U.S. Department of Transportation has issued an enforcement notice that U.S. and foreign airlines (emphasis mine):
remain obligated to provide a prompt refund to passengers for flights to, within, or from the United States when the carrier cancels the passenger’s scheduled flight or makes a significant schedule change and the passenger chooses not to accept the alternative offered by the carrier.  The obligation of airlines to provide refunds, including the ticket price and any optional fee charged for services a passenger is unable to use, does not cease when the flight disruptions are outside of the carrier’s control (e.g., a result of government restrictions).
United & jetBlue are both guilty of trying to force consumers to accept travel credits when they are legally entitled to a full refund. I suspect that the DoT is being weighed down by the volume of complaints from consumers about this deceptive and illegal practice and that’s why we are seeing this enforcement notice. That means that as consumers we need to continue to file these complaints until airlines are forced to follow the law.
Finally got my United flights (reluctantly) refunded. Won’t be flying them again once I use up my miles.
My problem now is with Chase. Booked some flights via their portal on TAP Portugal. Flights got cancelled, no refund to my Chase points. Spent about 10 hours now on the phone, live chat, and Twitter trying to get a resolution. Nothing. What is the next step to get a refund? DoT wouldn’t have any jurisdiction over a bank-run travel agency, would they? Would the Federal Reserve? Is anyone in the same boat as me?
Hawaiian Airlines too is trying to give me credit only. Will have to contest.
Are you entitled to a refund if the carrier cancelled the original flights but automatically rebooked on flights that have similar times (all less than an hour difference)? I know you aren’t entitled to a refund for a schedule change that small, but does it matter that the flight number has changed?
Any clue how this might apply to a tour company? This situation is currently playing out with many tour companies giving vouchers or only partial refunds after full-on cancelling tours. Can’t find any details about it other than a lot of people being pissed off.
Don’t think it applies to a tour company at all? This is for airlines.
Yeah…I’m just puzzled as to why these rules might apply to one and not both since tours are dependent upon their flights to even happen. It’s good that those who bought flights directly are likely to see a positive outcome but there are seemingly a large amount of people who are still set to be screwed after cancellations (though it seems the UK does have protections for this).
Speaking of credit, has anyone had their Southwest credit extended yet?
Thanks. Also I am unclear if i can walk out of a grocery store without paying. Can the government clarify? I will continue walking out without paying till the government clarifies.
Who am i kidding? I will probably get shot as way of clarification.
wat
The government shouldn’t have to clarify to the airlines that they cannot steal. Do they need to be specifically told that? They should already be punished instead of DOT clarifying.
Why is the expectation of following the law higher for normal people than from busineses. Corporations are people. They just engaged in larceny. They should be “shot” by trigger happy cops.
Because arresting one shoplifter is a lot easier & faster than DOT policing/punishing airlines over 1000s of not complying with refunds. Threatening future punishment for non-compliance is easier/cheaper than waiting to punish them year + from now which won’t do much to help people, since this is still a gov’t agency and it’ll take that long.
& Corporation employ a lot of people that they want them to continue to employ. They get more leniency. Life is unfair.¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I think “clarification” is bureaucracy-speak for “Airlines, we see what you’re up to, and we’re not letting it go, so just stop it. We don’t want to spend our already thin resources dealing with your nonsense.” Or, Dad-speak for “I see you, kids. DON’T MAKE ME STOP THIS CAR!”
But yeah, I’ll agree corporations are people when the state of Texas executes one.
How do we file a complaint? I just received an email from Delta that my Ecredit was extended for another two years.
That was from a Delta policy update earlier in the day prior to DOT notification. Contact Delta. File DOT compliant if not provide refund option on previously issued ecredit.
Wait, so if I book to Air Canada from the US, then I could receive a refund? I live in the US, just going to Canada to visit.
and foreign airlines remain obligated to provide a prompt refund to passengers for flights to, within, or from the United States
Yes. It’s to/from US
What if it’s American from Europe to US RT but half has been used? How is the refund figured since a 1-way is much more.
Probably half the fare, but don’t know for sure.
Wow, government does something unquestionably good and fair! Tiny bit of faith restored
Our government and institutions are what keeping us alive right now.
It’s the deep transportation state!
Funny to say for a guy whose username is “Lenin1991”