The Department of Transportation has announced that it is considering new rules to protect passengers stranded by airlines, drastically changing their flights or outright canceling them.
The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes that airlines pay passengers cash compensation for their tickets, rebook them for free on the next available flight, cover meals, overnight lodging, and any additional transportation passengers may need following an airline-caused flight disruption.
“Americans know the importance of a robust airline industry, which is why this country, and U.S. taxpayers, kept U.S. airlines afloat when the COVID pandemic threatened their very existence,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“Now that we are on the other side of the pandemic and air travel is breaking records, we must continue to advance passenger protections. This action we’re announcing is another step forward into a better era for commercial air travel — where the flying public is better protected and passengers aren’t expected to bear the cost of disruptions caused by airlines,” he said.
The Government Accountability Office found that from July 2021 to April 2022, flight cancellations possibly affected over 15 million passengers, and flight delays potentially affected over 116 million passengers. Data showed that in 2022 and 2023, 60% of three-hour or longer domestic flight delays were caused by airlines.
The DOT recognized that further action needed to be taken to protect passengers. Here are the details of what they are proposing.
What rules the DOT is considering
Cash payments following severe delays are on the table for airline passengers, but the amount they’d receive varies depending on how disrupted their travel plans were. The minimum refund is $200-$300 for domestic delays of at least three hours but less than six. If a delay is at least six hours but less than nine, the refund jumps to $375-$525. If a delay is nine hours or more, the refund is $750-$775.
The DOT is also considering refunds if the airline notifies the passenger of an alteration a week or two in advance.
Getting rebooked for free is also being considered. A passenger would be eligible if a departure is delayed three hours or more domestically or six hours or more internationally, as well as if a flight is canceled or results in a missed connection.
The possibility of airlines covering meals is also being discussed, as well as overnight lodging and any other expenses related to additional transportation needs. These services would only be extended to passengers stranded by airline-caused disruptions. In the case that airlines do not provide these services upfront, the DOT is also looking at requiring airlines to pay a minimum reimbursement fee for each service automatically, removing the need for passengers to submit receipts for reimbursements.
The DOT has also proposed banning family seating junk fees to guarantee parents can sit with their children on flights for no extra charge.
The DOT has also proposed further protecting wheelchair users. The goal is to expand the rights of those who need wheelchairs to ensure they can travel safely and with dignity.
Protections the DOT has enforced
The automatic refund rule went into effect on May 16, 2024, making passengers entitled to refunds when their flight is significantly changed or canceled and they want a new flight, when their checked baggage is significantly delayed, or when they pay for extra services such as WiFi but it isn’t provided. The reimbursement must be given in the original form of payment and equal to the full amount initially paid by the passenger.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The surprise airline junk fee rule protects passengers from hidden junk fees such as change fees and baggage fees. The rule also forces airlines to tell passenger up front that a seat is included with the cost of their ticket and that there’s no need to spend extra for one.
Airlines went to court over the rule, prompting the judge to place a temporary pause on its implementation. The DOT said it would continue fighting for the rule to be enacted.