Major low-cost competitors Breeze Airways and Avelo Airlines are going head-to-head at New Haven’s regional airport in Connecticut.
06.08.2024 - 19:46 / travelpulse.com / Pete Buttigieg / North America / Donald Wood
United States Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg issued a letter to the chief executive officers of the nation’s 10 largest airlines to reinforce the need to provide customers with cash refunds when appropriate.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) outlined for U.S. carriers that refund requirements in the FAA Reauthorization Act took effect on May 16, 2024.
Buttigieg said the DOT expects airlines to clearly and proactively inform passengers of their right to a refund whenever their flight is canceled or significantly changed. Cash refunds must be automatic for passengers when they are owed, not vouchers or credits.
In addition, carriers should make it easy for passengers to get free rebooking, meals, hotels, and/or transportation to and from hotels as promised during controllable disruptions. If passengers opt for vouchers or credits after a canceled or significantly changed flight, they must be valid for at least five years.
The DOT also denied requests from the airline industry for additional time to comply with various aspects of the FAA Reauthorization Act and the Department’s April 2024 Final Rule on Refunds and Other Consumer Protections. The DOT found no basis for adjusting the compliance dates set forth in the ruling.
Buttigieg’s letter read, in part:
As we emerge from the air travel disruptions caused by the global technology outage earlier this month and the busy summer travel season continues, I want to ensure there is clarity and a shared understanding when it comes to the rights of air travelers and the obligations of U.S. and foreign airlines. The operational challenges of this month have served as a reminder of the importance of passenger protections—which now include a legal requirement to clearly and proactively inform customers about their right to a refund and provide prompt cash refunds when consumers do not opt to accept travel alternatives following a cancellation or major delay.
First, I need to remind airlines operating in the United States that the refund requirements in the FAA Reauthorization Act took effect upon enactment of the law on May 16, 2024. Now that this is law, our expectation is that airlines are doing everything in their power to comply.
Second, in recent weeks we have heard reports of unacceptable customer service failures and received thousands of air travel service complaints against airlines. When problems come to our attention, we will investigate them and, where violations have occurred, use our enforcement powers to hold offending airlines accountable.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Major low-cost competitors Breeze Airways and Avelo Airlines are going head-to-head at New Haven’s regional airport in Connecticut.
Houston, we have a problem.
As the days turn shorter and the world begins to cool, travelers everywhere begin to consider where they should visit next.
Avelo Airlines is ramping up its operations in the Delaware and Philadelphia region with new and returning routes, further enhancing its presence just over a year after reintroducing commercial flights at Wilmington Airport (ILG).
The Paris Summer Olympic Games are coming to an end this weekend, but there are still plenty of disciplines to go, including a new sport at the Games this year: breaking.
Get ready to win big: Hawaiian Airlines will be launching a new sweepstakes offering travelers a chance to win a nine-night Hawaiian getaway with stays at three Hyatt resorts in Hawaii.
Flight cancellations are mounting Monday after Hurricane Debby made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast — disruptions that come in the wake of a messy weekend for air travel amid severe storms up and down the East Coast.
Passengers traveling from Austin will soon have fewer options for direct flights on a popular carrier. American Airlines recently confirmed to Travel + Leisure it will be discontinuing several routes, including nonstop flights to Las Vegas (LAS), Orlando (MCO), New Orleans (MSY), Reno (RNO) and Palm Springs (PSP). «As part of the continuous evaluation of our network, American will reduce service from Austin (AUS) starting in October,” an American Airlines spokesperson shared with T+L. “We’re proactively reaching out to impacted customers and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.” The last scheduled day for the non-stop flights to Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Orlando is Sunday, October 6. The Reno and Palm Springs route previously operated as a seasonal service and will not be returning. American has aggressively modified its route network to increase business objectives, as company leadership previously outlined in an investor briefing. “We are taking this challenge head-on, with clear and decisive actions to deliver on a strategy that maximizes our revenue and profitability, and importantly, one that makes it easy for customers to do business with American,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said in a July 2024 earnings call.
Though I am arguably biased as a local, Chicago in the summer is one of the greatest cities in the world. Part of that is due to the number of events on a given weekend, including Chase Sapphire events.
Traveling with children already comes with inherent challenges, but in recent years, airlines’ seat selection policies have made it more difficult for parents and guardians to book adjacent seats with their young children—and are charging for the privilege. This morning, the Department of Transportation (DOT) formally proposed a ban on family seating junk fees.
The Biden administration is proposing a new rule that would prohibit airlines from charging families fees to sit together.
The Department of Transportation is proposing a rule that would prohibit airlines from charging “junk fees” to seat families together on flights.