New U.S. federal regulations went into effect this week making it easier to get refunds when things go wrong during airline travel:
- The airlines must automatically issue a refund for flights which were significantly delayed. When a domestic flight is delayed for 3 hours or an international flight for 6 hours for international flights, the airline must issue a refund without the need for the consumer to request. (This is obviously referring to when the customer decided not to take the long-delayed flight. I’m not sure if the customer has to cancel the flight manually in order to be eligible.)
- A customer is entitled to a refund on any baggage fees they paid if the baggage delivery was significantly delayed. It’s considered significantly delayed after 12 hours for domestic flights, and either 15 or 30 hours for international flights, depending on flight distance. (This refund is not automatic and needs to be requested.)
- A customer is entitled to a refund when they paid for wifi or another ancillary service and the service was not provided. (This refund is not automatic and needs to be requested.)
Good to see these consumer-friendly rules go into effect.
View Comments (67)
This is nothing new in Europe..... and EU
We know. We’re trying to do (a little) better in the US. We have a long way to go.
Wow, how an innocuous post turned into a cesspool of political turd.
It's remarkable how personal people take anything that remotely touches politics
It’s not that bad; there’s …some… decent commentary here.
There we go again, we were looking forward to another desperate political ad.... BTW, are refunds for everyone or only for the select few the current administration and their unrelenting supporters don't consider "garbage"?
You losers are the ones calling America garbage. Grow up. Or cry next next when you get trounced.
No, stop.
Southwest baggage changes incoming? It's basically a liability with no revenue.
How is it a liability if there’s no revenue from baggage fees?
If the baggage is delayed, the customer is entitled to a refund on any BAGGAGE FEES.
Any thoughts on if this can be applied to bookings at a later date? I booked Jan 2025 non-refundable tickets on AA. Outbound leg they changed arrival time from 5 in the afternoon to literally the next day 1am. Return trip they changed from 11:30am departure to 9:30am departure which is impossible for me to make since we're disembarking from cruise in New Orleans. AA said "too bad - take a later flight" knowing full well their ONLY other later flights are 7pm evening departure with 17 to 19 hour travel time arriving mid-afternoon next day. I get it that I cannot expect to cancel or change my non-refundable tickets... but it is seriously wrong that the airline can randomly make major changes to your flight time months in advance and then tell me too bad. Any helpful thoughts out there? TIA...
Since the outbound change is significant, 7 hours, so you should be eligible for a full refund, for the full itinerary if booked roundtrip, or just the outbound if booked separately, regardless of the terms ‘non-refundable’ because of the DOT rules. Return flight, 2 hours, may or may not be significant. If the airline does not comply, submit a complaint with the DOT, and they should address this within about a month. Good luck.
Overall a negative change IMO. Under the previous rule a delay of 3 hrs entitled you to compensation now it's been extended to 6 hrs.
Domestic is 3, International is 6.
When a domestic flight is delayed for 3 hours or an international flight for 6 hours for international flights.
I've not experienced a domestic delay that long so not sure if that's the same.
International was 3 hrs under the old rule
DOT explicitly said in its rule that airlines with more generous refund policies than what DOT requires now were encouraged to keep them but our airlines just love to stick it to their customers. Watch UA, DL, AA etc. all claim that DOT forced them to change their refund policies for the worse.
Got it. Aside from a cancelled international flight this year (Australia so no compensation rules), I've been lucky so didn't know. Thanks for the input.
lmao
This is a great win, and I'll take it. Some change takes time, especially with our 50/50 split senate and the unwillingness to compromise. Consumers over time will recognize and enjoy their new empowerment, and will not give it up willingly.
These are small, but tangible improvements. Things like this that Sec. Pete does, and what the FCC / FTC are doing, show that your vote matters in so many ways. Were it not for the 81,283,501 citizens who had the common sense and integrity to vote for Joe Biden in 2020, the FCC's Ajit Pai (appointed by Trump) in 2021 would have rubber stamped so that Xfinity (and no doubt soon followed by Spectrum and others) home broadband internet today would have arbitrary data caps.
Stuff like this really matters.
And right now only one party takes their (often thankless) jobs seriously and help all Americans, whom they promised to serve. They always try, but don't always get it right. What could really help is if America again could have two legitimate political parties. The other party right now has their chips all in on cult identity indoctrination.
You had 4 years to open your eyes, sad.
They're blatantly cheating again, you have videos all over non-censored social medias showing the steal, but you prefer to believe the MSM lies still. Why? Take the red pill.
Oh, Bob.. sweet, sweet, Bob.. may the trolls have mercy on you.
So true! Pete should have personally built an American Shinkansen connecting all major cities. Give us everything we want right now, or we’ll call you names!
Agreed, but it's every politician on both sides, all the time. Love your friends and family and never trust a politician.
Both sides very fine people