When an airline causes your delay or cancellation, Delta, American and United all commit to rebooking you at no extra cost, and each covers meals and an overnight hotel in some form. Weather and air traffic control disruptions fall outside those commitments, so the first question at the gate is who caused the delay.
This guide compares what the three written policies say. For the steps to take in the first hour and what you can claim afterward, read what to do when your flight is canceled or delayed.
What "Within the Airline's Control" Means
Each airline's commitments apply to disruptions it controls, such as crew scheduling, aircraft availability and unscheduled maintenance. Weather and air traffic control restrictions don't count. For those, expect rebooking help but plan on paying for your own meals and hotel.
The airline decides the cause, and its app doesn't always show it. If a hotel or meal matters to you, ask the agent to confirm the cause before you pay for anything yourself.
Delta Air Lines
Delta's Customer Service Plan says it will rebook you on the next available Delta flight at no additional cost, and on a partner airline if no Delta flight is available. Meals or meal vouchers apply when you wait 3 or more hours beyond the scheduled departure time.
If an overnight stay is needed, Delta provides a hotel at a Delta-contracted property, based on availability, plus ground transportation. If none is available and you book your own, it will reimburse reasonable hotel and ground transportation costs. Delta representatives may also offer gift cards, travel credits or miles when circumstances warrant, but that is discretionary.
American Airlines
American's Customer Service Plan lists meal vouchers when your delay reaches 3 or more hours after the scheduled departure. For an overnight disruption it caused, American provides a voucher for an approved hotel with available rooms.
If you book a hotel on your own, you can submit a reimbursement request for a disruption within American's control, and each request is reviewed. Booking directly without written authorization means reimbursement isn't guaranteed. Check the plan for when American moves you to another airline, since that depends on how soon its own flights can get you there.
United Airlines
United's Customer Commitment covers free rebooking, meal vouchers for long waits and a hotel with ground transportation when an airline-caused disruption leaves you overnight. Confirm the current meal threshold and hotel terms on United's Customer Commitment page before you travel, because the details sit in the text rather than the headline.
What the Federal Refund Rule Adds
Separate from any airline plan, U.S. Department of Transportation rules require a refund to your original form of payment when the airline cancels your flight or significantly changes it and you decline the alternative. A significant change includes a departure or arrival shift of more than 3 hours on a domestic flight or 6 hours on an international one. Refunds are due within 7 business days for card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.
An airline can't hand you a voucher in place of that refund unless you agree to it. For how that rule fits with EU rules and card coverage, see our flight compensation guide.
Before You Fly
Save the airline's current plan page as a screenshot, keep every receipt and ask for authorization in writing before you book a hotel on your own. If a delay is your airline's fault and it hasn't offered a meal or room you're entitled to, ask for it by name from the plan above.
Updated October 17, 2026: airline policies.
