The 60-second rulebook
- EU261 (EU carriers or flights departing EU): 3+ hours late on arrival = €250 / €400 / €600 in cash, per passenger, if the cause was in the airline's control.
- US DOT 2024 rule: If your flight is delayed 3+ hours domestic (6+ hours international) and you choose not to travel, the airline must automatically refund the ticket in cash — not a voucher.
- UK261: Mirrors EU261 in £ for flights departing the UK.
- Canada APPR: C$125–C$1,000 for 3+ hour delays on large carriers when within their control.
- All jurisdictions: Weather, ATC, and security waive statutory compensation — but never waive your right to a rebook or refund of unused segments.
What to do in the first 10 minutes
- Document the delay. Screenshot the departure board and the airline's status page. Note the scheduled and actual times.
- Ask the gate agent for the reason. "Crew," "maintenance," "aircraft" — those are compensable. "Weather," "ATC," "ground stop" — not statutory, still owed a rebook.
- Do not take a voucher unless it's at least 25% more than the cash value. Vouchers expire; cash doesn't.
- Call us before the airline queue clears. The airline can only rebook you on its own metal. Our desk sees partner and consolidator inventory the airline can't put you on.
EU261 compensation table (2026)
| Flight distance | Delay threshold | Cash compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | 3+ hours | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (or intra-EU 1,500+) | 3+ hours | €400 |
| 3,500+ km (non-intra-EU) | 3–4 hours | €300 |
| 3,500+ km (non-intra-EU) | 4+ hours | €600 |
US DOT 2024 refund rule — what changed
Before October 2024, US airlines could push travel credit on delayed passengers who declined to travel. The DOT's new rule kills that: any flight with a 3+ hour domestic delay or a 6+ hour international delay must be refunded automatically, in the original payment method, within 7 business days for a credit card and 20 for other methods — no forms, no phone calls, no exceptions. If you're at the gate watching a rolling delay pile up past the threshold, you have a right to walk away and be paid back in cash.
When to call instead of waiting in line
Call the moment either of these is true:
- The airline's queue is more than 6 deep, or the wait exceeds 15 minutes.
- Your original itinerary is international, premium cabin, or multi-city — the reroute window is narrow and consolidator inventory closes fast.
- You're at a spoke airport with only 1–2 daily flights on the route; the next same-carrier option is tomorrow but a partner carrier may still have seats today.
- You need a hotel and don't want to argue for it at the counter.
How CheapoTrav's rebook desk works
- You call. One US-based number, live agent in under 60 seconds.
- We pull your PNR. Read us the record locator or confirmation number.
- Reroute quote in parallel. Every option the airline can put you on, plus partner and consolidator inventory the airline's own agent can't see.
- Reissue on airline stock. Same passenger name, same loyalty number, real e-ticket. Weeks-out or two-hours-out, same process.
- No booking fee. You pay any fare difference at cost, not a marked-up total.
FAQ
Am I entitled to compensation for a delayed flight?
It depends on the jurisdiction, the cause, and the length of the delay. Under EU261 you're owed €250–€600 in cash for delays of 3+ hours arriving in the EU on an EU carrier (or any carrier departing the EU) when the cause is within the airline's control. In the US, the DOT's 2024 rule now requires automatic cash refunds for cancellations and 'significant' delays (3+ hours domestic, 6+ hours international) when you choose not to travel — but there is no fixed statutory delay-compensation figure the way EU261 provides.
What counts as 'within the airline's control'?
Crew shortages, maintenance issues, IT outages, and most scheduling problems. Weather, air-traffic control decisions, security incidents, and bird strikes are 'extraordinary circumstances' and typically waive statutory compensation — but the airline still owes you a rebook, a refund of unused segments, and (on longer waits) meals and accommodation.
What are US airlines required to give me during a long delay?
Under each carrier's DOT-filed customer service plan (now enforceable), the top ten US airlines commit to: rebook you on their own next available flight at no cost, provide meal vouchers on 3+ hour delays, and cover hotel + ground transport on overnight delays when the cause is within their control. Cash compensation is discretionary except for the DOT refund rule triggered when you decline to travel.
How much is EU261 delay compensation in 2026?
€250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other flights 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for flights over 3,500 km — with a 50% reduction on the €600 tier if the airline gets you there within four hours of the scheduled arrival. Compensation is per passenger, in cash on request (not a voucher), and separate from the refund of the unused ticket if you don't travel.
Should I accept a voucher or take cash?
Take cash unless the voucher is at least 25–30% larger and you're certain to redeem it within its (usually 12-month) validity. Vouchers are non-transferable, often restrict which fare buckets they apply to, and have historically been the biggest gap between what passengers accept and what they were legally owed.
How fast can CheapoTrav rebook me?
Typical rebook time on our desk is 6–12 minutes from the moment you call. We pull your PNR, quote every reroute option the airline's own system shows plus consolidator alternatives on partner carriers, and reissue on the airline's stock. No booking fee, US-based agents, 24/7.