Trump Killed the Rule That Would Have Paid You $775 for Flight Delays

Airlines Lobbied Hard and Won

If your flight gets delayed for hours, the airline owes you nothing. That was already true, but it almost changed.

The Biden administration proposed a rule requiring automatic cash payments for long delays, up to $775 per passenger.

The Trump administration killed it in November 2025, siding with airlines that spent millions lobbying against it.

Now the U.S. stands alone among major countries in offering zero compensation for delays, and what airlines do for stranded passengers is entirely up to them.

What the Biden Rule Promised

The proposal would have paid passengers $200-$300 for domestic delays of three hours or more. Longer delays would have meant bigger payouts, up to $775 for delays exceeding nine hours.

Airlines would also have been required to cover meals, hotel rooms, and ground transportation when their delays left travelers stranded overnight.

The rule targeted only delays caused by airlines themselves, like maintenance problems, crew shortages, and IT failures.

Weather delays would not have qualified.

DOT Called It Unnecessary Burden

The Department of Transportation formally withdrew the proposal in November 2025, publishing a notice in the Federal Register.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s department said the rule would create “unnecessary regulatory burdens” and went “beyond what Congress has required by statute.”

The DOT argued that airlines should be free to compete on the services they offer passengers rather than being forced to meet minimum standards.

Consumer advocates called the decision a gift to the airline industry.

Airlines Spent Millions to Kill It

Airlines for America, the industry’s main lobbying group, spent nearly $5.7 million on lobbying in 2024 alone.

The group represents Delta, United, American, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska, and Hawaiian airlines.

In early 2025, they hired Brian Ballard, a lobbyist with close ties to Trump’s inner circle, paying $70,000 per quarter.

United Airlines separately retained Ballard Partners for $90,000 per quarter. The lobbying push intensified after Sean Duffy became Transportation Secretary.

Airline Executives Praised Trump

Delta and United each donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian called Trump a “breath of fresh air” and praised his pledge to address “overreach our industry has experienced.”

Southwest’s CEO Robert Jordan expressed hope that the new DOT would be “a little less aggressive” on rulemaking.

Airlines for America wrote a letter thanking the administration for its “deregulatory agenda” and called the Biden-era proposals overreach that did not “benefit passengers.

One in Four Flights Runs Late

Nearly 24% of U.S. flights were delayed or canceled between July 2024 and June 2025, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data.

On average, there were roughly 5,600 daily delays and 340 daily cancellations last year.

Frontier Airlines was the worst offender in 2025, with 28% of flights arriving late. JetBlue and Southwest tied for second at 25%.

The 2025 government shutdown made things worse, forcing the FAA to cut flights at dozens of airports due to air traffic controller shortages.

Europe Pays Up to $650 Per Passenger

The European Union has required airlines to pay cash compensation since 2005 under a law called EC 261.

Passengers receive €250 for short flights delayed three hours or more, €400 for medium distances, and €600 for long-haul flights.

That works out to roughly $270-$650. Airlines must also provide meals, hotel rooms, and rebooking at no charge.

The law applies to any flight departing from an EU airport, regardless of which airline operates it.

Canada and Brazil Have Similar Rules

Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations require compensation of C$125-$1,000 for delays caused by airlines, depending on the carrier’s size and delay length.

Brazil and the United Kingdom have their own mandatory compensation systems.

These countries decided that when airlines cause delays, passengers should not bear the financial burden. The U.S. now stands out among developed nations for having no such requirement.

What Rights You Still Have

U.S. passengers can still get automatic refunds when flights are canceled or significantly delayed, as long as they choose not to travel.

A domestic flight arriving three or more hours late qualifies as a significant delay. Airlines must refund the full ticket price within seven days for credit card purchases.

You can also get refunds for baggage fees if your bags arrive more than 12 hours late on domestic flights. But none of this puts extra cash in your pocket for the inconvenience.

Democrats Push a New Bill

In December 2025, fifteen Democratic senators introduced the Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation Act.

The bill would require airlines to pay at least $300 for delays over three hours and $600 for delays of six hours or more.

It would also mandate coverage for meals, hotels, and transportation.

Senators Mark Kelly, Richard Blumenthal, and Ed Markey led the effort. “Airlines have to be accountable when they cost the American people money,” Kelly said.

The bill faces steep odds in a Republican-controlled Congress.

Airlines Claim Prices Would Rise

The airline industry argues that mandatory compensation would increase ticket prices. Airlines for America claimed the rules could cost carriers $4 billion annually.

But critics point to Europe, where fares remain comparable to U.S. prices despite two decades of mandatory compensation.

Low-cost carriers like Ryanair and easyJet thrive under EU rules.

Meanwhile, Delta recorded $4.5 billion in profit over the past year, United made $3.3 billion, and the industry received $62 billion in taxpayer bailouts during the pandemic.

Your Options When Delays Hit

Without federal protection, your best defense is preparation. Check if your credit card offers travel delay insurance, which can reimburse meals and hotels.

Book morning flights when delays are less likely to cascade.

Know that airlines have voluntary commitments posted on the DOT’s dashboard at the official consumer protection website.

Nine of ten major carriers promise hotel rooms for overnight delays they cause.

But these are promises, not laws. If an airline breaks them, your only recourse is filing a complaint and hoping regulators act.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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