Airlines / United Airlines
DOT dashboard · 5 of 8 commitments
United Airlines delay compensation
United Airlines pays no cash for a delay or cancellation — it is not on its dashboard list, and US law does not require it. What it does commit to, when the disruption is its own fault, is rebook on the same airline at no additional cost; rebook on a partner or other airline at no additional cost; meal or meal cash/voucher when the wait is 3 hours or more; complimentary hotel for an overnight cancellation or delay and ground transportation to and from the hotel.
- 1United Airlines UA
- 2Meal voucher at 3 h wait
- 3On time, Jan–Jun 2026 77.6%
- 4Cancelled 1.76%
What United Airlines commits to
| Commitment (controllable delays and cancellations) | UA |
|---|---|
| Rebook on the same airline at no additional cost | Yes |
| Rebook on a partner or other airline at no additional cost | Yes |
| Meal or meal cash/voucher when the wait is 3 hours or more | Yes |
| Complimentary hotel for an overnight cancellation or delay | Yes |
| Ground transportation to and from the hotel | Yes |
| Credit or travel voucher when the wait is 3 hours or more | No |
| Frequent flyer miles when the wait is 3 hours or more | No |
| Cash compensation when the wait is 3 hours or more | No |
| Family seating: a young child seated next to an adult at no extra cost | No |
United Airlines commits to the care items — rebooking, a meal at 3 hours, a hotel and transport overnight — but to no voucher, credit or miles on top. Its list matches American Airlines and Delta Air Lines item for item. Alaska Airlines, JetBlue Airways commit to more items.
Rebooking on a partner or another airline at no extra cost is on the list, which matters on a cancelled last flight of the day: ask for the next departure on any airline United Airlines has an agreement with, not just its own.
How often United Airlines is late
Over January–June 2026, 77.6% of flights by United Airlines arrived on time, so roughly 22.4% did not. That ranks it 3 of 8 on the dashboard, behind only two others, and 1.46 points above the 76.14% all-carrier figure. June 2026 was worse than its average for the period: 73.9%, 3.7 points down, as summer traffic built.
1.76% of its scheduled flights were cancelled over the same period, mid-table (rank 4 of 8) and below the 2.23% all-carrier rate. United Airlines Network, including branded codeshare partners. Punctuality is a record of the past, not a forecast for your flight.
When the law gives you more than United Airlines does
On a US domestic flight, the federal floor is a refund: if United Airlines cancels or your arrival slips 3+ hours (6+ on an international itinerary) and you decline the new flight, the fare comes back within 7 business days on a card. Being bumped from an oversold flight pays up to $2,150.
Abroad, other countries' laws apply to United Airlines too. Leaving an EU airport, EU261 covers any airline, so a United Airlines flight from Europe that lands 4+ hours late can be owed €600 — but the same flight in the other direction is not covered, because United Airlines is not an EU airline. Leaving the UK, UK261 works the same way (£520). Any flight to or from Canada falls under the APPR, where a large airline pays $400 from 3 hours late. Routes on this site where that applies: CDG–JFK, FRA–JFK, AMS–JFK, MAD–MIA, FCO–JFK, DUB–BOS, LIS–EWR, AMS–SFO, LHR–JFK, LHR–LAX, LHR–BOS, YYZ–JFK, YVR–LAX.
How to claim
Ask United Airlines at the airport or through its customer-relations channel for the dashboard item that applies — meal voucher, hotel, rebooking — or for the refund if you decide not to fly. Its customer service plan is the binding version of these promises. If it refuses, the US Department of Transportation takes complaints and says it holds airlines to their plans.
For a flight from the EU or the UK, claim the EU261 or UK261 amount from United Airlines in writing with your booking reference, flight number and arrival time; a claim company is not needed. Compare published claim-company fees in the fee guide.
Sources: US DOT Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard (text version); US DOT Airline Customer Service Dashboard (family seating); US DOT Air Travel Consumer Report, August 2026 (June 2026 data), Tables 1, 1C, 6 and 6B; United Airlines customer service plan. Checked 2026-10-20.