Flight Cancellations and Delays in the US: Your Rights as a Dutch Traveler

If your flight to the US is cancelled or delayed, your rights depend on one thing: which set of rules applies to your route. Flights departing from the Netherlands and the EU are protected by EU Regulation 261/2004 (EU261), which can pay up to €600 per person. Flights inside the US or departing from the US follow US Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, which work very differently. Here is exactly what Dutch travelers are entitled to in both situations.

This guide is part of our complete US travel guide for Dutch citizens. If your plans change before you fly, make sure your ESTA or visa is still valid and your travel insurance covers trip disruption.

Which Rules Apply to Your Flight?

The single most important question is where your flight departs from and which airline operates it. The two rulebooks overlap on transatlantic routes, so check your situation carefully.

EU261 applies when:

• Your flight departs from any EU airport (including Schiphol, Rotterdam and Eindhoven), on ANY airline, including US carriers
• Your flight arrives in the EU on an EU airline (for example KLM flying New York → Amsterdam)

US DOT rules apply when:

• Your flight departs from a US airport, including US domestic flights (New York → Los Angeles) and US → Netherlands routes on US airlines
• Your flight arrives in the US on a US carrier, even if it departed from the EU

In practice: Amsterdam → New York on KLM or Delta is covered by EU261. New York → Amsterdam on United is covered by US DOT rules, but the same route on KLM is covered by EU261. US domestic flights are almost never covered by EU261.

EU261 Compensation: Up to €600 Per Person

EU261 gives you three separate rights when your flight is disrupted: compensation in cash, care (meals and hotels), and rebooking or a refund. The compensation amount depends on the flight distance, not the ticket price.

• €250 for flights up to 1,500 km
• €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km
• €600 for flights over 3,500 km (all Amsterdam–US routes qualify)

You are entitled to compensation if your flight arrives 3 hours or more late, or if your flight is cancelled with less than 14 days notice and you were not rebooked onto a similar alternative. The airline must pay even if the disruption was caused by a delay on the previous leg of the aircraft, unless it can prove “extraordinary circumstances”.

Extraordinary circumstances are events outside the airline's control: severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security threats or political unrest. In those cases the airline does not have to pay compensation, but it still has to offer care, rebooking and refunds.

Your Right to Care, Rebooking and Refunds Under EU261

Even when no compensation is due, the airline must look after you during the wait:

• Meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time
• Hotel accommodation and transfers if you are delayed overnight
• Two free phone calls, emails or faxes
• Rebooking to your destination as soon as possible, or at a later date of your choice
• A full refund of the ticket within 7 days if you no longer want to travel

Keep every receipt during a delay: if the airline fails to provide care, you can claim back reasonable costs for meals and hotels afterwards. Claims for compensation can be filed directly with the airline, or through the Dutch human environment and transport inspectorate (ILT) if the airline refuses.

US DOT Rules: Refunds, Not Cash Compensation

Here is the biggest difference Dutch travelers need to understand: the US has no EU261 equivalent. US airlines do not have to pay cash compensation for delays, even very long ones. What US DOT rules DO guarantee is refunds, denied boarding compensation and minimum care standards.

Automatic refunds for cancellations and significant changes

Since the 2024 DOT final rule, airlines must automatically refund your money in the original payment form if your flight is cancelled or “significantly changed”. Significant changes include a departure or arrival time change of 3 or more hours domestically or 6 or more hours internationally, a different airport, or a downgrade in cabin class. Refunds must be issued within 7 business days for card payments and 20 days for other payment methods.

No cash compensation for ordinary delays

If your US domestic flight is delayed 6 hours but not cancelled, you are not entitled to cash compensation under federal rules. Some airlines have their own delay policies, but they are voluntary. Always ask the airline what its own policy covers.

Denied Boarding and Overbooking: Up to $1,550

US airlines regularly overbook flights, and when too many passengers show up, some are denied boarding. If you are bumped involuntarily, US DOT rules require cash compensation based on how late you arrive at your destination:

• Arrival delayed 1–2 hours (domestic) or 1–4 hours (international): 200% of your one-way fare, up to $775
• Arrival delayed more than 2 hours (domestic) or 4 hours (international): 400% of your one-way fare, up to $1,550

Airlines usually ask for volunteers first and offer vouchers. You are free to negotiate, but if you accept a voucher you give up the right to the cash amount. If you are bumped involuntarily, the airline must give you a written statement of your rights and can offer you a check or bank transfer instead of a voucher.

Tarmac Delays and the 24-Hour Booking Rule

US rules also protect you while you are stuck on the plane. The tarmac delay rule limits how long airlines can keep passengers onboard without letting them off: 3 hours for domestic flights and 4 hours for international flights. During that time the airline must provide food and water, working restrooms, medical attention and updates every 30 minutes.

There is also the 24-hour booking rule: if you book a flight to or within the US at least 7 days before departure, you can cancel for free within 24 hours and get a full refund. This is a handy safety net when you are still planning your itinerary.

What to Do When Your Flight Is Cancelled or Delayed: 7 Steps

1. Determine which rules apply (departure airport + airline) and write down the EU261 or DOT claim amount you may be entitled to
2. Take screenshots of the departure board, the airline app and any cancellation notices as evidence
3. Go to the airline desk or customer service app immediately: for EU261 routes you have the right to rebooking or a refund plus care
4. Accept meals, hotels and transport the airline offers, and keep receipts for anything you pay yourself
5. Do not accept a voucher if you prefer a refund: EU261 refunds and DOT automatic refunds must be paid in the original form of payment
6. File a written claim with the airline within the required time limit, including your booking reference and the compensation amount
7. If the airline rejects your claim, escalate: to the ILT for EU261 routes, or file a complaint with the US DOT online complaint portal

While you wait at the airport, check our guide to staying connected with a US eSIM and what to expect at US airports. If your delay turns into an overnight stay, our US hotel guide explains resort fees and last-minute booking pitfalls.

Does Travel Insurance Help?

Travel insurance and airline compensation cover different things. EU261 or DOT compensation covers the airline's legal liability for the disruption itself. Travel insurance covers the costs around it: non-refundable hotels and tours you miss, extra nights you book yourself, and medical care. If you booked with a Dutch credit card, check whether it includes trip disruption cover. See our full guide to travel insurance for US trips for what Dutch policies do and do not cover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get compensation if my flight from Amsterdam to the US is delayed?

Yes, if the delay is 3 hours or more and the cause is not extraordinary circumstances (such as weather or air traffic control strikes). Amsterdam–US routes qualify for €600 per person under EU261 because they are over 3,500 km.

Does EU261 apply to US domestic flights?

No. EU261 only applies to flights departing from the EU, or flights arriving in the EU operated by an EU airline. A New York–Los Angeles flight is covered by US DOT rules, which do not include cash compensation for ordinary delays.

Can I get a refund instead of a rebooking?

Yes. Under EU261, a cancelled flight entitles you to a full refund within 7 days if you no longer want to travel. Under US DOT rules, cancelled flights and significant changes must be refunded automatically in your original payment form.

What is the US tarmac delay rule?

Airlines cannot keep passengers on board for more than 3 hours on domestic flights or 4 hours on international flights without giving them the chance to get off, except in limited safety or air traffic control situations.

Are weather-related cancellations compensated?

Under EU261, weather is an extraordinary circumstance, so no cash compensation is due, but the airline must still provide care, rebooking or a refund. Under US DOT rules, cancelled flights must be refunded regardless of the cause.

How do I claim compensation from a US airline from the Netherlands?

Contact the airline in writing with your booking reference and claim the specific amount. If they refuse, file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation through their online complaint portal, or use the ILT for EU261 claims on flights from the Netherlands.

The Bottom Line

Flights departing from the Netherlands are protected by EU261 and can pay €600 per person for delays over 3 hours. Flights within the US are protected by DOT rules, which guarantee automatic refunds and denied boarding compensation up to $1,550 but no cash for ordinary delays. Know which rulebook applies before you travel, keep your receipts, and never accept a voucher if you would rather have your money back.

Planning a US trip? Make sure your ESTA application is in order before you book. Visa Clearance helps Dutch travelers get their US travel documents right the first time.