San Francisco International Airport Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation

Yurii Semikopenko
19.08.2024
Updated 31.03.2025

Flight cancellations and delays are the most common problems experienced by travelers. Luckily, the European Union has EU Regulation 261, which ensures that you, as a passenger, are not left in a difficult situation and that your rights are protected. The European Union Regulation 261/2004 outlines the situations in which passengers are eligible for compensation and assistance in the event of flight disruption.

Here, you will find everything you need to know about European Union Regulation 261 and in which situations you are entitled to compensation.

Passenger Rights under EU 261/2004

Under EU Regulation 261, passengers arriving at San Francisco International Airport from EU countries or departing from San Francisco International Airport to anywhere on flights operated by airlines from the EU have certain rights. These rights include:

  • Food and drinks: Airlines must provide proper meals and refreshments during the waiting period.
  • Access to means of communication: Passengers should be provided two free phone calls, emails, or faxes.
  • Hotel accommodation if necessary: When an overnight stay is needed, the airline is required to provide accommodation and transportation to and from the hotel.
  • Ticket refund or alternative flight: Travelers may choose between a full refund of their ticket or rebooking on an alternative flight to their final destination.
  • Compensation: Depending on the flight distance and length of delay, passengers could qualify for financial compensation between €250 to €600.

San Francisco International Airport Flight Delay Compensation

Passengers encountering flight delays at San Francisco International Airport might be eligible for compensation of up to 600 euros per person, especially if the delay lasts longer than three hours. The eligibility for compensation is decided by the cause of the delay and whether it follows UK and EU laws. The amount of compensation is calculated on the time of arrival at the destination rather than departure time and is influenced by the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay.

Less than 3 hoursBetween 3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursDistance
€0€250€250All flights up to 1500 km
€0€400€400All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km
€0€400€400All intra-EU flights over 3500 km
€0€300€600All non-EU flights over 3500 km

Keep in mind that airlines are not required to provide compensation for delays due to extraordinary circumstances beyond their control.

San Francisco International Airport Flight Cancellation Compensation

In the event of a flight cancellation causing inconvenience at the San Francisco International Airport, under EU 261, travelers are eligible to receive compensation of up to €600 if the airline notifies them of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure.

Nonetheless, there are exceptions to this regulation. The airline may be exempt from compensating passengers if it provides an alternative flight that meets certain criteria, letting you arrive at your destination with the minimal delay possible:

Advance NoticeRe-routing Requirements
14 DaysNone
7 – 13 DaysAlternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight
Less than 7 DaysAlternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight

Financial compensation may still be available even though you accept an alternative flight, provided your arrival at the final destination is significantly delayed. The compensation amount is determined by the flight distance and the duration of the delay. You can check this table to figure out the amount of compensation you are eligible for:

Under 2 hours2-3 hours3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursNever arrivedDistance
€125€250€250€250€250All flights 1,500 km or less
€200€200€400€400€400Internal EU flights over 1,500 km
€200€200€400€400€400Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km
€300€300€300€600€600Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km

Keep in mind that airlines usually don’t offer compensation for flight cancellations due to extraordinary circumstances outside their control, such as severe weather or strikes by air traffic controllers.

Which San Francisco International Airport Flights are Covered by EU261?

Even though San Francisco International Airport is not within the EU, European Union Regulation 261/2004 may still apply to some flights. Travelers arriving at San Francisco International Airport from EU countries or departing from San Francisco International Airport to anywhere on flights operated by airlines from the EU are covered by EU 261.

Thus, despite their geographic location outside the EU, certain flights departing from San Francisco International Airport may be subject to European regulations if they are operated by airlines from the European Union.

ItineraryEU AirlineNon-EU Airline
Departures from San Francisco International Airport to anywhereYesNo
Arrivals at San Francisco International Airport from inside the EUYesNo
Arrivals at San Francisco International Airport from outside the EUNoNo

How to Claim Compensation from San Francisco International Airport

Flight cancellations and delays often occur due to factors such as adverse weather conditions, air traffic congestion, technical problems, or staffing issues. If you experience a flight disruption at San Francisco International Airport, you could be eligible for compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004.

To initiate your compensation claim, proceed with these steps:

  1. Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
  2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We are well-versed in the EU laws well and will strive to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.

Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations

Was your flight delayed or cancelled? Find your flight in the table below and use our claims checker to see if you are eligible for compensation.

Did not find your flight in our table? Fill in our compensation form, and we will check it for you.

Date Airline (Flight number) Route Status Your compensation

08.05.202518:49

Iberia

7289

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202518:49

Air Tahiti Nui

2520

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202518:49

Qatar Airways

3385

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202518:49

Alaska Airlines

153

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202518:49

Hawaiian Airlines

7025

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202518:49

American Airlines

7538

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202517:45

Air Tahiti Nui

2698

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202517:45

Qatar Airways

3406

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202517:45

Hawaiian Airlines

6834

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202517:45

American Airlines

9407

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202517:45

Fiji Airways

5822

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202517:45

Condor

5055

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202516:49

Fiji Airways

5812

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202516:49

Condor

5053

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202516:49

American Airlines

9356

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202516:49

British Airways

2947

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202516:49

Korean Air

6096

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202516:49

Hawaiian Airlines

7021

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202516:49

Qatar Airways

3384

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202516:49

Air Tahiti Nui

2607

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202516:35

Virgin Atlantic

1904

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202513:45

Delta Air Lines

396

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202513:35

ANA

7326

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202513:35

Virgin Australia

8283

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202513:35

Asiana Airlines

6310

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202513:35

Air New Zealand

9403

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202509:10

Air Tahiti Nui

2704

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202509:10

Korean Air

6116

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202509:10

Jet Linx Aviation

6339

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202509:10

Hawaiian Airlines

6822

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202509:10

Condor

5052

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202509:10

Qatar Airways

3394

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

08.05.202509:10

American Airlines

7530

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202519:05

Virgin Australia

8284

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202519:05

ANA

7304

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202519:05

Asiana Airlines

6401

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202519:05

SWISS

3256

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202519:05

Air New Zealand

9400

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202519:05

Turkish Airlines

9587

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202516:49

Qatar Airways

3384

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202516:49

Condor

5053

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202516:49

Hawaiian Airlines

7021

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202516:49

British Airways

2947

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202516:49

American Airlines

9356

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202516:49

Air Tahiti Nui

2607

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202516:49

Korean Air

6116

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202516:35

Virgin Atlantic

1904

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202514:30

Singapore Airlines

1287

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202514:30

Cathay Pacific

7948

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202514:30

Icelandair

7714

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202514:30

Hawaiian Airlines

6480

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202514:30

American Airlines

9399

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202514:30

Fiji Airways

5812

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202514:30

Jet Linx Aviation

5429

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202514:30

Air Tahiti Nui

2708

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202514:30

Finnair

2501

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202511:55

AlphaSky

7321

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Haneda Airport (RJTT)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202511:55

American Airlines

8400

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Haneda Airport (RJTT)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202511:55

Malaysia Airlines

9101

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Haneda Airport (RJTT)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202510:30

United Airlines

875

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Haneda Airport (RJTT)

delayed

Refunds

07.05.202510:30

ANA

7011

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Haneda Airport (RJTT)

delayed

Refunds

06.05.202510:30

ANA

7011

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Haneda Airport (RJTT)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202518:49

Alaska Airlines

153

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202518:49

American Airlines

7538

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202518:49

Hawaiian Airlines

7025

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202518:49

Air Tahiti Nui

2520

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202518:49

Qatar Airways

2996

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202516:49

Hawaiian Airlines

7021

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202516:49

Qatar Airways

3384

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202516:49

American Airlines

9356

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202516:49

Korean Air

6096

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202516:49

Condor

5053

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202516:49

Air Tahiti Nui

2607

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202516:49

British Airways

2947

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202514:30

Fiji Airways

5812

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202514:30

Finnair

2501

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202514:30

Jet Linx Aviation

5429

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202514:30

Singapore Airlines

1287

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202514:30

Icelandair

7714

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202514:30

American Airlines

9399

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202514:30

Air Tahiti Nui

2708

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202514:30

Hawaiian Airlines

6480

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202513:45

China Eastern Airlines

8860

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202513:45

Virgin Atlantic

1902

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202513:45

Korean Air

3084

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202513:45

KLM

6481

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202513:45

Delta Air Lines

2366

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202513:45

Air France

5763

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202511:55

AlphaSky

7321

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Haneda Airport (RJTT)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202511:55

Japan Airlines

1

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Haneda Airport (RJTT)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202511:55

American Airlines

8400

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Haneda Airport (RJTT)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202511:55

Malaysia Airlines

9101

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Haneda Airport (RJTT)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202509:30

Virgin Australia

8281

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202509:30

Air New Zealand

9405

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202509:30

ANA

7285

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202509:30

Asiana Airlines

6306

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202509:30

United Airlines

2741

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202508:50

United Airlines

277

San Francisco International (KSFO)

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (KDTW)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202500:05

ANA

7828

San Francisco International (KSFO)

El Salvador International (MSLP)

delayed

Refunds

05.05.202500:05

SA AVIANCA

561

San Francisco International (KSFO)

El Salvador International (MSLP)

delayed

Refunds
Yurii Semikopenko
626 articles

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