Stuck Overnight Because of Airline: Who Pays for the Hotel?
When a flight delay or cancellation strands you overnight, the question of who pays for the hotel depends on the cause of the disruption and which rules apply. Here is a clear breakdown of when airlines must cover your hotel and when they do not.
Under DOT Rules
The DOT customer commitment dashboard shows each airline's specific hotel commitments. Most major US airlines have committed to providing hotel accommodation for controllable overnight delays. "Controllable" means the disruption was caused by something within the airline's control: crew scheduling, maintenance, equipment swaps.
Weather overnight delays: most airlines do NOT pay for hotels. Weather is not considered controllable, and most airlines exclude weather-related overnight delays from their hotel commitments. However, your right to a full cash refund is unaffected.
Under EU261/UK261
Under EU261 and UK261, airlines must provide hotel accommodation for any overnight delay, regardless of the cause. This includes weather delays, which is a significant advantage over US rules. The airline must also provide ground transportation to and from the hotel.
If the airline does not arrange accommodation, you can book a hotel yourself and claim the cost back. Choose a reasonably priced option near the airport and keep the receipt. For EU261 details, see our EU261 guide.
What to Do When Stranded
- 1
Ask the airline for hotel accommodation immediately. Do not wait.
- 2
If they refuse, ask for the reason (controllable vs. uncontrollable) and note it.
- 3
If booking yourself, choose a hotel near the airport and keep all receipts.
- 4
Submit your hotel receipt to the airline for reimbursement with your claim.
- 5
Include hotel costs in any DOT or EU261 claim you file.
For more on overnight delays, see our overnight hotel guide. For the full refund process, read our refund guide. For what to do at the airport, see our cancellation guide. Check your flight for eligibility.