United Airlines Delay Compensation
CHow to claim compensation for United Airlines flight delays and cancellations.
United Airlines Compensation Policy
United provides rebooking through their app and website. For controllable delays of 3+ hours, they offer meal credits (loaded directly to your MileagePlus account), hotel vouchers for overnight delays, and ground transportation. Since 2024, United guarantees automatic refunds for cancellations.
Phone
1-800-864-8331Claim Online
United Airlines Claim Form →How to Claim
Check eligibility
- Flight arrived 3+ hours late (EU routes → €250-€600)
- Flight cancelled with less than 14 days notice
- Involuntarily bumped → up to $1,550 (US law)
- Delay must be the airline's fault (not weather/ATC)
Document the delay
- Photo of departure board showing delay
- Screenshot of airline notification
- Note actual arrival time (doors open)
- Keep ALL expense receipts
File with United Airlines
Claim service
AirHelp, Flightright handle everything. 25-35% fee only if you win.
No win, no fee
Escalate if needed
If United rejects your claim, respond to the rejection email with your evidence. If no response in 14 days, escalate through the DOT. United responds quickly to DOT complaints.
United Airlines-Specific Tips
United loads meal credits directly to your MileagePlus account during delays — check the app, you may already have them without asking.
United's customer service is notoriously difficult to reach by phone. Use the app chat instead — it's 24/7 and usually faster.
For EU261, United has been more compliant than American but still sometimes rejects valid claims. Keep records of the actual arrival time (doors open, not touchdown).
Flying United Airlines: What to Expect
✓ Pros
- Good app with proactive delay notifications
- Automatic meal credits for long delays
- Large hub network gives rebooking options
✗ Cons
- Below-average on-time rate for a premium carrier (80%)
- Phone customer service is hard to reach
- Can be stingy with voluntary compensation
EU261 Compensation Amounts
| Flight Distance | Compensation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | €250 | London → Paris |
| 1,500 — 3,500 km | €400 | London → Istanbul |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 | New York → London |
Data based on 4,185,784 United Airlines flights (2019-2025). Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Contact information verified as of March 2026.