Secretary Pete Buttigieg warns of disrupted holiday travel as the agency pressures airlines to perform

20.11.2023 - 21:15 / thepointsguy.com / Pete Buttigieg

Ahead of what is expected to be one of the busiest travel seasons in history, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg warned of potential weather-related disruptions and increased pressure on airlines to manage high passenger volumes while encouraging travelers to remember their passenger rights.

Nearly 50,000 commercial flights are expected to fly in and out of U.S. airports Wednesday, eclipsing the number of flights on the day before Thanksgiving last year.

"We want everyone to be prepared for changes due to weather," Buttigieg said during a press conference Monday at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C. "Travelers should check with their airline directly for the most up-to-date information about their flights, including any delays and cancellations."

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Although 2023 has seen the lowest flight cancellation rate in the past five years (1.3%), the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor acknowledged the improvement follows on the heels of widespread disruptions that sprouted up during the bumpy return to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to that period, Buttigieg said that "the level of disruptions ... particularly on blue-skies day, was unacceptable."

Despite the overall improvement for 2023, there have been bumps in the road.

Beyond weather, Buttigieg blamed the airlines and ongoing air traffic control staffing issues, responsible for 30,000-plus canceled flights the last week of June alone.

Now, going into a Thanksgiving travel period that's expected to break records, Buttigieg said the DOT will be more proactive not only in enforcing existing rules but also in making sure passengers know exactly what their rights are in the event of flight disruptions.

"We are taking a lot of action to enforce the rules we do have," Buttigieg said. "If your flight gets canceled or delayed for any significant reason ... you are entitled to a full cash refund" if you do not choose to rebook.

Buttigieg also urged travelers to file complaints with the agency if airlines fail to live up to their published customer service promises in the event of flight disruptions.

"If you have trouble getting an airline to honor that agreement ... make sure to let us know," he added.

Holiday rush: Thanksgiving travel is almost here — here's what to expect

In addition to increasing pressure on U.S. airlines, the DOT under Buttigieg has pushed for transparent communication about passenger rights so that consumers can easily discern their rights in the face of delayed or canceled flights. For example, long-standing DOT policy entitles every airline passenger to a cash refund for a canceled flight or