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The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is changing how airlines treat their customers, including increasing passenger rights to a refund when they face canceled or extremely delayed flights.
The DOT already requires airlines to offer refunds if they cancel flights for any reason, but airlines keep their policies a bit more vague—and sometimes downright confusing—for refunds for delays. This often means passengers are uninformed about their rights and end up leaving money on the table, money that is rightfully theirs.
To combat this issue, the DOT is creating a new interactive dashboard that will provide “easy-to-read, comparative summary information on the services or amenities that each of the large U.S. airlines provided. When the cause of a cancelation or delay was because of circumstances within the airline’s control,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a letter sent to all U.S. airlines on Aug. 18.
We expect the new dashboard to go live on the department’s Aviation Consumer Protection site.
“When passengers experience cancellations and delays, they deserve clear and transparent information on the services that your airline will provide, to address the expenses and inconveniences resulting from these disruptions,” Secretary Buttigieg wrote.
This move from the DOT comes after a tumultuous year for air travel, particularly this summer, which saw thousands of delays and cancellations weekly. According to Secretary Buttigieg, nearly a quarter of domestic flights were delayed. And over 3% of domestic flights were canceled; during the first six months of 2022.
The DOT is now considering setting clear rules and standards for all airlines to follow when requiring refunds for passengers experiencing delays or flight cancelations. The department currently has an open forum where travelers can comment on what they think the DOT should do. The department is also seeking public comments as it aims to potentially regulate the continuously shrinking size of airplane seats.
Jessica is a freelance journalist on a quest to see and experience everything our gorgeous planet offers and share her experiences with her fellow travelers. Jessica has written for several world-class Travel Magazines.
