What to Know About Biden’s Compensation Plan for Flight Delays and Cancellations

Technical failures, system outages and staffing shortages have caused thousands of flight delays and cancellations in recent months, wreaking havoc on travelers across the country and putting transportation authorities in the spotlight. according to U.S. Department of Transportation data, about 20% of flights were delayed last year. Weather is often the culprit, but airlines are often at fault too.

President Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Monday announced proposed new rules to compensate passengers affected by slowdowns caused by airlines. Under the proposal, airlines would have to cover certain costs for their passengers, as well as pay for any inconvenience caused by flight delays or cancellations.

“I know how frustrating many people are with the service they get from U.S. airlines,” Biden said in a White House announcement. The impact is important.”

What does this change mean for travelers?

Under the new rules, airlines will be required to provide assistance and financial compensation to passengers if the airline is at fault for flight cancellations or delays of more than three hours. Besides free rebooking and refund of ticket price, airlines have to cover other expenses incurred by travelers such as hotel, meals and ground transportation. In addition, inconvenient flyers are entitled to payment in the form of cash, miles or travel vouchers.

“If an airline cancels or delays a flight, passengers shouldn’t have to pay for it,” Buttigieg said. statementThe rule also defines “controllable cancellations and delays”, making it harder for airlines to shift liability.

The Department of Transportation is still working out details on how much travelers can expect to be paid for lost time or how claims will be handled, a spokesperson said in an email. .

How is this different from what airlines already offer?

Since last year, most US airlines have promised some form of compensation for passengers affected by controllable cancellations and significant delays. All 10 major carriers Rebook passengers on the same airline at no additional charge, offer meals or meal vouchers if passengers are kept waiting longer than 3 hours, free of charge if non-airport accommodation is canceled, except for Frontier Airlines provides ground transportation and accommodation. House.

However, only two carriers offer their customers some compensation for the inconvenience.

Alaska Airlines offers discounts on future flights if the airline causes a delay of 3 hours or more. According to the airline online policyaffected passengers will receive instructions from Alaska airport officials and an email or letter detailing the discount amount.

JetBlue will automatically notify passengers via email if their flight is eligible for compensation and Offer travel credits on a sliding scale Up to $250 depending on the length of the delay and whether the plane has already boarded.

Major U.S. airlines do not currently offer cash compensation for disrupted flights.

Is there any precedent for this kind of rule?

In the European Union, where similar regulations have been in place since 2004, passengers are entitled to refunds or alternative flights in the event of a flight cancellation or significant delay, unless due to “extraordinary circumstances” such as bad weather or political unrest. You can get your rights. Regulations cover all passengers, routes from within the European Union, regardless of nationality, even on US carriers. For flights to EU member states, the rules apply only to his EU airline.

If the flight departs late or is canceled within 14 days of the scheduled departure, the passenger is entitled to a maximum of €600 or approximately $660. Passengers are also entitled to compensation if they are denied boarding. Claims can be submitted directly to the airline or through online services such as: flight light By providing details about your reservation and the reason for the delay or cancellation.

European Union passengers may also be entitled to reimbursement of expenses such as meals, ground transport and accommodation if the flight is delayed overnight.

In introducing the proposal, Biden pointed to research showing that EU policies had a positive impact on air traffic. Recent research The magazine Transport Policy concluded that European consumer rights regulations have reduced departure delays, encouraged airlines to operate on time, and improved the quality of service.

When does the policy come into effect?

No one knows for sure, but it’s unlikely to happen any time soon.

Biden said he hopes the Department of Transportation will “move as quickly as possible to introduce this new rule,” but did not specify a timeline.

The agency is currently working on an official document to announce and explain the proposed new rules. This may last for several months, during which hearings may be held in person or online. Other agencies may also be involved in later stages of the review and analysis process. Rules may evolve over time, and in rare cases may be deprecated.

For now, passengers can track the airline’s compensation policy. FlightRights.gov.

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