A record number of flights were canceled this past summer. Millions of passengers, especially those who don’t fly very often, did not know what the airlines were required to do for them.
Here is the federal rule every flier should know about: If a flight is canceled for any reason –weather, maintenance or crew problems, lack of equipment – the airline must provide ticketholders with a full cash refund.
Based on complaints to the DOT, many stranded passengers were not given this information and accepted a voucher or credit, mistakenly assuming it was better than nothing.
“When it comes to refunds, we have ample evidence that airlines are not being completely truthful with passengers,” said Bill McGee a senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, a nonprofit that works to fight monopolistic practices in the U.S. economy. “If the airline says you have a choice between cash or a voucher or miles, then that’s fine, make your own choice. But passengers should not be told you’re getting a credit, without being offered the cash first.”
More Info: Consumer Advocates Want the Department of Transportation to Fix Our Broken Airline System