Small Claims Court Flight Compensation: State by State Guide

Small claims court flight compensation suits follow a consistent structure across all 50 states despite differences in limits and forms. The passenger files a claim form, pays a filing fee, serves the airline's registered agent, attends a short hearing, and receives a judgment. No attorney is required and in some states no attorney is permitted for the plaintiff. The claim must be based on a legal right: most flight compensation suits rest on the DOT involuntary bumping regulation (14 CFR Part 250), the 2024 DOT Final Refund Rule, or the Montreal Convention for international baggage damage. For context on whether court or a compensation service is better for your situation, see small claims court vs compensation service.

The legal basis matters. Filing 'the flight was late' without a specific regulatory cite gives the airline room to argue. Cite 14 CFR Part 250 for bumping and the 2024 DOT Final Rule for refunds. The DOT Air Consumer Protection site publishes both rules.

These 15 states account for the large majority of US domestic passenger volume based on BTS data. If you are departing from one of these states, this guide has your specific limits, fees, and registered agent addresses.

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  California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Colorado, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota.

For complaints that do not warrant court action, the NCCDB consumer complaint database allows free filing with the DOT and is reviewed for enforcement pattern analysis.

Limits below are for individual (non-business) plaintiffs. Business limits are sometimes lower.

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  California: $10,000. No attorney for plaintiff. Small Claims Court.

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  Texas: $20,000. Justice of the Peace Court. Attorneys permitted.

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  Florida: $8,000. County Court Small Claims. Attorneys permitted.

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  New York: $5,000 (NYC Civil Court). $3,000 in some upstate justice courts.

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  Georgia: $15,000. Magistrate Court.

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  Illinois: $10,000. Circuit Court Small Claims Division.

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  Colorado: $7,500. County Court Small Claims.

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  Washington: $10,000. District Court Small Claims.

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  Arizona: $3,500. Justice Court.

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  Nevada: $10,000. Justice Court.

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  North Carolina: $10,000. Small Claims Court in District Court.

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  Virginia: $5,000. General District Court.

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  Massachusetts: $7,000. Small Claims Session of District Court.

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  Michigan: $7,000. Small Claims Division of District Court.

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  Minnesota: $15,000. Conciliation Court.

Maximum DOT involuntary bumping compensation is $1,550 per passenger. Every state on this list has a limit well above this amount. You will not need to escalate to a higher court for a standard bumping claim.

Every state's Secretary of State maintains a business entity search database. Search the airline's legal name (Delta Air Lines Inc., United Airlines Inc., American Airlines Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., Spirit Airlines Inc., Frontier Airlines Inc.) and find the registered agent name and address listed in the current filing.

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  California: sos.ca.gov (search 'Business Search')

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  Texas: sos.state.tx.us (search 'SOSDirect')

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  Florida: dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz

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  New York: apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry

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  Georgia: ecorp.sos.ga.gov

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  Illinois: apps.ilsos.gov/corporatellc

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  Colorado: sos.state.co.us (search 'Business Database')

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  Washington: ccfs.sos.wa.gov

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  Arizona: ecorp.azsos.gov/CORP/CorpSearch.aspx

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  Nevada: esos.nv.gov

Always confirm the registered agent address from the current state filing before serving. Major carriers update their registered agent filings annually and addresses change.

Every small claims complaint against an airline needs five things: the defendant's legal name and registered agent address, your name and address, the exact dollar amount claimed, a one to two sentence factual basis for the claim citing the specific regulation, and the date and flight number of the incident. Keep it factual and brief. Judges in small claims courts review dozens of cases per session.

1. 1

   Defendant: [Airline Legal Name], c/o [Registered Agent Name], [Registered Agent Address].

2. 2

   Amount: $[exact amount]. For bumping claims, calculate using 200% or 400% of one-way fare, capped at $775 or $1,550 per DOT regulation.

3. 3

   Basis: 'On [date], defendant involuntarily denied plaintiff boarding on Flight [number] from [airport] to [airport] and refused to pay compensation required by 14 CFR Part 250.'

4. 4

   Evidence to present: ticket confirmation, denied boarding certificate or airline statement, any written claim denial from the airline, printed copy of the applicable DOT regulation.

5. 5

   Filing fee: enclose the required fee (check the court's current schedule on their website).

Attach the specific DOT regulation page as an exhibit. Judges are not required to know airline regulations. A printed exhibit removes ambiguity.

All six major US carriers use professional registered agent services. The agent in each state is the address you serve. The current addresses should be confirmed on the state Secretary of State website but the following are the agents of record as of early 2026.

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  Delta Air Lines Inc.: CT Corporation System in all states listed above.

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  United Airlines Inc.: CT Corporation System in most states. Verify locally for current address.

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  American Airlines Inc.: CT Corporation System in most states.

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  Southwest Airlines Co.: The Corporation Trust Company in most states.

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  Spirit Airlines Inc.: Registered Agents Inc. or CT Corporation System depending on state.

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  Frontier Airlines Inc.: CT Corporation System in most states.

For the complete step-by-step process for Delta specifically, see filing against Delta in small claims: a real passenger's guide. For cost details, see how much does it cost to sue an airline.

A DOT complaint is free and can result in airline payment, but the DOT does not adjudicate individual claims. It tracks patterns of non-compliance and can impose civil penalties on airlines with systemic violations. A DOT complaint does not guarantee your specific refund. Small claims court produces a legally enforceable judgment. For passengers with clear-cut claims that airlines have refused in writing, small claims delivers faster and more certain individual relief.

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  Use DOT complaint when: you want a free path, you are unsure of the legal basis, or the claim is under $300 where court costs approach claim value.

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  Use small claims when: the airline has already denied your claim in writing, the amount is above $500, and you have clear documentary evidence.

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  Use both in sequence: file the DOT complaint first (free). If the airline pays, done. If not, file small claims with the DOT complaint record as additional evidence.

For passengers who want the DOT complaint filed without managing the process themselves, /claim covers the filing and follow-up for a flat $19 fee on US refund claims.