Frequent flight goers have good news to look forward to, as major airlines will soon have to provide automatic cash refunds when flights are canceled or significantly delayed.
This comes after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the new rules on Wednesday.
The goal is to make clear standards on flight delays and cancellations, as well as disclose any fees before tickets are purchased, DOT said. Any domestic flights that have delays over three hours or international flights with delays over six hours are required to give refunds by cash or to the original form of payment.
“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them – without headaches or haggling,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news release. “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.”
Refunds aren’t just limited to flight cancellations and delays, but also instances of any flight disruptions, being downgraded to a lower service class and baggage claim delays.
Jerry Price has been booking flights for local residents for over 30 years for Direct Travel in Columbia. He said this is a good way to protect travelers in the unexpected of air travel.
“There are changes, there are cancellations, and they are delays, and now it makes it a little easier for that passenger to get compensation,” Price said.
Price said from experience with his customers, this will be a huge relief for them and his line of business.
“Typically, the airlines are very difficult to deal with, hard to get a hold of when you have a problem, near impossible to get them on the phone without hours of waiting and the rules tend to be very autocratic. It’s whatever the airlines offer you that you have to take,” Price said.
Airlines will still be allowed to offer another flight or a travel credit instead, but consumers can reject the offer.
Airlines will have six months to abide by the new rules.
