Airline Refunds Now Will Be Issued Immediately For Cancelled Or Delayed Flights, Per DOT
The USDOT announced new “passenger rights” rules where airline refunds will be given immediately, in cash, for long delays and cancellations. There are also new rules for lost luggage.
There’s few things in the world more annoying than when your flights get delayed or cancelled. It can be a frustrating obstacle to deal with and can completely derail your travel plans, especially when you pay out the wazoo for a ticket. Luckily the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has just passed a new rule that will make the process at least a little more bearable, for you and your wazoo.
NEWS: We just issued a rule that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic, cash refunds when owed. No more having to request your money back—airlines should automatically do this. https://t.co/KwkWYfdPph
— U.S. Department of Transportation (@USDOT) April 24, 2024
Final Rule Provides Airline Customers With New Rights
These new rules for airline refunds were announced on Wednesday, April 24 by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. In a recent news conference, Buttigieg laid out the rights that this new set of rules provides for airline passengers.
“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them – without headaches or haggling,” said Buttigieg, “our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.”
Breakdown Of New Passenger Rights
Here is a complete detailing of the passenger rights that these new rules guarantee, per USDOT:
- Passengers will be entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered. (Significant changes include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability.
- Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report will be entitled to a refund of their checked bag fee if it is not delivered within 12 hours of their domestic flight arriving at the gate, or 15-30 hours of their international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the length of the flight.
- Passengers will be entitled to a refund for the fee they paid for an extra service — such as Wi-Fi, seat selection, or inflight entertainment — if an airline fails to provide this service.
If you encounter any of these predicaments while traveling, the airline is required to automatically give you a full refund, in cash, and in a timely manner.
Timeline Of New Airline Refunds Rule Implementation
The entire process of rolling out these new rules for airline refunds will likely take about 6 to 12 months. This will allow airlines time to devise efficient systems for offering automatic refunds to their passengers. To learn more about the new rules and passenger rights, visit USDOT’s portal for aviation consumer protection.
Tips to Maximize Your Vacation
1. Save Money
One great way to maximize your vacation is simply to save money. You’ll feel so much better on vacation knowing that you’re saving cash by doing things the right way. One major way to save money is to travel during an off season. Every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, look at the cheapest time to visit your destination, and go then. Find more tips on saving money on vacation, too.
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2. Don't Plan Every Minute of Your Vacation
Sure, you want to do some planning so that you don’t miss the big tourist stops in your destination. But, don’t book every blasted minute. Maximize your vacay by saving some time to be spontaneous. Take a day to just figure out what to do when you’re there. Maybe some locals will recommend a secret spot for you to visit during your “day off.”
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3. Do Plan Ahead, Though
While you don’t want to overbook your trip so that you’re always running from spot to spot, you do want to plan a bit. It’s not a good idea to do zero planning and just feel things out when you get there. Plan some big activities ahead of time so that you aren’t scrambling last-minute.
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4. Plan Regular Mini-Vacations
If you only have one big vacation every year, you might feel under a lot of pressure to make it the most amazing experience ever. So, take away that stress. Plan mini-vacations throughout the year, so you aren’t under as much pressure to make your big trip the best thing that’s ever happened to you and your family. For example, in the fall, if you live in an area with beautiful colors, make an annual fall color tour trip and just drive around the state.
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5. Stay an Extra Day
If time and money allows, adding just one day to your vacation can open up a world of possibilities. Many people plan too short a trip, not realizing just how much they’ll want to do in their destination. So, add an extra day. You’ll be glad you did at the end of your stay.
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6. Take Time to Sleep
Sure, you’re on vacation. You want to soak up every minute of your trip. But, if you’re up late every night partying in the clubs and then up early to enjoy the sunrise, pretty soon, you’ll be too tired to enjoy your vacation. So, take time to get some sleep and feel rested.
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7. Let the Small Stuff Go
They say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” That’s certainly true on vacation. Nothing is going to go totally as planned. So, expect the unexpected, and roll with it.
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8. Plan Some Recoup Time
When you get back from your vacation, don’t plan to start work the very next day. Take an extra day or two off after your vacation to recuperate, so that you hit the ground running when you’re back at work. The extra time at home will also give you a chance to savor your vacation.
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9. Pick an Experience
People often find experiencing more rewarding that physical things. So, make sure to plan an experience with your trip. Maybe there’s a huge concert you want to see on vacation. Perhaps it’s a sporting event. Whatever it is, plan an awesome experience.
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10. Learn for Next Time
Finally, when you’re home from your trip, decompress and look back on your vacation. What went wrong? What went right? Take notes and learn from your vacation, so you’ll know what to do better next time.
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