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Travel demand has been up since the start of the pandemic, but airline staffing shortages have led to delays, cancellations and angry customers. In response to complaints about air travel, the US Department of Transportation has proposed new rules to better protect travelers.
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“When Americans buy airline tickets, they need to get to their destination safely, safely and affordably,” US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news release. “This new proposed law will protect the rights of travelers and help ensure they receive timely refunds from airlines.”
Under current law, US airlines are required to pay refunds and flight vouchers for cancellations and “significant changes” to flight schedules, the LA Times reported. However, the definition of “significant changes” is open to interpretation. Because of this, refund policies vary, according to consumer advocates.
The new law defines a “significant change” in departure and/or arrival times as three hours or more for a domestic flight and six hours or more for an international flight, the LA Times reported. This includes changing the departure or destination airport, increasing the number of connecting flights, and changing the type of aircraft if the passenger experience is compromised.
If travelers are unable to fly for pandemic-related reasons, flight credits or vouchers will be valid indefinitely. The LA Times added that the law would require airlines to offer refunds instead of vouchers or travel credits if the airline “receives significant government aid related to the pandemic.”
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If passed, the new law would be “the biggest expansion of travelers’ rights in decades,” Scott Keyes, founder of a website that helps travelers find cheap flights, told The Washington Post.
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