US passenger rights

US federal rules focus on refunds and involuntary denied boarding; ordinary delay and cancellation amenities often depend on airline commitments.

USUS Passenger RightsRules reviewed August 2026

When US rules apply

Flights to, from or within the United States, with the exact rule depending on the itinerary and operating carrier.
DOT refund rules apply when an airline cancels or significantly changes a flight and the passenger declines the offered alternative.
Federal denied-boarding compensation applies to eligible passengers involuntarily bumped because a flight is oversold.

Delay, cancellation and denied boarding

There is no general US federal requirement for cash compensation solely because a flight is delayed or cancelled.
If the airline cancels or makes a significant change and you do not accept rebooking, credit or another alternative, an automatic refund is generally required.
A significant change includes a departure or arrival shift of 3+ hours domestically or 6+ hours internationally, among other listed changes.
Meals, hotels and rebooking during controllable disruptions usually depend on each airline’s enforceable customer-service commitments shown on the DOT dashboard.

At a glance

US involuntary denied-boarding compensation

Replacement arrival delay	Payment	Permitted cap
Domestic: 0–1 hour / International: 0–1 hour	No required payment	—
Domestic: 1–2 hours / International: 1–4 hours	200% of one-way fare	US$1,075
Domestic: over 2 hours / International: over 4 hours	400% of one-way fare	US$2,150
No substitute transport offered	400% of one-way fare	US$2,150

Important limits and exclusions

Volunteers who accept an airline’s offer negotiate their own benefit and are not covered by the involuntary-bumping payment table.
Aircraft substitutions, weight or balance restrictions on small aircraft, missed check-in/document requirements and some other cases can remove denied-boarding compensation eligibility.
Passengers who accept and travel on the significantly changed or alternative flight generally do not receive a ticket refund under the DOT rule.

Official basis

US DOT refunds guidance

US DOT refunds guidance US DOT bumping and oversales guidance

Information, not legal advice

Rules can change and outcomes depend on the operating airline, itinerary, notice, cause and evidence. This guide is general information only and is not legal advice. Check the current official source before making a claim.