The Biden administration on Wednesday slapped airlines with new rules that trigger instant refunds when flights are canceled and clamp down on “surprise junk fees.”
Under the new Department of Transportation mandates, airlines must issue full cash refunds automatically rather in response to customer requests — including when flights are canceled or significantly changed — when baggage return is significantly delayed and when customers do not receive inflight amenities like Wi-Fi for which they had paid.
“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
The other new rule aims to bring more transparency to the costs of booking a flight by scrapping so-called “surprise junk fees.”
Airlines will have to disclose up-front charges for things like checked and carry-on bags, canceling or changing a reservation as well as mandatory carrier-imposed and government charges.
These costs must now be listed “clearly, conspicuously, and accurately” on airlines’ respective web platforms or when they provide fare prices offline.
