Flight Delayed or Cancelled at Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH)?
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is one of United's largest hubs and a major connecting point to Latin America and the Caribbean. That means a lot of travelers at IAH are connecting, and one late flight can ripple into a missed connection or an overnight stay. Here is what applies and what to do.
Who you're probably flying
Most IAH departures are on United and United Express, which operate mainly from Terminals B, C, and E. Other US airlines mostly use Terminal A, and many foreign airlines use the international complex at Terminals D and E. Your rights depend on the airline that sold or operates your ticket, so check your confirmation.
If you're flying United, our United flight delay guide covers United's specific commitments in detail.
Common causes of delays at IAH
- Thunderstorms, especially on summer afternoons
- Tropical storms and hurricanes during the Atlantic season (June 1 to November 30)
- Fog on some mornings
- Knock-on delays from other hubs and tight connections
Weather and air traffic control are generally treated as outside the airline's control. Crew and many maintenance issues generally are within it. That difference matters for meals and hotels, as explained below.
The DOT refund rule
The DOT refund rule (14 CFR Part 260) covers flights to, from, or within the US, including every flight out of IAH. If your flight is cancelled or significantly changed (for domestic trips, departing 3+ hours earlier or arriving 3+ hours later than scheduled; 6+ hours for international), and you decline the new flight and any voucher or credit, the airline must refund the fare, taxes, and unused paid extras to your original payment method. This applies to cancellations for any reason, including weather.
Refunds are due within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment types. Accepting the rebooked flight or a credit generally ends the refund right for that ticket.
Meals, hotels, and rebooking with United
On the DOT Airline Customer Service Dashboard, for disruptions within its control, United commits to rebooking on United or a partner airline at no extra cost, a meal or meal voucher for waits of 3+ hours, and a hotel plus ground transportation for overnight disruptions. United does not commit on the dashboard to cash compensation for delays.
Missed your connection at IAH?
If both flights are on one booking, the airline normally rebooks you when its own delay causes the miss. If you booked separately, protections usually don't carry over. See our missed connection guide.
What to do at IAH
- Use the airline app first. Rebooking options often show up there before the line at the service desk moves.
- Screenshot the delay or cancellation notice and the reason given.
- Decide: refund or rebook before you accept anything.
- Ask for a meal voucher at the 3-hour mark and a hotel if you're stuck overnight for a controllable reason.
- Keep receipts and boarding passes.
- Follow up in writing with your flight numbers, times, and the reasons the airline gave.
Related guides: Flight cancelled, Weather delays, Houston Hobby (HOU). Not sure where to start? Check your flight.
FAQ
My United flight from IAH was cancelled for weather. Can I still request a refund? Yes. The DOT refund rule applies to cancellations regardless of the cause, as long as you decline the rebooking and any voucher or credit.
Will United give me a hotel in Houston? United commits to a hotel for overnight disruptions within its control. For weather, it usually isn't committed, but you can still ask.
I'm flying internationally from IAH. Does EU261 apply? EU261 generally covers flights departing the EU, and flights into the EU on EU airlines. A flight from Houston to Europe on a US airline usually isn't covered, but your return flight from Europe may be. See our EU261 page.
Where do I complain if the airline doesn't respond? You can file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation.
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