A new rule mandating automatic cash refunds for significantly delayed or canceled flights took effect this week.
“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them—without headaches or haggling,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a recent statement on X.
Now, if your flight is significantly delayed or canceled, you are entitled to a cash refund without even needing to request it.
Under the new rule, airlines are required to refund passengers under the following conditions:
• Flight Cancellations or Significant Changes: If a passenger’s flight is canceled or experiences a significant schedule change
• Delayed Baggage: Passengers whose baggage is delayed will receive a refund of their checked bag fee if it is not returned within 12 hours domestically or within 15 to 30 hours internationally, depending on the flight’s distance.
• Extra Services Not Delivered: If an airline fails to provide any extra services passengers paid for—such as Wi-Fi, seat selection, or in-flight entertainment—passengers are entitled to a refund for those fees.
These refunds will be automatically issued by airlines, whether or not passengers specifically request them.
