Air Passenger Rights 2026: What You Get for a Delayed, Cancelled or Overbooked Flight (DOT, EU261 and What Changed)
A delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight usually triggers a right to a cash refund or compensation, but most travelers never claim it. In the US, the Department of Transportation rules in force since 2024-2025 require an automatic cash refund when a flight is cancelled or significantly changed. In Europe, EU261 pays a fixed €250 to €600 for a delay over three hours or a cancellation without 14 days' notice. This guide shows how much you get, when the airline can escape, how to claim without a lawyer and the deadline for each request in 2026.
Curadoria Voyspark · Jun 02
Flight delayed or canceled in 2026: how to claim a refund (EU261 and US DOT)
In May 2026, EU261 still pays €250 to €600 per passenger for flights delayed 3h+ or canceled with less than 14 days' notice (departing from the EU or arriving in the EU on a European carrier). The US DOT only mandated automatic cash refunds in October 2024. AirHelp and ClaimCompass charge 25-50% of the recovered amount — worth it or not depends.
Curadoria Voyspark · May 20
2 articles · #eu261