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As our economic system and our households proceed to get well from the shockwaves of a grueling pandemic, an increasing number of Individuals have returned to touring this yr. That’s excellent news: journey is sweet for our economic system in addition to our spirits.
However that return hasn’t been with out challenges. Airways struggled to maintain up with demand over the summer season, and cancellations and delays surged. And whereas their on-time efficiency has improved significantly previously six months, there may be nonetheless a protracted approach to go.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas arising quickly, we on the Division of Transportation have been focused on supporting travelers—whether or not they’re behind the wheel, boarding a practice, or headed to the airport. And when you’re one of many almost half of American vacationers planning to fly this vacation season, there are some things it is best to know.
THANKSGIVING DINNER FOODS YOU CAN AND CAN’T GET THROUGH TSA
You could have rights, and we’re imposing them
First and most significantly, in case your flight will get cancelled for any purpose, you might be entitled to a full money refund. Airways could give you credit or miles as a substitute, however when you ask, they’re required by legislation to refund not solely your ticket, but additionally baggage charges and associated fees.
In case your airline refuses or fails to refund you, tell us by way of our web site. So far, we’ve helped passengers get well lots of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in required refunds, and we’ll do every thing we will to get you the cash you’re owed.
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We’re selling transparency, so you may make knowledgeable choices
In the case of customer support, the different policies of different airlines are usually not all the time apparent, which might make it more durable to comparability store once you’re shopping for an airline ticket. That’s why we lately created an Airline Buyer Service Dashboard, which helps you to simply evaluate the providers completely different airways provide once they trigger a cancellation or delay.
Earlier than that webpage went reside, I informed the airways that it was coming and inspired them to step up their recreation—and lots of of them did. Earlier than we printed the dashboard, not one of the ten largest U.S. airways assured meals and inns, and just one assured free rebooking. Right this moment, 9 out of ten provide inns and meals, and all of them promise free rebooking once they trigger a delay or cancellation. Airways are required to ship on these guarantees, and we plan to verify they do—so when you run into an issue with an airline conserving its phrase, tell us.
We’re elevating the bar for airways
All these adjustments have helped make flying simpler. However we’re not simply imposing the prevailing guidelines, we’re additionally engaged on new ones that might strengthen protections for vacationers.
We’ve proposed a rule that might strengthen protections for patrons who cancel flights due to a critical communicable illness like COVID-19, and would require airways to proactively inform passengers of their proper to a refund—since you shouldn’t have to know the magic phrases to get what you’re owed.
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We’ve launched one other proposal that might require that hidden charges—for luggage, for vacationers to sit down with relations, and extra—be disclosed up entrance, so you could find one of the best deal once you’re reserving tickets. We’ve additionally proposed a rule that might require refunds when prospects pay for one thing they don’t get—resembling when the in-flight Wi-Fi doesn’t work.
While you’re heading home for Thanksgiving, packing Christmas items to convey to relations, or gearing up for a New 12 months break, issues about what to anticipate in case your flight will get cancelled or delayed must be the very last thing in your thoughts.
Transportation is what lets us spend the vacations with the folks we love most—and vacation journey must be one thing to look ahead to. That’s why, once you fly this vacation season, we’ll have your again.
