Credit card travel insurance
$500-$10,000Chase Sapphire, Amex Platinum, and similar cards include trip delay insurance. Call the benefits number on the back of your card — not the main line — and file a claim with your boarding pass and receipts.
File a DOT complaint
Indirect — pressures airlineFile at airconsumer.dot.gov. The DOT forwards it to the airline, who must respond within 60 days. High complaint volumes trigger audits, so airlines take these seriously.
Travel insurance policy
$150-$5,000+If you bought travel insurance at checkout (Allianz, World Nomads, etc.), file a claim within 90 days. Search your email for "travel protection" — many people forget they have it.
Airline vouchers & miles
$50-$500 / 5k-25k milesAirlines often offer vouchers or miles as goodwill — but only if you ask. Contact them in writing, be specific about the disruption, and escalate if the first agent says no.
Small claims court
Up to $5k-$25k by stateSend a demand letter, wait 30 days, then file. Costs $30-$100, no lawyer needed. Airlines usually settle because sending a lawyer costs more than paying you.
Credit card chargeback
Full ticket refundIf the airline canceled or significantly changed your flight, dispute the charge as "services not rendered." Use as a last resort for genuine non-delivery of the service you paid for.
EU enforcement body (NEB)
€250-€600If an EU airline ignores your EC 261 claim, file with the National Enforcement Body of the departure country (e.g., CAA for UK, DGAC for France). Free to use, legally binding.
Expense reimbursement
Actual costsAirlines must cover reasonable delay expenses — meals, hotels, transport — but most passengers never ask. Keep receipts and submit a claim citing DOT rules (US) or EC 261 Art. 9 (EU).