Biden administrationNew rules requiring automatic cash refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights came into force this week.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back, without headaches or haggling, when an airline owes them money,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg shared on X.

in April, US Department of Transportation It said it has issued an automatic refund rule that clearly defines certain circumstances under which airlines must issue refunds.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S NEW AIRLINE RULES REQUIRING CASH REFUND FOR CANCELED FLIGHTS, FEES ARE ANNOUNCED BEFORE

Before this rule, airlines set their own standards for when. a passenger was guaranteed The DOT said refunds and policies vary among carriers, making it difficult for “passengers to know or assert their rights to a refund.”

Passengers before the winter storm at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Detroit, Michigan, on December 22, 2022. (Matthew Hatcher/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Now that it’s in place, it will be easier for passengers to get refunds if the airline cancels or significantly changes a flight, significantly delays their checked baggage, or fails to provide extra services they’ve purchased.

When are passengers entitled to an automatic refund?

Flights canceled or significantly changed:

Under the new policy, passengers will receive a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed and will not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered.

According to DOT, a “significant change” is defined as a situation where a flight’s departure or arrival time changes by more than three hours domestically and six hours internationally.

Travelers carry their luggage towards the Spirit Airlines check-in desk at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on November 21, 2023. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images / Getty Images)

This definition also includes changes in departure or arrival airports, an increase in the number of connections or the number of connections at different airports.

This also applies if a passenger is downgraded to a lower class of service or flights are shifted to aircraft that are less accessible or less suitable for a disabled person according to the rules.

Significantly delayed bag return:

Passengers who submit incorrect baggage reports may receive a refund of their checked baggage fee if the baggage is not returned within 12 hours of their domestic flight’s arrival at the gate.

For international flights, passengers will be refunded if the bag does not arrive within 15 to 30 hours after the international flight’s arrival at the gate, depending on the length of the flight.

Extra services not provided:

Refunds can be given to passengers who paid for a service that the airline cannot provide, such as Wi-Fi, seat selection or in-flight entertainment.

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