• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
New law change means you shouldn’t leave the airport if your flight is delayed

Home> News> Travel

Published 13:34 16 Jun 2024 GMT+1

New law change means you shouldn’t leave the airport if your flight is delayed

The law change was introduced by the Biden-Harris Administration earlier this year

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

Flying can be a stressful experience at the best of times, so when you add delays into the mix everything gets a whole lot more complicated.

Of course, small delays of anywhere between 30 minutes and one hour are perfectly normal.

I mean, when do flights ever leave on time?

Advert

But when you get to the point of a three-hour delay, then there's a bit of a problem.

And a lot of flyers don't know their rights when it comes to such long delays, so let's explain it all now.

Essentially, what you do not want to do under any circumstance is leave the airport.

Advert

Back in April, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a final rule that requires airlines to promptly provide flyers with automatic cash refunds when owed.

The rule introduced earlier this year makes it easy for passengers to secure refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their checked bags, or fail to provide the extra services they purchased.

A new law has been introduced that helps passengers. (Getty Stock Image)
A new law has been introduced that helps passengers. (Getty Stock Image)

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said: "Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them - without headaches or haggling.

Advert

"Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers."

Prior to this rule being introduced, airlines were allowed to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund.

This meant that refund policies differed from airline to airline, which made it difficult for passengers and created a lot of uncertainty for them as well.

Meanwhile, the DOT states they have received complaints of some airlines revising and applying less consumer-friendly refund policies during periods of high delays and cancelations.

Advert

Airlines are now more closely monitored. (Getty Stock Image)
Airlines are now more closely monitored. (Getty Stock Image)

So, with the latest rules, passengers will be entitled to a full cash refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed.

Of course, we know what canceled means - but how long does a flight have to be delayed to be considered 'significantly delayed'.

The DOT explains: "Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability."

Featured Image Credit: rudi_saurdi/bunhill/Getty Images

Topics: Travel, US News

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • 10 hours ago

    Social Security bosses send terrifying warning about exact date America will run out of cash

    A new report has detailed a bleak-looking future unless Congress steps in

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Diddy’s former assistant alleges disturbing ‘loyalty’ test he did to ‘prove’ himself to the rapper

    Brendan Paul, Diddy's former assistant, took to the stand on Friday

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Netflix star Sara Burack found dead aged 40 as police launch manhunt for suspect on the run

    The famous realtor was reportedly killed on the highway

    Celebrity
  • 11 hours ago

    US Air Force reveals truth behind 'doomsday plane' and why it made 'highly unusual flight' after terrifying warning

    The so-called 'doomsday plane' took an unexpected flight earlier this week

    News
  • Mystery as passenger disappears while waiting for one-way flight at airport
  • Security expert warns why you should never charge your phone at an airport
  • Delta passengers accused of taking their revenge against the airline too far after their flight was delayed
  • Tragic footage shows commercial flight crash near airport killing 38 passengers