New Rules for Flight Cancellations and Baggage Delays Houstonians Should Know About

HOUSTON – How many times have you started booking a flight only to find out that it was going to cost you a lot more than you expected?

No matter which airline you choose, unexpected fees seem to be piling up. This is the first summer travel season where new travel rules are now in effect. KPRC 2’s Bill Spencer looks at the things you need to know before you travel.

Airport fees are becoming more and more problematic. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced new rules aimed at protecting airline passengers.

“Well, with the current economy, I feel like airport fees are unrealistic,” said travel agent Inaiya Alexander.

In response, two new air travel rules have just been finalized by the Department of Transportation and should save travelers a lot of money.

New rules on compensation in the event of a problem

Under the rule set out by the Ministry of Transportation, passengers are entitled to a refund for:

Flights cancelled or significantly changed

Passengers will be entitled to a refund if their flight is cancelled or significantly changed and they do not accept the alternative transportation or travel credits offered. For the first time, the rule defines a “significant change.” Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from another airport; increased connections; downgrading passengers to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different aircraft that are less accessible or less suitable for people with disabilities.

Return of baggage considerably delayed

Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report will be entitled to a refund of their checked baggage fee if it is not delivered within 12 hours of their domestic flight arriving at the gate, or within 15 to 30 hours of their international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the duration of the flight.

Additional services not provided

Passengers will be entitled to a refund of fees paid for an additional service – such as Wi-Fi, seat selection or in-flight entertainment – ​​if an airline does not provide that service.

Rules for Airline Refunds

All airlines must follow these rules when it comes to refunding and returning money to customers.

Automatic Airline Refunds

Airlines should automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops.

Fast Airline Refunds

Airlines and ticket agents must issue refunds within seven business days of the refund due date for credit card purchases and within 20 calendar days for other payment methods.

Cash or original method of payment

Airlines and ticket agents must refund the passenger in cash or by any other means of payment used to make the purchase, such as a credit card or airline miles. Airlines cannot substitute vouchers, travel credits or other forms of compensation unless the passenger expressly chooses to accept alternative compensation.

The refund must be the full amount

Airlines and ticket agents must provide a full refund of the purchase price of the ticket, less the value of any portion of the transportation already used. Refunds must include all government-imposed taxes and fees and airline-imposed fees, whether or not such taxes or fees are refundable to the airlines.

The final rule also requires airlines to provide prompt notification to consumers affected by a canceled or significantly changed flight of their right to a ticket refund and additional service fees, as well as any related policies.

Flight attendants should be transparent about hidden fees. These fees may include baggage, seat selection, in-flight services and booking changes.

“I honestly feel like it will have more people, less stress about traveling because it’s a radical thing, and a lot of people are like, ‘Oh my God, but my airlines, they’re going to cost a million dollars.’ And I think that will definitely help us a lot and help consumers as well,” Alexander explained.

Stricter guidelines have also been put in place for airline passengers who require wheelchairs.

What happens if my airline doesn’t comply with the new DOT rules?

If you believe an airline is not following any of these rules, you can file a complaint online with the DOT.

The DOT also prohibits airlines from using bait-and-switch tactics, in which an airline advertises a discounted fare that does not include mandatory fees that drive up the price of the ticket. These rules will go into effect in the coming months.

We worked on this content with a partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcasting.