U. S. based airlines are now , required to give passengers automatic cash refunds , when a flight is significantly delayed or canceled — even if the customer does n’t ask for one — under a new , Department of Transportation , rule.
The concept,  , which was finalized in April, went into full effect this week ahead of the impending holiday travel season.
” Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling” , , Transportation Secretary , Pete Buttigieg , wrote on social media Monday.
The secretary stated when the first rule was released that “our new rule establishes a new regular” and requires airlines to rapidly provide cash refunds to their passengers.
Airlines must now automatically process a refund if a flight is” canceled or significantly changed, and]passengers ] do not accept the significantly changed flight, rebooking on an alternative flight, or alternative compensation”.
A considerable delay is defined by the law as more than three hours for local travel and six days for international travel. Both scheduled departures and arrivals are subject to the day limitations.
A” significantly changed” trip is one that departs or arrives at a different airports than the one that was originally scheduled, one that has more connections, one where a customer has been downgraded from a business to business, or one that switches to airports or aircraft models that are less accessible for a disabled traveler.
If the ticket was purchased using a credit card, a payment must be made within seven times, and if paid for using another approach, within 20 days.
The law even requires payments for delayed or missing checked bag and pre-paid inflight companies, like Wi-Fi or chairs, that become accessible.
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