These protections were designed to avoid issues that arose from the pandemic. Many passengers who had their flights canceled because of travel restrictions in 2020 struggled to receive a refund. Later, airlines were required to reimburse passengers for canceled flights due to travel restrictions. collectively fined The DOT was fined $7.5 million for its delay in refunds, and forced to return $600 million to customers.
The new protections are not only for sick travelers Even if there is no public health emergency declared by the US government, you can still apply if a licensed medical professional has told you to avoid travel because of a “serious communicable illness” or a likelihood that you will have one. final rule.
What happens if you are not refunded by an airline?
Although all of the above rules have been communicated to airline personnel, it does not mean that they will be followed. The truth is that airlines are regularly fined The DOT will prosecute travelers who violate federal laws, so it is important that you are prepared to defend yourself when this happens.
Airlines The airline must notify fliers affected by cancellations and delays that they are entitled to a refund on their ticket and any additional service fees. The airline may try to convince you to accept another type of compensation like a voucher. Eric Napoli is the chief legal officer of AirHelpThe company, which provides assistance to passengers in obtaining airline refunds and compensations, tells Condé Nast Traveler. “Always ask for cash compensation. “We recommend that passengers do not accept vouchers unless you are sure they are getting a good deal.”
Most situations are not a problem. airlines offer flight vouchers Cash refunds are usually better than vouchers, as they equal the amount of airfare that was not used. Napoli says, “If the customer decides not to fly on that particular flight, he or she can get a cash refund instead of a voucher for a future trip with the airline.
Document everything as well, because certain details could be useful later. Napoli says, “Even if passenger protections exist, it is important to collect evidence to support any claim you may have for compensation or a refund depending on your circumstances.” Keep all SMS, emails or notifications from the airline. Keep your boarding pass You should also take photos of any other boarding passes. Photograph any flyers, flight information boards or other materials that show your itinerary or disruption. Take note of when you arrive at the final destination. Keep all receipts for everything you bought. Ask the airline to explain the reason for the disruption. You can use this evidence to file a complaint or follow up with customer service at the airline.
What other challenges could the new rules bring to fliers? Refunds for onboard services that were paid in advance but not used due to delays or cancellations. While airlines are required to refund these payments, there is a little more gray area when compared with the cost of an unused ticket. This information is typically available through customer service agents. Napoli advises that if passengers paid for services they didn’t receive, they should ask the airline for a refund. Again, it’s beneficial to be ready with receipts that can help you politely—but persistently—spell out the total cost of your delay or cancellation, extra fees included.
If you believe that your airline does not follow the new refund rules then you should contact them. file a consumer complaint with the DOT. These complaints help the DOT hold airlines accountable with fines and other punishments, so they do amount to more than just screaming into the void—although depending on the severity of your flight delay, that could be cathartic, too.
