As of Oct. 28, the FAA Reauthorization Act established new rules for airline passengers. The key changes include:
- Guaranteed no-hassle refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights if travelers don’t want to rebook on another flight.
- Mandatory up-front disclosure of baggage fees.
- A ban on fees for children to sit with a parent or adult travel partner.
- Mandatory, 24/7 live customer service.
- Vouchers that last at least five years.
The final rules require airlines to automatically refund passengers when:
- Their flights are canceled or significantly changed
- Checked bags are significantly delayed
- Airlines don’t provide extra services as purchased
What is a significant change?
- A domestic itinerary’s departure or arrival is pushed back by three or more hours
- An international flight’s departure or arrival is pushed back six or more hours
- An itinerary is moved up by six-plus hours
- A traveler’s origin or destination is altered
- Situations where the traveler ends up with more connections
- When a traveler is downgraded to a lower class of service
- When a traveler with a disability is forced to travel through one or more connecting airports that differ from the original itinerary
- When a traveler with a disability must fly on an aircraft that is less accessible or accommodating than the one originally planned
However, the rules do not apply to travelers who accept the airline’s offer to rebook them on a later flight when their original itinerary is canceled or significantly delayed. For the first time, even if it’s outside the airlines’ control like storms or other severe weather, passengers are entitled to a refund.
The rule outlines requirements regarding ticket refunds due to airline cancellation or significant change, refunds of baggage fees for significantly delayed bags, and refunds of ancillary service fees when services are not provided.
The new DOT rule requires refunds for baggage fees when checked bags arrive 12 or more hours late for domestic flights after a traveler arrives at the gate. For international flights, refunds are due if baggage arrives 15 to 30 hours late, depending on the length of the flight.
Details of the Rule can be found at the Federal Register’s entry on Refunds and Other Consumer Protections.
The U.S. PIRG Education Fund has a good summary of the new rules and effective dates.
