Passengers Are Now Entitled to a Full Cash Refund for Canceled Flights, 'Significant' Delays

Travelers inconvenienced by formation delays and cancellations will nary longer person to interest astir fighting for a refund acknowledgment to caller regulations passed by nan U.S. Department of Transportation connected Wednesday.

Passengers connected home flights delayed 3 hours much aliases world flights delayed six hours aliases much will beryllium entitled to an automatic rate refund for nan full formation price. Canceled flights will besides make travelers eligible for a refund.

Related: Airlines Made $33 Billion connected Baggage Fees successful 2023: Report

According to nan caller rules, refunds must beryllium issued wrong a fewer days.

Airlines tin still effort to connection passengers nan action of a caller formation aliases recreation in installments alternatively of a rate refund, but passengers now person nan ineligible correct to waive those options.

The automatic quality of nan refunds intends that affected passengers won't person to rumor a petition aliases record a title to beryllium compensated for their disruptions.

"Passengers merit to get their money backmost erstwhile an hose owes them — without headaches aliases haggling," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said successful a press release connected Wednesday. "Our caller norm sets a caller modular to require airlines to promptly supply rate refunds to their passengers."

In summation to rate refunds, nan DOT besides issued caller guidance connected checked luggage — if a container is not delivered wrong a 12-hour model aft a passenger's formation lands connected a home formation aliases wrong 30 hours of an world flight, airlines will person to rumor refunds connected nan checked-bag fee, which alteration depending connected nan airline.

Customers will besides person interest refunds if they salary for other amenities, but are not provided pinch them during their flight, specified arsenic Wi-Fi aliases spot selection.

Related: United Airlines Loses $2 Billion After Waiving Change Fees

The caller rules are a portion of nan administration's scheme to destruct "surprise junk fees." Buttigieg said airlines now must explicate each other fees "clearly, conspicuously, and accurately" erstwhile showing a fare value for purchase.

"To beryllium clear, we want nan hose assemblage to thrive," Buttigieg said astatine a press convention at nan Ronald Reagan Airport connected Wednesday. "It's why we're being truthful rigorous connected rider protection. This will build assurance successful aerial recreation astatine a clip erstwhile airlines request to do much to unafraid passengers' trust."