Will the airline pay me compensation for a delay?

Usually not. There's no US federal law that pays cash compensation just because a flight was late or cancelled. What US rules give you is a refund when the airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you don't travel, bag fee refunds, bumping compensation, baggage damages and the meals and hotels some airlines have promised for delays they caused.

What counts as a significant change?

Under the DOT refund rule (14 CFR Part 260): a departure or arrival moved by 3+ hours on a domestic trip or 6+ hours internationally, a different airport, extra connections, or a downgrade, among others. If you don't accept the change or another offer, you're owed a refund to your original payment method.

What do I get for $14.99?

One price for the whole booking: the DOT refund demand, a bag-fee refund request, a claim quoting your airline's DOT dashboard promises, a credit card trip-delay benefit claim with a document checklist, and a Fair Credit Billing Act chargeback letter, whichever apply. A DOT complaint draft and small-claims summary are included at no extra cost. We draft; you send.

Can I do this myself for free?

Yes. You can write to the airline and file with the DOT for free. We put the right rules, amounts and wording in one place so you don't have to look them up.

Do you contact the airline for me?

No. We draft; you send. The outcome depends on the airline (and your card issuer, if you dispute the charge).

US flights · DOT rules

Flight cancelled or changed? Find out what the airline owes you.

A free check against the DOT refund rules. Then one price per booking ($14.99) for your Owed-Everything packet. We draft; you send.

Straight answer: US law doesn't pay cash compensation for a plain delay. It does require refunds, bag fee refunds and bumping compensation, and many airlines promise meals and hotels when the delay was their fault.

We draft; you send. DelayWin prepares documents from the rules and the details you enter. We're not an airline, regulator or card issuer, and we don't contact anyone for you. Outcomes depend on the airline and your card issuer. Check every document before you send it.

Free US eligibility check

What happened? *Airline *

Flight number *From (airport) *To (airport) *Trip type *Flight dateHow many hours late / changed?What did you do? *Airline's fault (crew, maintenance…)?Total ticket price ($)Paid extras: seats, bags, Wi-Fi ($)Meals/hotel you paid for ($)Paid by credit card?Lead passenger name *Email *Confirmation codeOther passengers on this booking, one per lineWhat happened, in a few lines

Your result appears here. It's free and built from the DOT rules, not guesswork.

How it works

1. Free check
We apply the DOT refund, bag and bumping rules, plus your airline's own promises.
2. $14.99 per booking
Owed-Everything packet: refund, bag fee, airline promises, card benefit, chargeback.
3. If they say no
Free escalation pack: DOT complaint, chargeback letter, small claims.

Keep 100% of your refund

What the airline owes you: $400.00

Option	You pay	You keep
DelayWin (We draft; you send.) One flat fee per booking.	$14.99	$385.01
AirHelp (35% incl. VAT) 35% fee from AirHelp's published fee page (checked 16 October 2026). Mainly built for EU/UK compensation. Source	$140.00	$260.00
Travel-claim membership Typical range $180–250 per year (midpoint shown). Not a quote from any specific provider.	$215.00	$400.00*
Do it yourself + DOT form Free. You find the rules and write it yourself. Source	$0.00	$400.00

* A membership is an annual cost, not taken from your refund. Under US rules the refund itself goes to you in full whichever option you pick.

Your options, honestly

Option	Cost	What you get
Do it yourself + DOT form	Free	Write to the airline and file at the DOT complaint form yourself. Source
DelayWin	$14.99 per booking	Free check against the DOT rules, then the Owed-Everything packet; DOT complaint draft and small-claims summary included. We draft; you send. Every dollar refunded goes to you.
Percentage claim services	A share of the payout (AirHelp: 35% incl. VAT)	Mainly built around EU/UK compensation. A US refund is money the airline must return to you anyway. Source

Fees as published on 16 October 2026. Check the provider's site for current terms.

Refund guides for US airlines

Questions

Will the airline pay me compensation for a delay?: Usually not. There's no US federal law that pays cash compensation just because a flight was late or cancelled. What US rules give you is a refund when the airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you don't travel, bag fee refunds, bumping compensation, baggage damages and the meals and hotels some airlines have promised for delays they caused.
What counts as a significant change?: Under the DOT refund rule (14 CFR Part 260): a departure or arrival moved by 3+ hours on a domestic trip or 6+ hours internationally, a different airport, extra connections, or a downgrade, among others. If you don't accept the change or another offer, you're owed a refund to your original payment method.
What do I get for $14.99?: One price for the whole booking: the DOT refund demand, a bag-fee refund request, a claim quoting your airline's DOT dashboard promises, a credit card trip-delay benefit claim with a document checklist, and a Fair Credit Billing Act chargeback letter, whichever apply. A DOT complaint draft and small-claims summary are included at no extra cost. We draft; you send.
Can I do this myself for free?: Yes. You can write to the airline and file with the DOT for free. We put the right rules, amounts and wording in one place so you don't have to look them up.
Do you contact the airline for me?: No. We draft; you send. The outcome depends on the airline (and your card issuer, if you dispute the charge).

Sources: 14 CFR Part 260: Refunds for Airline Fare and Ancillary Service Fees (eCFR) · DOT final rule 'Refunds and Other Consumer Protections', 89 FR (26 Apr 2024) · 14 CFR 250.5: Denied boarding compensation (eCFR) · DOT: Bumping & Oversales · DOT: Lost, Delayed, or Damaged Baggage · 14 CFR 254.4: Domestic baggage liability ($4,700) (eCFR) · DOT: Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard · DOT: Air Travel Complaints · DOT Office of Aviation Consumer Protection complaint form · 14 CFR 259.7: Response to consumer problems (eCFR) · CFPB: How do I dispute a charge on my credit card bill?