitled to cash. Here is how to tell the difference and how to get the refund you are owed.
How to Get a Refund from Frontier Airlines
Frontier is an ultra-low-cost carrier with aggressive change fees for voluntary modifications -- but when Frontier cancels your flight, DOT rules still require a full cash refund. Here is how to claim it.
United Canceled Your Flight? How to Get Your Money Back
United Airlines cancels thousands of flights every year. Federal rules give you the right to a full cash refund, expense reimbursement, and in some cases cash compensation. Here is how to claim every dollar you are owed.
How to Get a Refund from Spirit Airlines
Spirit's ultra-low-cost model means lots of add-on fees -- and all of them are refundable if Spirit cancels your flight. Here is the complete guide to Spirit refunds and what you are owed.
Delta Flight Delayed? Here's Exactly What to Do
Delta is the dominant carrier at Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Detroit. When your Delta flight is delayed or canceled, federal rules give you real rights. Here is exactly what to do, step by step.
How to Get a Refund from JetBlue Airways
JetBlue has a Customer Bill of Rights that automatically compensates for delays -- but it pays credits, not cash. Here is how to get your actual cash refund and Bill of Rights compensation.
How to Write an Airline Complaint Letter That Gets Results
Most airline complaint letters fail because they are vague, do not cite the right regulation, and do not state a specific demand. Here is the exact structure that works -- and a template you can adapt.
How to Get a Cash Refund from Southwest Airlines
Southwest's travel credit default is the number one source of passenger confusion. When Southwest cancels your flight, you are owed cash -- not travel funds. Here is how to get it.
Package Holiday Flight Delayed? You Have More Rights Than You Think
When you book a package holiday and the flight is disrupted, you are protected by two frameworks at once: airline passenger rights and package travel law. Most travelers only know about one of them.
How to Get a Refund from United Airlines
United has a refund form at united.com/en/us/refunds but it hides behind a sign-in popup. Here is the complete guide to United's refund and reimbursement process and what to do when it goes wrong.
Flight Canceled Due to Strike? When You Can (and Can't) Get Compensation
Strikes are the situation where EU261 compensation rules get complicated. Some strikes qualify as extraordinary circumstances. Others explicitly do not. The difference matters enormously for your claim.
How to Get a Refund from Delta Air Lines
Delta has separate forms for refunds and expense reimbursement, and they actually work. Here is the step-by-step guide to filing both claims and what to do if Delta goes quiet.
Codeshare Flight Delayed? Who's Responsible for Your Compensation
Codeshare flights add a layer of confusion to compensation claims -- you have a ticket from one airline but flew on another. Here is exactly how to figure out who to claim from and how to get paid.
How to Get a Refund from American Airlines
American Airlines has a dedicated refund form at aa.com/refunds, but the process has hidden steps most passengers miss. Here is a complete guide to getting your full cash refund.
Your Airline Went Bankrupt? Here's How to Get Your Money Back
When an airline collapses, your rights under EU261 may be suspended -- but other routes to recovering your money often exist. Here is the full recovery playbook, in order of speed and effectiveness.
Flight Canceled With Kids? What Airlines Owe Your Family
Traveling with babies or young children when a flight is canceled is genuinely difficult. But your legal rights as a family are identical to those of any other passenger -- and in some ways stronger. Here is what airlines owe you.
Flight Delayed Overnight? The Airline Should Pay for Your Hotel
If your flight is delayed overnight, you are probably entitled to a free hotel. EU261 makes this a statutory right. US airlines have committed to it voluntarily. Here is how to make them actually provide it.
Downgraded From Business Class? You're Owed a Refund
An involuntary downgrade from business or premium class is not just inconvenient -- it entitles you to a partial refund of your fare under both US DOT and EU261 rules. Most airlines count on you not knowing this.
Airline Keeps Pushing Back Your Flight? Know When It Becomes Compensable
A rolling delay is one of the most frustrating travel experiences -- and one that airlines use to avoid triggering your formal rights. Here is when the total delay makes you eligible for a refund or compensation.
Flight Canceled at the Last Minute? Do This Immediately
A last-minute cancellation is stressful and expensive. But your rights in these moments are actually stronger than most people realize. Here is exactly what to do, in order, starting right now.
Stuck on the Tarmac for 3 Hours? Here's What the Airline Owes You
The DOT tarmac delay rule is one of the strongest and most specific passenger protections in US aviation law. After 3 hours on a domestic flight, the airline must offer deplaning. Here is exactly what that means for you.