What are my rights on getting a refund?

How much compensation am I entitled to if my flight is delayed?

Airlines must pay you compensation based on the length of your delay, which is determined by your arrival time at the final destination on your ticket. Large airlines must pay: $400 if the passenger arrives three or more hours late, but less than six hours.

What is the 3 hour rule for airlines?

Passenger Rights and Tarmac Delay Rules

Airlines must return planes to the gate and let passengers off before a flight is sitting on the tarmac for three hours (domestic flights) or four hours (international flights).

What is the airline refund rule?

Airlines must issue refunds within 7 business days for credit card payments and 20 calendar days for other payment methods like cash, miles, or vouchers.

What proof do I need for a flight delay claim?

Essential Documentation for Flight Delay Compensation

Boarding Passes: Keep your boarding passes as proof of your presence on the affected flight. Ticket Confirmation or Itinerary: Provide the confirmation or itinerary details to validate your booking and flight details.

What is a typical refund policy?

Your policy should state the condition items must be in to be eligible for a return, such as being in original packaging and in good condition. This helps prevent disputes and ensures returned items can be resold. Most businesses will only accept items in pristine, new condition, with all the tags and wrappings intact.

What is the refund policy in Germany?

In Germany, you have a legal 14-day "cooling-off" period for online/distance purchases, allowing no-questions-asked returns, but for in-store purchases, there's generally no legal right to return items unless they're faulty; however, many stores offer voluntary returns (voucher/exchange/refund) if advertised, requiring proof of purchase like a receipt. For defective goods, German law provides a minimum two-year warranty, giving you rights to repair, replacement, or refund. 

What can I do if a company won't refund me?

These strategies and this sample complaint letter can help you get your money back or reach another resolution.

1. Go Back to the Store or Website.
2. Write a Letter.
3. Get Outside Help.
4. Post an Online Review.
5. Consider Dispute Resolution Alternatives.

What are the laws around refunds?

A refund should be the full amount the consumer paid for the product. The business must not deduct an amount from a refund to take into account the use a consumer has had of the product.

Can you force a company to give you a refund?

In the U.S., there's no federal law that says merchants have to accept returns. However, retailers are required to provide a repair, exchange, or refund if a product is defective. And under the FTC's “cooling off” rule, you have the right to cancel some sales within three days of the purchase and get a full refund.

What is refund abuse?

Returns abuse is when customers take advantage of or exploit a business's returns policy for profit or material gain. Some common types of returns abuse include: Wardrobing: Using an item, then returning it for a refund. This is common for clothing items, electronics, and other goods.

What does the consumer protection act say about refunds?

Consumers have the right to return unsafe or defective goods and request a full refund for such goods, provided this is done within a reasonable period.

What is the maximum compensation for a flight delay?

The amount of flight delay compensation United States travelers can claim varies. There's a maximum of $650 (excluding accommodation and food costs, which airlines may have to cover). But even short delays can incur penalties of $200 or more.

How to prove return flight?

Option 1: Buy a return or onward ticket in advance

And beyond just booking it, make sure you have solid PROOF too. A paper copy of a bus, train or plane ticket would probably be easiest to have and show off, but make sure you have digital copies on your phone too (screenshots, people!) just in case.

What are the rights of a delayed flight in the EU?

If your flight is delayed, you might be entitled to financial compensation. The amount of compensation is between €250 and €600 per passenger, depending on the distance of the flight. You are also entitled to free of charge refreshments and beverages in a reasonable relation to the waiting time.

What to do if an airline refuses to refund your money?

If you can't resolve the problem at the airport, you may want to file a complaint with the airline. DOT requires airlines to acknowledge consumer complaints within 30 days of receiving them and to send consumers written responses addressing these complaints within 60 days of receiving them.

Are airlines allowed to refuse refunds?

Under the consumer guarantees, a consumer isn't entitled to a refund or replacement if they change their mind or miss the travel service due to no fault of the travel service provider. Airlines have compensation policies that set out what they'll do if a flight is delayed or cancelled.

Do airlines no longer have to compensate for delayed flights?

The Trump administration has officially withdrawn a proposal that would have compensated airline passengers for significant delays caused by issues within a carrier's control. Though the move was announced in September, the Transportation Department formalized it in the Federal Register on Monday.

How long can they make you sit on a plane?

For flights landing at U.S. airports, airlines are required to provide passengers with an opportunity to safely get off of the airplane before 3 hours for domestic flights and 4 hours for international flights.

Do airlines give refunds for delays?

Schedule Change/Significant Delay - A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline significantly delays a flight or significantly changes a flight and the consumer chooses not to travel or accept travel credits, vouchers, or other forms of compensation offered by the airline.

How much compensation do you get for a 3 hour flight delay?

Last Updated 10th November 2025 . You can claim up to £520 per passenger in flight delay compensation if your flight arrived at its destination at least 3 hours late and the delay was the airline's fault and not an “extraordinary circumstance.”