Know Your Rights During a Tarmac Delay

Unplanned time on the tarmac is becoming depressingly normal for U.S. travelers this summer.

Federal data on tarmac delays lags behind three months, but veteran travelers say they have observed long waits on the tarmac at major airports across the country. In a typical tarmac delay, a plane either arrives and needs to wait for a gate or is awaiting takeoff after plane doors have closed.

Severe weather has strained airlines’ operations and contributed to tarmac delays. The weather problems delay planes from taking off and lead to a shortage of available gates for arriving aircraft.

The delays have been noticeable at New York-area airports. When weather worsens, departures and arrivals are more spaced out, says the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airports. Airline executives have also said a shortfall of air-traffic controllers has exacerbated challenges. 

“No one is happy about airport delays, which is why we are working closely with our partners to reduce tarmac delays that have been overwhelmingly caused by a recent stretch of bad weather in both the New York/New Jersey region and at destination airports,” a Port Authority spokeswoman said in an email. 

More than a decade ago, the Transportation Department implemented a rule prohibiting long tarmac delays. If airlines keep passengers on board for longer than DOT rules allow without the chance to deplane, they could face fines. That rule dramatically reduced the number of incidents when passengers were stranded on planes for several hours, aviation analysts say. But delays do still happen—the DOT has fined airlines for tarmac delays, including $1.9 million to United Airlines in 2021. 

A July 17 Delta Air Lines flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta sat on the ground for about three hours while the temperature outside reached more than 110 degrees.

Tashina and Janssen Robinson were on the flight with their 16-year-old niece and 1-year-old baby. The Robinsons, who live in Atlanta, were flying home after a family reunion and said the air conditioners on the plane were turned on. But Tashina says the weak air stream felt like “blowing a fan in the sun.” 

The Transportation Department is investigating the incident. Delta says it is complying with the investigation and is looking into what led to the uncomfortable temperatures onboard.

The DOT has consumer protections in place for these situations, though they can be limited. Here is what to know about your rights during a tarmac delay.

Why do planes get stuck on the tarmac?

Weather that prevents aircraft from taking off is one of the main reasons for ground delays, says Michael McCormick, a former Federal Aviation Administration senior executive and assistant professor at Florida’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Passengers hundreds of miles from a storm system might experience a ground delay as air-traffic controllers work to reduce congestion in the area with bad weather. Severe and frequent thunderstorms cut off routes for aircraft, McCormick says. When flights can’t take off, there aren’t enough gates for arriving aircraft to park. Staffing or mechanical issues can also cause delays.

Limited runway capacity at New York’s airports exacerbates weather and air-traffic control issues, says

The Port Authority says it is making investments at its airports, including to airport taxiways, to help planes move faster on and off runways. 

Does my airline owe me compensation for a tarmac delay?

No. But they must provide you with a snack and water no later than two hours after the start of the tarmac delay. They aren’t required to serve meals even if the delay lasts a long time.

Airlines are required to provide working toilets, comfortable cabin temperatures and medical attention to those who might need it. There is no set temperature defined as comfortable.

If your flight is delayed or canceled after a tarmac delay, you might be owed compensation. Some airlines give vouchers for food, hotels or ground transportation resulting from a delay or cancellation—so long as the delay or cancellation is in their control. (Weather-related issues don’t apply.)

How long can the airline keep passengers on the plane?

For domestic flights, DOT rules require airlines to start moving to a place where passengers can exit before the delay exceeds three hours. This applies to both arrivals and departures. For international flights, the time limit is four hours. But it allows exceptions for safety, security and air-traffic control-related reasons.

For example, if your aircraft is number four for takeoff in a line of 30 planes, it could be considered a disruption to air-traffic operations to move out of line and return to the gate, says McCormick. 

What can I do if my plane is stuck on the tarmac?

Your options are limited in the time before you have the chance to get off the plane. If you do choose to get off during the tarmac delay, the airline isn’t required to let you back on and you might have to find another flight. 

There is no guarantee you will be reunited with your bags once you deplane, McCormick says. 

Planes are full these days, which means there is no guarantee you will get on the next flight out, Hudson says.

This article may be updated. 

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Write to Allison Pohle at [email protected]