The new rule mandates that refunds are automatically processed by an airline if a passenger's flight is "canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept the significantly changed flight, rebooking on an alternative flight, or alternative compensation."

Airlines in the United States are now required to give passengers cash refunds if their flight is significantly delayed or canceled, even if that person does not explicitly ask for a refund.

The Department of Transportation says the final federal rule requiring that airlines dole out refunds - not vouchers - went into effect Monday. The major change is being implemented only a month before the start of what is likely to be a huge holiday travel season.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made the announcement on X after he first presented the proposed rule back in April. “Today, our automatic refund rule goes into full effect,” Buttigieg posted. “Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them-without headaches or haggling.”

  • Waraugh@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    2·
    25 days ago

    I’ve flown thousands of flights and the worst delay I experienced required me to get a hotel room, paid for by the airline, and getting on the earliest flight in the morning. It’s hard to read these comments and not think they are from folks who have never flown. Not once in the dozens of times my flight was delayed was I not put onto the next available fight without any incurred cost.

    • stalfoss@lemm.ee
      8·
      25 days ago

      “It never happened to me personally so it must not be real” — this is the mindset that conservatives follow that leads to so much cruelty in the world

    • wolfpack86@lemmy.world
      3·
      25 days ago

      You must fly domestic?

      Had a situation where an alliance partner got me to the long haul carrier late, missed the flight. The alliance partner (united) was responsible for rebooking-- offered me a downgrade in service class that same day and an added connection or next day on the original airline, class, and number of connections.

      Note the “next day, maintain service” option was not coming with a hotel voucher. Work trip, they paid the hotel, but god forbid it was someone who didn’t work for a large mnc…

      This was also due to weather so, “deal with it, because Jesus wanted it this way” prevailed in the contract of carriage.

    • Saganaki
      2·
      25 days ago

      Try flying Spirit—not everyone has money for a normal airline.