The new rule mandates that refunds are automatically processed by an airline if a passenger's flight is "canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept the significantly changed flight, rebooking on an alternative flight, or alternative compensation."

Airlines in the United States are now required to give passengers cash refunds if their flight is significantly delayed or canceled, even if that person does not explicitly ask for a refund.

The Department of Transportation says the final federal rule requiring that airlines dole out refunds - not vouchers - went into effect Monday. The major change is being implemented only a month before the start of what is likely to be a huge holiday travel season.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made the announcement on X after he first presented the proposed rule back in April. “Today, our automatic refund rule goes into full effect,” Buttigieg posted. “Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them-without headaches or haggling.”

  • @Subtracty
    36•21 days ago

    I’m not sure how the law will pan out because of this. While it is beneficial, and airlines are financially held accountable, being reimbursed the price you paid for your ticket will not be enough to get you on the next available flight to wherever you were going. Depending on when the flight is canceled.

    • partial_accumen
      20•21 days ago

      You’re correct, but I don’t think that is what the law was trying to fix. I think it was trying to fix paying for a flight in cash, and when a flight is canceled being given a voucher (often for less) locking you into purchasing from that airline again to get any value out of your original cash.

      At least with this step if you pay $200 for your flight initially, and your flight is canceled, you’re given your $200 back to by a replacement which may, that day, cost you $600, so its only costing you $400 cash instead of $600 cash which would have been the situation before. This is a step in the right direction.

      • @SkyezOpen
        1•19 days ago

        I was under the impression that the law was already that airlines had to give 3x the ticket price if you were involuntarily canceled or bumped from a flight, which is why they offered to compensate people to volunteer to take other flights or a voucher instead.

    • @guacupado
      5•19 days ago

      You’re not guaranteed to get the next flight anyway. At least this way you’re at least getting your money, which airlines try to make you pay extra for just to get the right to ask for it.