New rule requires full cash refunds for flight delays, cancellations

Oct 30

Jack Aylmer Anchor

By Jack Aylmer (Anchor), Mirlie Larose (Producer), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)

The Biden-Harris administration implemented a new rule on Monday, Oct. 28, requiring U.S. airlines to issue full cash refunds to passengers whose flights are significantly delayed or canceled. The policy, aimed at bolstering consumer rights, received positive feedback online, as travelers hailed it as a financial win and a boost for peace of mind.

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Passengers wouldn’t need to request the refund. The refund is processed automatically if they declined the airline’s offer for a rebooked flight.

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Passengers become eligible for automatic refunds if a domestic flight was delayed by three or more hours, an international flight by six or more hours or if the flight was canceled.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them—without headaches or haggling,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.

The rule also applies to major itinerary changes, such as airport switches or additional stops.

Airlines must issue refunds within seven business days for payments made by credit card. It must be within 20 days for payments made by other methods.

Buttigieg noted airlines might oppose the measure. However, airlines are now required to clearly communicate passengers’ refund rights.

The timing of this policy change coincided with the approaching holiday travel season, a period known for high passenger volumes.

Tags: Airlines, Airport, holiday travel, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Travel

Jack Aylmer

BIG NEWS FOR U.S. AIRLINE PASSENGERS THIS WEEK—A NEW RULE FROM THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION NOW REQUIRES AIRLINES TO ISSUE A FULL CASH REFUND, IF YOUR FLIGHT IS SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED OR CANCELED.

THIS CHANGE IS GETTING POSITIVE BUZZ ONLINE, AS TRAVELERS SEE IT AS A WIN FOR THEIR WALLETS AND THEIR PEACE OF MIND.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: IF YOUR DOMESTIC FLIGHT IS DELAYED THREE OR MORE HOURS, AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT IS DELAYED SIX OR MORE HOURS, OR IF THE FLIGHT IS CANCELED, YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND.

THE REFUND IS PROCESSED WITHOUT YOU NEEDING TO REQUEST IT, AS LONG AS YOU DECLINE THE NEW FLIGHT OPTION.

ACCORDING TO TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG, “PASSENGERS DESERVE TO GET THEIR MONEY BACK WHEN AN AIRLINE OWES THEM—WITHOUT HEADACHES OR HAGGLING.”

THIS ALSO APPLIES TO MAJOR CHANGES IN YOUR ITINERARY, LIKE SWITCHING AIRPORTS OR ADDING STOPS.

AIRLINES MUST ISSUE REFUNDS WITHIN SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS IF YOU PAID BY CREDIT CARD, AND WITHIN 20 DAYS IF YOU USED ANY OTHER PAYMENT METHOD.

THE TIMING COULD NOT BE BETTER, AS WE APPROACH THE BUSY HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON.

SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG NOTED THAT WHILE AIRLINES MIGHT BE PUSHING BACK, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE A PASSENGERS’ RIGHT TO A REFUND.

FOR SAN, I’M JACK AYLMER