The rights of the airline passengers have been at the center of attention since last week. First, The news was learned that airlines are pressing the Trump administration To eliminate a wide range of consumer protection regulations. Then, the administration He said he would discard a Biden era rule That required airlines to compensate customers for delays and cancellations.
In the midst of all holders, it may be confusing to analyze what is still in force and what is different. The good news is that, ultimately, it has not changed much, at least for now. The bad news is that a lot is still uncertain.
For now, this is what you need to know.
What aerial travel protections are still in force?
Almost all important rules or policies that have been in force in the past still apply.
The reimbursement rules remain in place
If your flight is canceled or delayed significantly and decides not to take it, You still have the right to reimbursement. If you take the flight or accept a new flight after a cancellation, you have no right to reimbursement.
However, if you have the right to reimbursement, the rules implemented by former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg who entered into force last October states that these reimbursements must be automatically issued to their original payment form. That means that airlines only cannot offer coupons or flight loans instead of cash reimbursements.
These reimbursements must also include accessories that you paid, such as bags to controls or seat tasks. The reimbursement rules are applied to the flights that are canceled, as well as delayed national flights for at least three hours or international flights delayed in at least six hours (unless you decide to remain on the delayed flight or accept a change in a different flight). In particular, the rule only applies to the unused part of a trip, so if you decide not to fly on the return section of a round trip, your refund will only be for that return segment.
These reimbursement rules apply to flight interruptions caused by the airline, as a maintenance problem, as well as those outside the airline control, such as bad weather.
Keep in mind that a refund applies to the money paid for the flight. It does not cover new expenses caused by delay or cancellation, such as a night hotel after a flight is canceled.
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The 24 -hour refund policy is still applied
You also have the right to reimburse within 24 hours after the purchase of your ticket, as long as you bought it at least a week in advance, for Transport Department Policy. This policy does not necessarily apply if you reserve your ticket indirectly, as through an online travel agency as an expedited or a credit card reserve portal, although most of these services will still offer a 24 -hour cancellation option. In addition, remember that some tickets and rates classes include longer cancellation times, so be sure to pay attention to exactly what you are buying.
Tarmac delay sodas
Finally, airlines are required to offer food and water during asphalt delays for two hours. On national flights, airlines must offer the option to leave the plane after three hours on the ground; For international flights, it’s four hours. However, keep in mind that you will not get anything from the airline if you break those rules; Instead, the airline would face points fines.
Intact field panel, still
In particular, the air trip of the point Consumer Rights Panel It is still intact. The board explains the airline policies for things such as meals and transport costs of hotels and land when a flight is canceled or significantly delayed and the airline is considered responsible.
The board also qualifies the airlines in their family seat policies.
What aerial travel protections are disappearing?
In December, during the last weeks of the Biden administration, buttigieg issued a proposal for new passenger compensation ruleswhich require that airlines provide cash compensation to passengers in case of significant cancellations or delays.
According to the proposed regulation notice, airlines would be required to compensate for the passengers at least $ 200 when their flights were delayed three hours or more, specifically in cases where the delay was caused by something within the control of the airline. The compensation amounts would be higher for longer delays and cancellations, and the DOT added that it could formalize the airlines’ policies on reimbursement of passengers for the expenses caused by delays, such as food, hotels and taxi purchases. (Many of the promises offered by airlines are currently voluntary).
The airlines, as expected, opposed the measure. Airlines For America, the airline industry lobbying organization, told TPG when the notice was first issued that the “increased ticket prices would increase the prices of tickets, would make air trips less accessible to prices sensitive travelers and negatively impact the operations of carriers.”
The rule would have put the United States in line with the EU261 policy of the European Union. But it will not become reality.
The Trump administration He said last week that he will terminate the proposal.According to a public presentation.
In a statement provided to TPG last week, the DOT said that “I would faithfully implement all consumer protection policies ordered by Congress, including the coded automatic refund rule.
“However, some of the rules proposed or adopted by the previous administration were beyond what the Congress has required by statute, and we intend to reconsider those extra statuers,” said a DOT spokesman on Friday, perhaps opening the door to the additional protections of consumers of the Biden era.
What protections are left ‘in the air’?
In May, Airlines For America sent a 93 pages request to the point Seeking to withdraw a wide range of consumer protections, many under the appearance of arguing that the previous administrations had wasted money by making them or survived their authority through executive actions.
The request was presented in silence in response to an open file under the executive order of President Donald Trump that promotes deregulation through the Government’s efficiency department, but was said again last week. Airlines For America represents Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Jetblue, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Cargo carriers Atlas Air, Fedex and UPS.
In the presentation, the lobbying group requested the withdrawal of the automatic refund rule during cancellations and the main delays. He also sought to kill a price transparency rule that allows passengers to see the full price of “all inclusive” tickets, and end several rules around the management of passenger wheelchairs and airport signage.
Airlines For America also asked DOT to delete its consumer rights board and stop tracking and publishing data in its monthly air travel consumer report. It describes them as “report loads” that can be eliminated “with little or not an adverse impact on any potential benefit.”
TPG uses the ATCR as one of its main data sources when compiling our annual Best Airlines Reportthat analyzes things like the time performance of the airlines and the mishaps of luggage management, together with costs, services and several other aspects of air trips.
It is not clear which of these applications, if any, will be granted. However, the impact on air travelers could be of great reach.
Airlines For America declined to comment when TPG contacted that story.
Our shot
The Trump administration has been transparent about its deregulating agenda, and it is clear that airlines see an opportunity to take that, at the cost of consumers.
“This transport department encourages us that reviews unnecessary and onerous regulations that exceed their authority and do not solve important problems for our clients,” said Airlines for America to TPG on Friday. The Group added that it hoped to work with the Trump administration to implement its “deregulating agenda.”
It is also worth noting the cynicism of airlines for the United States statements that the compensation rule would increase air rates. In Europe, where EU261 is in place, air rates are usually in line with rates in the United States, while even low -cost airlines thrive in a way they have really never had in the United States.
In general, terminating the compensation rule highlights the importance of having some emergency cash available for unexpected blows while traveling, as well as the value of reserving your trip with a Credit card that has incorporated travel insurance protections. These automatic protections can cover the cost of an unexpected hotel or transport service night (together with other expenses) when it is stuck.
In particular, these protections can be applied even when the interruption of their trip is due to bad weather, for which few airlines offer any type of compensation.
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