Sarah Hostetler is a credit cards and travel rewards fiend who has used millions of airline miles and hotel points for luxury vacations in popular destinations such as Hawaii, Scotland, The Maldives, Dubai and more. Her work is featured on Time, The.
Sarah Hostetler Credit Cards WriterSarah Hostetler is a credit cards and travel rewards fiend who has used millions of airline miles and hotel points for luxury vacations in popular destinations such as Hawaii, Scotland, The Maldives, Dubai and more. Her work is featured on Time, The.
Written By Sarah Hostetler Credit Cards WriterSarah Hostetler is a credit cards and travel rewards fiend who has used millions of airline miles and hotel points for luxury vacations in popular destinations such as Hawaii, Scotland, The Maldives, Dubai and more. Her work is featured on Time, The.
Sarah Hostetler Credit Cards WriterSarah Hostetler is a credit cards and travel rewards fiend who has used millions of airline miles and hotel points for luxury vacations in popular destinations such as Hawaii, Scotland, The Maldives, Dubai and more. Her work is featured on Time, The.
Credit Cards Writer Toni Perkins-Southam Lead EditorToni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about sharing travel tips so that others can not only feel in.
Toni Perkins-Southam Lead EditorToni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about sharing travel tips so that others can not only feel in.
Toni Perkins-Southam Lead EditorToni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about sharing travel tips so that others can not only feel in.
Toni Perkins-Southam Lead EditorToni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about sharing travel tips so that others can not only feel in.
Updated: Jul 5, 2024, 3:13pm
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Airlines don’t love giving out compensation for flight delays. In fact, they may very well not proactively alert you when you deserve it. It’s wise to know what benefits you’re entitled to—and when you’re entitled to them.
Like other airlines, United isn’t obligated to offer compensation for most flight delays. However, as a gesture of goodwill, it still does in some situations. When your United Airlines flight is delayed or canceled, it’s a good idea to know what to expect.
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United does give compensation for flight delays and flight cancellations. And it’s not always monetary.
United is beholden to the U.S. Department of Transportation Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard.
Per the DOT, United has pledged to compensate customers for any disruption deemed “controllable”—things like maintenance or crew problems, fueling, cabin cleaning and baggage loading.
Concerning flight delays, United will:
Similarly, United will offer the following for flight cancellations:
The term “significant delay” is not formally defined by the DOT (or United, for that
matter), which leaves a bothersome amount of wiggle room for the airline. In fact, some of the most common reasons for delay, such as inclement weather, aren’t considered a “controllable” delay—meaning there are plenty of scenarios where the above coverages won’t help you.
Beyond the DOT guidelines, United is strongarmed into offering financial compensation when traveling to Europe thanks to a European Union regulation called EU 261. If your United flight originating in the European Union is delayed by three hours or more (and you haven’t received compensation, rerouting or assistance from the airline), you’re entitled to:
Meanwhile, if your flight is canceled, you can choose between:
Also note that if United offers to reroute you and you can reach your final destination with a delay of four hours or less, you’ll only get 50% of the above compensation.
For flights to and from Canada, United abides by the rules of Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations. When your flight is delayed by three hours or more or canceled (for reasons within United’s control), you’ll receive the following compensation:
There are a handful of asterisks that will disqualify you from this payout, such as previously receiving denied boarding compensation or being informed of a cancellation at least 15 days before the scheduled time of departure. You can find all the fine print at United.
So what will United pay for compensation for a domestic flight? After all, the U.S. doesn’t have stringent orders like the EU and Canada.
Just because United isn’t ordered to compensate for hiccups in its operations doesn’t mean it won’t. For example, depending on the situation, you may receive travel vouchers or fare refunds. Furthermore, United has been known to give tens of thousands of United Airlines miles to passengers who endure flight delays and cancellations.
Good customer service can be well worth taking some losses to satisfy customers. United claims that if your flight is canceled, delayed by over an hour or you miss a connection, it will actively look for ways to help you.
There are multiple ways to claim compensation for a United flight delay. The best one for you depends on things like urgency and wait time.
If you’re at the airport and have received the news of a delayed or canceled flight, you can visit a United Airlines service desk for assistance. The representative will let you know what can be done and if you qualify for compensation.
Oftentimes, when a flight is delayed or canceled, a fevered mob careens toward the nearest airline service desk. You can avoid the spectacle by calling United’s reservations number at 800-864-8331. Press “3” for existing reservations.
Alternatively, you can chat with United from its website via an instant messenger feature.
Upon learning about your delay, open the United app. You may find that United has loaded it with alternate flight options that you can select with just a few taps. You may not get cash for your trouble, but you may still be able to arrive at your destination at an acceptable time.
One way to combat flight delays and cancellations is by booking travel with one of the best travel insurance credit cards . You can receive hundreds of dollars for things that airlines don’t cover.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers up to $500 per ticket in eligible expenses after a delay of six hours or an overnight stay. You can use this for things like food, hotel stay and even medication.
Similarly, the United℠ Explorer Card also offers up to $500 in reimbursements for food, lodging etc. for a delay of at least 12 hours (or an overnight stay). Plus, it comes with United-specific benefits like preferred boarding and the first checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation when you pay for the cash portion of your flight with the card.
For many situations, United isn’t obligated to compensate you for a delayed flight. They will, however, work with you to rebook your flights and get you to your destination at a reasonable time. And if you’re lucky, they may offer United miles or some form of a refund—just to keep a customer.
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Credit Cards WriterSarah Hostetler is a credit cards and travel rewards fiend who has used millions of airline miles and hotel points for luxury vacations in popular destinations such as Hawaii, Scotland, The Maldives, Dubai and more. Her work is featured on Time, The Points Guy, CNBC, Insider and various points and miles blogs.
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