Your Rights as an Airline Passenger: What Airlines Can and Cannot Do

Air travel in the United States runs on two sets of rules, and knowing which is which is the key to getting what you are owed. Some protections are guaranteed by federal law and enforced by the government. Others are governed only by the airline’s own contract of carriage, the fine print you agree to when you buy a ticket. When something goes wrong, the first question is always: is this a federal right, or just airline policy?

Who regulates airlines

Three federal agencies shape your rights. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) handles consumer protection: refunds, bumping, baggage liability, tarmac delays, and discrimination complaints. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) handles safety and in-flight conduct, including fines for unruly passengers. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) handles screening at the checkpoint. Most of what people call “passenger rights” comes from DOT rules in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

What federal law actually guarantees

• Refunds when the airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you do not accept the alternative (a DOT rule that took effect in late 2024).
• Denied-boarding compensation if you are involuntarily bumped from an oversold flight, up to $1,075 or $2,150 depending on the delay.
• Baggage liability up to $4,700 per passenger for lost, damaged, or delayed bags on domestic flights.
• Tarmac-delay limits: you must be allowed off the plane after 3 hours on a domestic flight (4 hours international), with food and water after 2 hours.
• Non-discrimination: airlines cannot refuse you based on race, religion, national origin, sex, or disability, and must accommodate travelers with disabilities.

What is only airline policy

Here is what surprises most travelers: the U.S. has no general law requiring cash compensation for delays, the way the European Union does. If your flight is three hours late but eventually flies, federal law does not owe you money, only a refund if you walk away. Meal vouchers, hotel rooms, and rebooking on other airlines during “controllable” disruptions come from each airline’s own customer-service commitments, which DOT now tracks on a public dashboard. Seat guarantees, upgrade rules, and change fees are all contract terms, not rights.

The contract of carriage is your rulebook

Every airline publishes a contract of carriage on its website. It spells out what happens when flights are delayed or canceled, how the airline handles bumping and removals, and what it will and will not pay for. It is dense, but it is enforceable, and DOT can hold airlines to their own promises. When you have a dispute, quoting the airline’s own contract back to it is often more effective than arguing about fairness.

How to protect yourself

Keep your boarding pass, bag tags, and receipts; note the times of every delay; and get promises in writing. If an airline denies you something, ask whether the denial is based on federal law or its own policy, then complain in writing and, if needed, to DOT. The rest of the guides in this section walk through each situation, bumping, baggage, delays, removals, screening, and more, in detail.

This is general information, not legal advice. Federal aviation rules change and airline contracts vary. For a specific dispute or injury, talk to a licensed attorney.