Airlines Must Issue Automatic Refunds for Canceled Flights
Airlines are now required to give customers automatic refunds after a new Department of Transportation rule went into effect earlier this week.
If your flight is canceled or delayed by more than three hours for a domestic itinerary, or six hours for an international itinerary, you’re automatically entitled to a refund. The news was announced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg declared in a post on X.
Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them—without headaches or haggling. Today, our automatic refund rule goes into full effect. Airlines are required to provide prompt cash refunds without passengers having to ask. pic.twitter.com/otIvRaGJxC
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) October 28, 2024
Some parts of this DOT’s new rule went into effect in May, but some of the provisions had a longer lead time for implantation.
Canceled or Significantly Changed Flights
The DOT already required airlines to provide refunds to travelers whose flights were canceled, as long as they did not to take alternative flights offered by the airline.
