Goodbye Travel Vouchers: You’ll Get an Automatic Refund for a Canceled Flight!
Canceled flight? You can get an automatic airline refund!
As of Monday, October 27th, airlines in the United States are now required to issue cash refunds – not vouchers – for flights that are significantly delayed or canceled. This new rule applies to all US airlines and any foreign carrier that operates within the United States.
According to The Department of Transportation, this new federal rule requires refunds to be processed automatically if a passenger’s flight is “canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept the changed flight, rebooking on an alternative flight, or alternative onlinepensation.”
So how does The Department of Transportation define a “significantly changed” flight?
- A delay to your flight of more than three hours domestically or six hours internationally
- Departure or arrival changed to a different airport
- Connecting flights added to your trip
- A downgrade to a lower class of service than the one you paid for
- Connection at a different airport or flight on a different plane is less accessible/aconlinemodating to a person with a disability
Under the new rule, refunds must automatically be given to any affected passenger, including those who booked non-refundable flights, even if they do not request a refund. Airlines must refund a passenger within seven business days if they paid for their ticket with a credit card or within 20 calendar days if they used another form of payment.
It’s important to note that anyone who accepts alternate transportation or travel credits from the airline instead is not entitled to a full refund.
There are a few additional changes that airline passengers should be aware of as well.
Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report are entitled to a refund of their checked bag fee if the bag is not delivered within the following timeframe:
- 12 hours after a domestic flight arrives at the gate
- 15 or 30 hours after an international flight arrives at the gate (depending on the length of the flight)
Passengers are also entitled to a refund for any fees paid for ancillary services (Wi-Fi, seat selection, in-flight entertainment, etc.) if an airline fails to provide the service.
