Understanding Your Rights When Your Flight is Cancelled
Being stuck at the airport due to a canceled flight can be a frustrating experience, especially during busy travel times. In recent events where thousands of flights were scratched due to serious computer failures, passengers faced chaos and uncertainty. In such situations, it is important for travelers to be aware of their rights and how to handle a flight cancellation.
Can I Get a Refund for a Cancelled Flight?
When an airline cancels a flight, federal regulations entitle passengers to a prompt refund. Regardless of the reason for the cancellation, passengers have the right to choose a refund over travel credits or rescheduled flights. This rule applies to all fare types, including non-refundable tickets, and covers additional fees such as checked baggage and seat upgrades.
Effective from October, new federal regulations define a “significant change” in flight schedules as delays of at least three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights. In such cases, airlines must offer refunds promptly.
How Long Does It Take to Receive a Refund?
According to the Department of Transportation, airlines must refund passengers immediately after a flight is canceled or severely delayed. This means refunds should be processed within 7 business days for credit card payments and within 20 days for cash or check payments. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the need for airlines to provide prompt refunds and reimburse affected passengers for expenses like food and accommodations.
Dealing with Incidental Expenses and Baggage Issues
While airlines are not obligated to reimburse passengers for incidental expenses like rental cars or meals, they may choose to cover certain costs at their discretion. In cases of luggage delays, passengers should be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred. It’s essential to track your luggage and provide accurate information to the airline for faster recovery.
To ensure a smoother travel experience during flight delays and cancellations, passengers can take proactive steps like booking the first flight of the day, downloading airline apps for faster rebooking, traveling with carry-on luggage to avoid delays, and researching airlines with better on-time performance.
