Refunds? New Rules for Air Ticket Refunds
The Biden White House announced new rules for consumers regarding our plane tickets. A few items are below. Some of the rules are still grayish; it is still worth a careful reading of the full statement.
Currently you get a refund if the airline cancels the flight not due to weather. NEW A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline cancels a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel. This means airlines cannot blame it all on the weather.
Currently you only get a refund if the flight is delayed specific times per the airline. NEW A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline made a significant schedule change and/or significantly delays a flight and the consumer chooses not to travel. Generally 3 hours domestic and 6 international, an extra stop is added or airport changes.
Currently if you accept a downgraded seat, you lose the upgrade money you paid for the first seat. NEW A consumer is entitled to a refund if the consumer was involuntarily moved to a lower class of service. For example, if the consumer purchased a first-class ticket and was downgraded to economy due to an aircraft swap, the consumer is owed the difference in fares. This can happen with a change of aircraft, broken seat, if your flight was cancelled and you accepted another seat in a lower class. Example: you need to be on a specific flight but your First Class seat is gone and you take an economy seat.
Currently some airlines refuse to refund extra fees. An example if your bags are severely delayed (12 hours domestic and 15 international), some keep your baggage fee. NEW Most fees are refundable with a new flight, delayed flight, and other situations denying them service they bought (wifi for example).
Currently refunds have to be requested by the consumer and can take weeks. NEW Airlines must refund automatically; this avoids a maze of emails from the consumer.
Currently baggage, seat and cancellation fees are displayed after you book a ticket. NEW Fees must be displayed up front. The booking must also say: seats are guaranteed so consumers do not feel they must buy a seat.
The rules might be confusing; they are worth a good read. Even if your refund is small, it is your money. Travel tips from award winning tour company: The Women’s Travel Group. We still have space on Scotland and Ireland and Sicily.
