Tips For Holiday Travelers As New US Consumer Protections Kick In

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NEW YORK, NY (Reuters) – If you thought last year’s holiday travel was chaotic, brace yourself. AAA projects 79.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from their homes over Thanksgiving—a jump of 1.7 million from last year. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg predicts this could make for some of the busiest travel days in American history.

Airports are expected to face significant stress: security lines, staffing shortages, equipment issues, delays, and cancellations.

But there’s good news for travelers: new rules are in place to simplify compensation when things go wrong.

Enjoy No-Hassle Refunds

Previously, securing a refund for a disrupted flight could be a frustrating ordeal.

Now, thanks to updated regulations, airlines must automatically offer refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights without requiring extra effort from travelers.

“If there is a snowstorm in Chicago and you can’t get to Thanksgiving dinner, airlines should now offer a refund automatically without making you jump through hoops,” says John Breyault, a travel expert with the National Consumers League.

Caveats to note:

• The rules only apply if you request a refund instead of opting to be rebooked. If you later need to book a last-minute ticket, it might be costly.
• Refund protections apply only to flights booked after Oct. 28.
• A “significant delay” is defined as three hours or more for domestic flights and six hours for international ones.

Pay Attention to Your Notifications

Ignoring your phone during travel? That’s a mistake.

“Ensure the airline can text and email you, and install their app on your phone,” advises Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

“If something is going on, you need to know about it quickly—and if you don’t respond to them, it’s on you.”

Check the Dashboard

For disruptions like delayed flights, airlines have varying policies for meals or hotel vouchers.

“It is up to the airlines to decide their own policies, but they must clearly state their commitments to passengers,” Breyault explains. “And these commitments are enforceable by law.”

You can find this information on the Department of Transportation’s consumer dashboard at FlightRights.gov, which outlines the policies of the top 10 airlines.

Key distinctions:

• Controllable events, like staffing or maintenance problems, require airlines to fulfill obligations like compensation or accommodations.
• Uncontrollable events, such as hurricanes, do not carry the same obligations.

Ask – Nicely

Dealing with airline representatives can vary greatly depending on the individual you encounter.

“Remember, the airline representative is likely as stressed as you are,” Murray says. “That person didn’t cause your travel problem—so don’t be nasty.”