Transportation Dept. Proposes New Rule to Ease Air Travel Chaos for Passengers

In a raging summer for air travel, the Department of Transportation is giving passengers more recourse when airlines cancel flights or make major changes to flight schedules, routes or seat categories. We are proposing changes to federal policy to guide flight refunds.

Rules determined by agency 90 day public comment period Pandemic-backed U.S. airlines will also be required to issue full refunds if passengers choose not to travel due to certain coronavirus-related factors, such as the country banning non-essential travel. I have.

“This newly proposed rule will help protect the rights of travelers and ensure timely refunds from airlines.” statement on Wednesday to announce the proposal.

under Current Ministry of Transport By policy, airlines are already issuing refunds to passengers on canceled or “substantially changed” flights.But the carrier is slammed exploit Both the ambiguity of the term “substantially modified” and the fact that many air travelers are unaware that they are entitled to a refund rather than a credit for canceled flights.

Under the proposed policy, “substantially modified” is defined as 3 hours delay for domestic flights and 6 hours delay for international flights. The new rules also entitle passengers to a full refund for changes in departure or destination airports, additional connections, or aircraft changes that result in significant class downgrades. Several Democratic senators, including Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, introduced similar legislation this week. protection.

Air travel has been frustrating for many during the pandemic, but the number of delays and cancellations has risen over the past year, leaving thousands eager to travel after two years of restrictions and closures. It affected a lot of passengers.

About 20% of U.S. airline flights have been delayed this year, according to flight tracking company FlightAware, 6% higher than the airline’s performance in the past two years. On busy weekends, airlines are canceling flights four times as often as he was in 2019.

Many travelers who are stranded or delayed complain of the complicated process required to obtain a refund.

“It’s basically theft,” says Kathryn T. Jones, 64, a nonprofit grants writer in Austin, Texas, who is fed up with airlines changing flights without providing adequate compensation. said.

In June, United Airlines notified Ms. Jones that her connection at Newark Liberty International Airport for her flight from Austin to Dublin in September had been changed. When she examined her itinerary, she noticed that the aircraft on the leg from Newark to Dublin had also been changed and did not include premium economy seats. When she tried to get a refund to purchase a seat on another airline, the airline told her she could only receive credit.

“I think it’s absolutely necessary,” Jones said of a proposed rule that would clarify when airlines must issue refunds.

The Department of Transportation’s proposal also offers airlines that received significant federal support early in the pandemic, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and United, a full refund if passengers are unable to make their intended flight. I am asking for a refund. Certain virus-related reasonsAll airlines should, at a minimum, provide vouchers that do not expire if travelers cannot fly for pandemic-related reasons outlined in the proposal.

On August 22nd, the Ministry of Transport online public meeting Discuss proposed changes.