The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule requiring airlines to offer cash refunds for cancellations, significant delays or changes in flight itineraries. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that under the new standards, airlines must refund passengers in cash or the original form of payment rather than vouchers, no matter the reason for the flight disruption, including weather or technical issues.
This rule stipulates that refunds are due if a domestic flight's timing changes by three or more hours, or six hours for international flights. Additional circumstances that qualify for refunds include changes in departure or arrival airports and the introduction of extra connections in the itinerary. Moreover, if airlines fail to provide paid services such as Wi-Fi or if baggage delivery is delayed beyond 12 hours after domestic flights, as well as up to 30 hours after international flights, passengers are entitled to a refund of those specific fees.
Buttigieg emphasized that this measure would prevent airlines from imposing "surprise fees" and could save passengers over $500 million USD annually. The implementation of these rules is set to unfold over the next 6 to 12 months, marking a significant step towards enhancing transparency and fairness in airline customer service, ensuring that passengers receive the services they pay for without unnecessary complications.
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