The Biden administration is tweaking rules on airline fees and refunds, saying it'll help consumers
The Biden administration is setting new rules on airline fees and refunds
By The Associated Press
Published - Apr 24, 2024, 06:03 AM ET
Last Updated - May 27, 2024, 01:08 AM EDT
The Biden administration issued final rules Wednesday to clarify when airlines must pay refunds for a delayed flight and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation.
The Transportation Department said airlines will be required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for canceled flights and “significant” delays.
Under current regulations, airlines decide how long a delay must last before triggering refunds. The administration is removing that wiggle room by defining a significant delay as lasting at least three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones.
Airlines still will be allowed to offer another flight or a travel credit instead, but consumers can reject the offer.