Travelers troubled by flight delays and cancellations will no longer have to worry about fighting for a refund thanks to new regulations passed by US Department of Transportation Wednesday.
Passengers on domestic flights were delayed by three hours longer or international flights by six hours or more will be right for an automatic refund of the entire flight price. Canceled flights will also make travelers eligible for a refund.
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Under the new rules, refunds must be issued within days.
Airlines may still try to offer passengers the option of a new flight or travel credit instead of a refund, but passengers now have the legal right to opt out of these options.
The automatic nature of the refunds means that affected passengers will not need to issue a claim or lodge a complaint to be compensated for their disruptions.
“Passengers deserve to get their money's worth when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. Press release Wednesday. “Our new rule sets a new standard for requiring airlines to promptly provide refunds to their passengers.”
In addition to the cash refunds, the DOT also issued new guidelines for checked bags — if a bag is not delivered within 12 hours after a passenger lands on a domestic flight or within 30 hours of an international flight , airlines will have to issue refunds for checked baggage fees, which vary by airline.
Customers will also receive fee refunds if they pay for additional equipment but are not provided with it during their flight, such as Wi-Fi or seat selection.
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The new rules are part of the administration's plan to eliminate “surprise garbage charges.” Buttigieg said airlines must now explain all surcharges “clearly, conspicuously and accurately” when showing a purchase fare price.
“To be clear, we want the airline sector to thrive,” Buttigieg said in a press conference in Ronald Reagan Airport on Wednesday. “This is why we are so rigorous about protecting passengers. This will build confidence in air travel at a time when airlines need to do more to ensure passenger confidence.”