What Happens If My Flight Is Delayed? Your Complete Guide to Rights, Compensation, and Next Steps

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Few things ruin travel plans faster than seeing that dreaded word “Delayed” flash across the airport departure board. Whether you’re rushing to a business meeting, heading to a wedding, or finally starting a long-awaited vacation, a delay throws a wrench into everything. So what happens if your flight is delayed, and more importantly, what should you actually do about it?

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what happens behind the scenes when a flight is delayed, what your legal rights are in the US, EU, UK, and Canada, how to claim compensation, and the practical steps you should take at the airport to protect your trip. We’ll also cover missed connections, travel insurance, and the situations where airlines owe you nothing at all.

Flight delays are frustrating, but knowing your rights and the right steps to take can turn a stressful situation into a manageable one, and sometimes even put money back in your pocket.

What Counts as a Flight Delay?

A flight delay happens whenever your aircraft departs or arrives later than the time originally scheduled on your ticket. That said, not all delays are treated equally. Airlines, regulators, and insurance companies typically classify delays by length of time:

Short delay: Under 2 hours, usually minor operational adjustments
Moderate delay: 2 to 4 hours, often triggers airline meal or refreshment policies
Long delay: Over 4 hours, may trigger compensation rules depending on where you’re flying
Overnight delay: Requires rebooking to the next day, often includes hotel accommodation

The cause of the delay matters just as much as its length. A delay caused by the airline’s own operational issue, such as a mechanical problem or crew scheduling error, is treated very differently from a delay caused by a snowstorm or an air traffic control strike.

What Happens If My Flight Is Delayed?

So, what happens if your flight is delayed? The short answer is that it depends on the length of the delay, the cause, and which country’s aviation rules apply to your route. Generally, here’s the sequence of events you can expect:

The airline updates the departure board and sends a notification through its app, email, or text if you’ve provided contact details
Gate agents receive updated instructions, though they often know only slightly more than what’s posted publicly
If the delay stretches past a certain threshold, the airline may offer meal vouchers, lounge access, or rebooking options
For delays likely to exceed several hours, the airline works to find you an alternative flight, sometimes on a partner airline
If the delay pushes into overnight territory, the airline may arrange (or reimburse) hotel accommodation, depending on the cause and your location

Behind the scenes, airlines are juggling aircraft rotations, crew duty-time limits, and gate availability. A delay in one city often ripples across an airline’s entire network, which is why a two-hour delay can sometimes balloon into something much longer. As a result, the information you receive at the gate may change multiple times before departure.

Why Do Flights Get Delayed?

Understanding the cause of your delay is crucial because it directly affects whether you’re entitled to compensation. Common causes include:

Weather: Storms, fog, snow, or high winds at the departure or arrival airport
Air traffic control restrictions: Congestion or staffing shortages that slow the flow of departures
Mechanical issues: Technical problems discovered during pre-flight checks
Crew availability: Pilots or flight attendants reaching legal duty-time limits
Late-arriving aircraft: The plane assigned to your flight is still en route from a previous journey
Airport operational issues: Security delays, runway closures, or ground staff shortages

Weather and air traffic control delays are usually classified as “extraordinary circumstances” outside the airline’s control, which typically means no compensation is owed, even though you may still be entitled to care such as meals or hotel stays. Mechanical and crew-related delays, however, are considered within the airline’s control, and that’s where compensation rules usually kick in.

Immediate Steps to Take When Your Flight Is Delayed

The moment you notice a delay, your first few actions can make a big difference in how smoothly the rest of your day goes. Here’s a practical checklist:

1. Check Your Airline’s App or Website First

Airline apps often update faster than airport screens. In addition, most airlines let you rebook directly through the app without waiting in a customer service line, which can save you an hour or more during a major disruption.

2. Get in Line and Get on the Phone Simultaneously

If you need to speak with an agent, do both at once: join the line at the gate or service desk while also calling the airline’s customer service number or messaging them on social media. Whichever channel responds first, use it.

3. Know the Next Available Flights

Before you even talk to an agent, look up alternative flights on your own (using a flight status app or the airline’s booking page). If you can suggest a specific flight number, agents can often rebook you faster.

4. Ask About Meal and Hotel Vouchers

Airlines aren’t always proactive about offering compensation for your time. Ask directly whether meal vouchers, lounge passes, or hotel accommodation are available, especially if the delay stretches past three or four hours or into overnight hours.

5. Keep All Documentation

Save your boarding pass, any text or email notifications about the delay, and receipts for meals or transportation you paid for out of pocket. This documentation becomes essential if you later file a compensation claim or an insurance claim.

6. Consider Your Connecting Flights

If you have a connection booked on the same ticket, contact the airline immediately to see if they can protect your onward flight or rebook you on a later connection. If your connection was booked separately, you may need to make new arrangements yourself, which is why travel insurance and buffer time between flights matter so much.

Your Rights When a Flight Is Delayed

Passenger rights for flight delays vary significantly depending on where you depart from, where you’re flying to, and which airline you’re using. Let’s break down the major regions.

United States: Domestic Flight Delays

Unlike many other regions, the United States does not have a federal law requiring airlines to pay cash compensation for delays. Instead, the Department of Transportation requires airlines to publish and follow their own customer service commitments, which typically include:

Rebooking on the next available flight at no extra cost
Meal vouchers for delays typically over three hours, depending on airline policy
Hotel accommodation for overnight delays caused by the airline itself
Refunds if you choose not to travel after a significant delay

Since 2024, the DOT has pushed airlines to be more transparent through its Airline Customer Service Dashboard, which compares what each major US carrier guarantees for controllable delays and cancellations. It’s worth checking this dashboard before you fly, since guarantees genuinely differ between airlines. Some carriers offer generous hotel and meal policies, while others offer very little beyond rebooking.

European Union: EU261 Regulation

The EU has some of the strongest passenger protection rules in the world under EU Regulation 261/2004, commonly known as EU261. This regulation applies to:

Any flight departing from an EU airport, regardless of the airline’s nationality
Any flight arriving into the EU on an EU-based airline

Under EU261, if your flight arrives at your destination three hours or more after the scheduled time, and the delay was within the airline’s control, you may be entitled to compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance:

€250: Flights of 1,500 km or less
€400: Flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km
€600: Flights over 3,500 km with a delay of four hours or more

In addition to compensation, EU261 requires airlines to provide meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation for long delays, regardless of the cause, as long as the flight falls under EU jurisdiction.

United Kingdom: UK261

After Brexit, the UK adopted its own version of EU261, often called UK261, which applies to flights departing UK airports or arriving in the UK on a UK-based airline. The compensation amounts and time thresholds are nearly identical to the EU rules, so UK travelers benefit from similarly strong protections.

Canada: Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR)

Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations require airlines to compensate passengers for delays within the airline’s control, with amounts depending on the airline’s size and the length of delay, generally ranging from CAD 125 to CAD 1,000. Airlines must also provide standardized treatment such as food, drink, and communication access during lengthy delays.

Other Regions

Countries such as Brazil, Turkey, and several others have their own passenger rights frameworks with varying compensation thresholds. If you’re flying internationally, it’s worth checking whether your departure or arrival country has specific consumer protection rules that apply to your itinerary.

Compensation for Flight Delays: What You Can Actually Get

Compensation isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Here’s a breakdown of what you might receive depending on your circumstances.

Cash Compensation

Available primarily under EU261, UK261, and Canada’s APPR when the delay is within the airline’s control and exceeds the relevant time threshold (usually three to four hours, depending on the framework).

Meal and Refreshment Vouchers

Many airlines offer meal vouchers once a delay passes a certain length, commonly three hours, though this varies by carrier and region. In the EU and UK, meals and refreshments are mandatory for long delays regardless of cause.

Hotel Accommodation

If your delay pushes into overnight hours and you’re stuck at your departure or connecting airport, many airlines will cover a hotel room, particularly when the delay was caused by something within their control. Always ask specifically, since this isn’t always offered automatically.

Rebooking on a Different Flight or Airline

Airlines will typically rebook you free of charge on their next available flight. During major disruptions, some carriers will also rebook you on a partner airline or even a competitor if that gets you to your destination faster, though this depends on interline agreements.

Refunds

If a delay is long enough that the trip no longer makes sense for you, most regulations and airline policies allow you to request a full refund instead of rebooking, even for non-refundable tickets.

When Are You NOT Entitled to Compensation?

It’s important to set realistic expectations. There are several situations where airlines are not legally required to pay compensation, even though the delay is still inconvenient:

Extraordinary circumstances: Severe weather, natural disasters, air traffic control strikes, or security threats
Delays under the compensation threshold: Typically under 3 hours in the EU/UK framework
Domestic US flights: Since there’s no federal cash compensation law, you’re limited to whatever the airline’s own policy promises
Delays you were notified about well in advance: Some frameworks reduce or eliminate compensation if you were informed weeks ahead of time
Connecting flights on separate tickets: If you booked two separate reservations and miss a connection due to a delay on the first ticket, the second airline typically owes you nothing

This last point is one of the most common and costly mistakes travelers make. Booking connecting flights as one single itinerary through the same airline or alliance, rather than as two disconnected tickets, gives you far more protection if something goes wrong.

How to Claim Compensation for a Delayed Flight

If you believe you’re entitled to compensation, here’s how the claims process usually works:

Step 1: Gather Your Documentation

Collect your boarding pass, booking confirmation, any delay notifications, and receipts for expenses incurred because of the delay.

Step 2: Confirm the Cause of the Delay

Airlines are required to disclose the reason for a delay upon request. This information determines whether your delay counts as “controllable” or an “extraordinary circumstance.”

Step 3: File a Claim Directly With the Airline

Most airlines have an online form specifically for delay or cancellation compensation claims. Submit your claim promptly, including your booking reference, flight number, and a clear explanation of what happened.

Step 4: Escalate If Necessary

If the airline denies your claim or doesn’t respond within a reasonable time (usually 30 to 60 days), you can escalate to a national aviation authority or a consumer protection body. In the EU and UK, this means filing with the relevant national enforcement body. In the US, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

Step 5: Consider a Claims Assistance Service

Several companies specialize in pursuing airline compensation claims on your behalf, usually in exchange for a percentage of the payout. This can be worth it if the airline is being unresponsive, though you’ll get to keep more money by filing the claim yourself if you have the time and patience.

Travel Insurance and Flight Delays

Travel insurance can be a genuine lifesaver during long delays, but only if you understand what your policy actually covers. Most standard travel insurance policies include a “trip delay” benefit that reimburses you for reasonable expenses like meals, hotels, and toiletries once a delay passes a certain threshold, commonly 6 or 12 hours depending on the policy.

What Travel Insurance Typically Covers

Meals and accommodation during a covered delay
Reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable activities or hotel nights missed because of the delay
Rebooking costs if you need to purchase a new ticket due to a missed connection
Emergency transportation to reach your destination

Some premium travel credit cards also include built-in trip delay protection, often with better terms than what you’d get from a basic add-on insurance policy. It’s worth checking your card’s benefits guide before you fly, since you might already have coverage you’re not using.

What Travel Insurance Doesn’t Cover

Travel insurance generally won’t reimburse you twice for something the airline has already covered, and most policies require documentation such as a written statement from the airline confirming the delay’s length and cause. In addition, most policies exclude delays caused by events you knew about before booking your trip, such as a strike that was already in the news or a hurricane that had already formed and was being tracked by meteorologists. If you booked your trip after that risk became public knowledge, insurers will likely deny the claim on the grounds that it was a foreseeable event rather than a covered surprise.

Policies also typically exclude delays caused by your own actions, like showing up late to the airport or missing a connection because you didn’t leave enough buffer time between flights. Insurers expect you to build in reasonable layover times, and if you booked a 40-minute connection that fell apart the moment your first flight was delayed by 20 minutes, some insurers may argue that the itinerary itself was the risk, not the airline.

How to File a Travel Insurance Claim for a Flight Delay

Filing a travel insurance claim isn’t complicated, but it does require paperwork, and the process moves a lot faster if you gather documentation while you’re still at the airport rather than trying to reconstruct everything weeks later from memory. Here’s the basic process most insurers follow:

Get written proof of the delay. Ask a gate agent for a delay or cancellation letter, or take a screenshot of the airline’s app or the airport’s departure board showing the updated time and the reason for the delay.
Save every receipt. Meals, hotel rooms, transportation, even phone charges at an airport kiosk can sometimes be reimbursed. Keep physical receipts or photograph them immediately since thermal paper receipts fade within days.
Contact your insurer promptly. Many policies have a window, often 20 to 30 days, for filing a claim after the incident. Don’t wait until you’re back from your whole trip if the policy requires earlier notification.
Submit the claim online or by mail. Most insurers now have online portals where you upload documents directly, which speeds up processing considerably compared to mailing physical paperwork.
Follow up if you don’t hear back. Claims can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to process, and it’s reasonable to check in if you haven’t received a response after two to three weeks.

Keep in mind that travel insurance reimburses you after the fact. It’s not a substitute for having a backup credit card or some cash on hand to cover unexpected costs in the moment. Think of it as a safety net that pays you back later, not a wallet that helps you right now.

Credit Card Protections You Might Already Have

Before you go out and buy a separate travel insurance policy for every trip, check whether one of your existing credit cards already includes delay protection. Many mid-tier and premium travel rewards cards bundle in benefits like trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, and even lounge access that becomes especially valuable when you’re stuck at an airport for hours.

Common Credit Card Delay Benefits

Trip delay reimbursement: Covers reasonable expenses (meals, hotel, toiletries) if your flight is delayed more than a set number of hours, often 6 or 12, and you paid for at least part of the trip with the card.
Baggage delay insurance: Reimburses you for essentials like clothing and toiletries if your checked bag doesn’t arrive with you and is delayed for a certain number of hours.
Airport lounge access: Not compensation exactly, but a delay is much more tolerable with access to a quiet lounge, free snacks, and reliable WiFi instead of sitting on the terminal floor near an outlet.
Primary rental car insurance or missed connection coverage: Some higher-tier cards extend coverage to rental cars you’re forced to book because of a missed connection, or reimburse the cost of an alternate flight you had to purchase yourself.

The catch with credit card protections is that you usually need to have booked the flight, or at least a significant portion of the trip, using that specific card in order to trigger the benefit. It’s worth checking your card’s benefits guide (usually available through the card issuer’s website or by calling the number on the back of the card) before your next trip so you know exactly what’s covered and what documentation you’ll need if something goes wrong.

What to Do the Moment You Learn Your Flight Is Delayed

The first ten minutes after a delay is announced can make a real difference in how smoothly the rest of your day goes. Airlines rebook passengers on a rolling basis, and the earlier you’re in the queue for rebooking or a hotel voucher, the more options you’ll have.

Immediate Action Checklist

Don’t just stand in the customer service line. Call the airline’s customer service number or use their app while you’re still waiting in line at the gate. Phone agents and app-based chat support can often rebook you faster than the line at the counter, since you’re not competing with everyone else on your flight in person.
Check the app for automatic rebooking options. Many airlines let you select an alternate flight directly in the app without needing to speak to anyone, and doing this the moment the delay is announced can secure you a much better replacement flight than waiting an hour to ask an agent.
Screenshot everything. Take a screenshot of the delay notification, the reason listed, and the updated departure time. This becomes useful later if you need to file a compensation claim or a travel insurance claim.
Ask about meal vouchers and hotel vouchers immediately. Airlines sometimes stop offering vouchers once the line gets long or once other passengers have already claimed the allotted budget for that flight, so ask early rather than assuming you’ll be offered one automatically.
Locate the nearest lounge, even if you don’t have a membership. Some lounges sell day passes, and if you’re in for a multi-hour wait, the cost can be well worth it for a comfortable seat, food, and a shower.

Long Delays vs. Cancellations: Know the Difference

It’s important to understand that a long delay and a cancellation are treated differently under most airline policies and consumer protection laws, even though they can feel identical when you’re the one stuck at the gate for six hours.

A delay means your original flight is still operating, just later than scheduled. A cancellation means that specific flight has been removed from the schedule entirely, and you’ll need to be rebooked onto a different flight number, sometimes with a different aircraft, crew, and even a different day.

Airlines sometimes cancel a flight and rebook everyone on a much later flight rather than continuing to delay the original one repeatedly, especially if a mechanical issue can’t be resolved quickly or if a crew is going to run out of legally permitted duty hours. From a compensation standpoint, cancellations often trigger stronger protections than delays, particularly under EU261 and UK261 rules, where cancellations with less than 14 days’ notice can qualify for compensation even in situations where a simple delay of the same length might not.

If your flight status changes from “Delayed” to “Cancelled,” don’t panic, but do act quickly. Head straight to the rebooking desk or call the airline while you’re waiting in line, since phone agents can sometimes process a new itinerary faster than the gate staff who are also handling the crowd in person. Ask specifically whether you’re entitled to compensation for the cancellation, and get the answer in writing, either by requesting an email confirmation or a screenshot of the chat conversation if you’re working through an app.

What About Missed Connections?

Missed connections are their own special category of travel stress, because the delay itself might be relatively minor, but the ripple effect can be enormous. A 45-minute delay on your first flight might not sound like much, but if it means you land just as your connecting flight is closing its doors, you’re suddenly dealing with a much bigger problem than a short wait.

The key factor here is whether your flights were booked as a single itinerary, sometimes called a “through ticket” or “connected itinerary,” versus two separate one-way bookings. If both flights are on one ticket, even if they’re operated by different airlines through a codeshare or alliance partnership, the airline is generally responsible for getting you to your final destination. That means rebooking you on the next available flight, providing hotel accommodation if the delay stretches overnight, and in many cases offering meal vouchers, all without additional cost to you.

If you booked your flights separately, perhaps to save money or because no single itinerary existed for your route, you’re in a much riskier position. Airlines typically have no obligation to get you to your destination if you miss a self-connected flight because of a delay on an earlier, separately booked leg. This is why travel agents and frequent flyers often recommend building in generous connection times when booking flights independently, or purchasing separate travel insurance that specifically covers missed connections.

If you do miss a connection on a single ticket, go to the airline’s transfer desk or customer service counter in the connecting airport before you do anything else. These desks exist specifically to rebook passengers in your situation, and they can often issue new boarding passes on the spot without you needing to go through security again or visit the main check-in counter.

Special Circumstances: Weather, Strikes, and Air Traffic Control Delays

Not all delays are treated equally when it comes to compensation, and one of the biggest factors is whether the airline considers the disruption to be within its control or caused by “extraordinary circumstances.”

Weather is the classic example. If a snowstorm shuts down an airport or severe turbulence forecasts force air traffic control to slow down arrivals and departures, airlines are usually not required to pay cash compensation, even under otherwise strict rules like EU261. The logic is straightforward: airlines can’t control the weather, and forcing them to pay out for something entirely outside their influence would be unfair. That said, you’re still generally entitled to care, meaning meals, hotel accommodation, and rebooking, even if a weather delay doesn’t come with a compensation check.

Air traffic control delays fall into a similar bucket. If a control tower orders ground stops or reduces the number of flights allowed to take off and land during a certain window, perhaps due to staffing shortages or a technical outage at the ATC facility itself, that’s typically considered outside the airline’s control too.

Strikes are a bit more nuanced. A strike by airport staff, security personnel, or air traffic controllers is usually treated as extraordinary and outside the airline’s control. However, a strike by the airline’s own employees, such as pilots or flight attendants, is often viewed differently, since courts in various jurisdictions have ruled that airlines have some ability to negotiate with their own workforce and therefore bear more responsibility for delays caused by internal labor disputes.

The bottom line is that when a delay is caused by something the airline could have reasonably prevented or planned around, like a maintenance issue on the specific aircraft or a scheduling error that left too little time between flights, you’re on much stronger ground for compensation. When it’s caused by forces genuinely beyond anyone’s control, expect care and assistance, but don’t count on a payout.

Travel Insurance and Delay Coverage

Travel insurance is one of those things that feels unnecessary right up until the moment you desperately need it. Many policies include specific delay coverage, which kicks in after your flight has been delayed for a certain number of hours, often somewhere between three and six hours depending on the policy.

This coverage typically reimburses you for reasonable expenses incurred because of the delay, things like meals, an unexpected hotel stay, toiletries you had to buy because your luggage was already checked through, and sometimes even the cost of a taxi to get to a hotel and back to the airport. Keep every receipt during a delay, even small ones, because insurers generally require documentation to process a claim.

Some credit cards also include built in travel delay protection as a cardholder benefit, particularly premium travel rewards cards. If you paid for your flight with one of these cards, it’s worth digging into the benefits guide or calling the card issuer directly, since this coverage often applies automatically without you needing to purchase a separate policy, and the reimbursement limits can be surprisingly generous.

One important note: travel insurance and airline compensation are not mutually exclusive, but you generally can’t double dip for the exact same expense. If the airline reimburses you for a hotel stay, you can’t also submit that same hotel receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement. However, if the airline’s compensation doesn’t fully cover your costs, insurance can often fill the gap.

How to File a Compensation Claim

If you believe you’re entitled to compensation, whether that’s a cash payout under a regulation like EU261, or simply reimbursement for expenses under an airline’s own policy, the claims process usually follows a similar pattern.

Start by gathering your documentation. This includes your original booking confirmation, your boarding pass or e-ticket, any emails or text messages the airline sent about the delay or cancellation, and receipts for anything you paid for out of pocket. The more paperwork you have, the smoother the process tends to go.

Next, check the airline’s website for a specific claims or complaints form. Most major airlines have a dedicated page for delay and cancellation compensation, separate from general customer service inquiries. Filling out the specific form, rather than sending a general email, usually gets your claim routed to the right department faster.

Be clear and factual in your claim. State your flight number, the date, the length of the delay, and the reason given by the airline if you know it. Attach your supporting documents and clearly state what you’re requesting, whether that’s a cash payment, a refund, or reimbursement for specific expenses.

If the airline denies your claim or simply doesn’t respond within a reasonable time, usually a few weeks, you have options. Many countries have an aviation consumer protection agency or ombudsman you can escalate the complaint to. In the EU and UK, national enforcement bodies exist specifically to handle unresolved EU261 and UK261 claims. In the US, the Department of Transportation accepts complaints against airlines and tracks patterns of noncompliance, which can pressure airlines to improve their practices even if it doesn’t guarantee an individual payout.

There are also third party companies that specialize in pursuing airline compensation claims on your behalf, usually in exchange for a percentage of whatever they recover for you. These can be useful if you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn airline or a complex international claim, but be aware that filing directly yourself costs nothing extra and keeps 100% of any compensation in your pocket.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a flight have to be delayed before I get compensation?

It depends on where you’re flying and which airline you’re on. Under EU261 and UK261, delays of three hours or more at your final destination can qualify for compensation, provided the cause was within the airline’s control. In the United States, there’s no federal law requiring cash compensation for delays of any length, so it comes down entirely to the individual airline’s customer service policy, which usually only kicks in for delays of several hours or more.

Do I get compensation if my flight is delayed due to weather?

Generally, no cash compensation is required if the delay was caused by weather, since this is considered an extraordinary circumstance outside the airline’s control. You should still receive care assistance like meals and, if necessary, hotel accommodation for very long delays, but a direct payout is unlikely.

Can I get a refund instead of rebooking if my flight is delayed?

Yes, in most cases. If a delay is long enough that the new arrival time is no longer useful to you, most airlines and regulations allow you to request a full refund of the unused portion of your ticket instead of accepting a rebooked flight. This is worth doing quickly, since refund policies can be less generous the longer you wait to request one.

What should I do first when I find out my flight is delayed?

Check your phone for a notification from the airline, then look at the departure board to confirm the new time. If the delay is more than an hour or two, head to the airline’s service desk or call their customer service line right away to ask about rebooking options, meal vouchers, or lounge access, since these resources can run out or become harder to arrange the longer you wait.

Does travel insurance cover flight delays?

Many travel insurance policies include delay coverage that reimburses reasonable expenses like meals and hotel stays once a delay passes a certain threshold, often three to six hours. Some premium credit cards offer similar protection automatically, so it’s worth checking your card’s benefits before purchasing a separate policy.

Final Thoughts

A flight delay is rarely convenient, and no amount of preparation will make sitting at a gate for six hours feel enjoyable. But understanding your rights, knowing which regulations apply to your specific flight, and having a clear plan for what to do the moment you spot “Delayed” on the departure board can transform a stressful situation into a manageable one. Keep your documentation, know the difference between a delay and a cancellation, and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself at the service desk. Airlines deal with disruptions every single day, and the passengers who get the best outcomes are usually the ones who calmly and clearly ask for what they’re entitled to. The next time your flight gets delayed, you’ll know exactly what to do.