US airlines may soon have to compensate passengers for travel disruptions that are airline-caused and related.
US airlines may soon be required to pay passengers for travel delays that are attributable to and caused by airlines.
On May 8, 2023, the Biden administration declared its intention to draft new law requiring airlines to pay compensation and reimburse costs for amenities like meals, lodging, and rebooking when airlines are to blame for the disruption of travel. In addition, airlines also reimburse unused tickets.
“If your flight is very delayed or canceled and the airline could have prevented that from — you deserve more than just being — getting the price of your ticket. You deserve to be fully compensated. Your time matters. The impact on your life matters,” US President Joe Biden said in his May 8, 2023 speech.
President Biden continued to say: “Later this year, my administration will propose a historic new rule that will make it mandatory, not voluntary — but mandatory for all U.S. airlines to compensate you with meals, hotels, taxis, ride shares, or rebooking fees, and cash, miles, and/or travel vouchers whenever they are the ones to blame for the cancellation or delay. And that’s all on top of refunding the cost of your ticket.”
Currently, the law only requires airlines to reimburse passengers for the cost of their flight ticket when delays or cancellations are attributable to the airline; it does not force them to pay for meals, lodging, or other forms of transportation.
The following issues will be addressed, according to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), through the planned rulemaking:
- Compensation for passengers when there is a controllable airline cancellation or significant delay;
- A meal or meal voucher, overnight accommodations, ground transportation to and from the hotel, and rebooking for controllable delays or cancellations;
- Timely customer service during and after periods of widespread flight irregularities; and
- Definition of a controllable cancellation or delay.
The following categories were also added to Commitments for Controllable Cancellations and Controllable Delays:
- Cash compensation when a cancellation or delay results in passenger waiting three hours or more from the scheduled departure time;
- Travel credit/voucher when a cancellation or delay results in passenger waiting for three hours or more for scheduled departure time; and
- Frequent flier miles when cancellation or delay results in passengers waiting for three hours or more for a flight from the scheduled departure time.
And this year, my Administration will propose a rule that would make airlines cover meals, hotels, taxis, and rebooking fees – and provide compensation when they're the ones to blame for a cancellation or delay.
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 8, 2023
That’s all on top of refunding your ticket.
