Thanksgiving flyers automatically entitled to refunds if they hit particular snag – you don’t even have to request one

You might be automatically eligible for a refund if you’re flying for Thanksgiving and your flight is canceled or delayed.

Many people will be flying throughout the United States during the holidays, but travel disruptions could make your trip more difficult.

But don’t worry, Fox Business reports that the Biden administration’s new regulations mandate immediate cash refunds for flights that are canceled or noticeably delayed.

The Department of Transportation established a unified standard for airline passengers in April with the introduction of the new automatic refund regulation.

You are entitled to a refund for any travel-related disruptions if you are traveling to or from the United States.

Prior to the rule’s implementation, airlines established their own guidelines for what constitutes a refund for passengers who had their flights changed.

In order to “address persistent issues reported by airline passengers who were trying to obtain refunds they were owed,” the Department of Transportation recently established the regulations mentioned.

Travelers will now be aware of the many flight modifications that qualify for a reimbursement in the event that they decide not to proceed with their scheduled itinerary.

According to the guidelines, if a flight is canceled, the customer is entitled to a refund if they choose not to proceed with their scheduled trip.

Additionally, when reimbursements are due, airlines will have to automatically give them to customers.

If a flight is canceled for whatever reason and the airline does not rebook the customer onto another trip or the passenger declines alternative compensation, such as a flight voucher, the passenger is entitled to a refund.

When a flight is canceled and the customer declines the airline’s offer of a new reservation or other compensation, they are also entitled to a refund.

Additionally, you are entitled to a refund if a flight is “significantly changed” and the passenger rejects the itinerary change, any offers of rebooking, or any compensation.

The Department of Transport defines a “significant change” as a departure or arrival time change of more than three hours domestically and six hours abroad.

This involves adding more connections or connections at different airports, as well as changing the airports of departure or arrival.

Additionally, it covers situations in which a traveler is demoted to a lower class of service or when flights are changed to aircraft that are less accessible or accommodating to individuals with disabilities.

According to the new regulations, travelers may also receive reimbursements if their luggage is substantially delayed or if they paid for additional services that were not rendered.

Depending on the length of the travel, passengers on international flights will receive a reimbursement if their suitcase does not arrive at the gate within 15 to 30 hours of the flight.

Additionally, travelers may receive a refund if they paid for a service—such as WiFi or seat preference—that the airline did not offer.

How will you be refunded?

Within seven business days of credit card refunds being due, airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to request them.

This is 20 calendar days for alternative payment options.

The entire ticket purchase price less the cost of any previously used transportation must be the amount refunded.

According to the Department of Transport, the reimbursement must also cover all taxes and levies levied by the government and airlines.

Additionally, whether a credit card or airline miles were used to make the purchase, refunds must be sent back in the original mode of payment.

Unless the passenger agrees, airlines are unable to replace these refunds with other types of compensation.

If the passenger accepts the alternative compensation, it must remain in effect for a minimum of five years after the date of issuance.

However, if passengers accept a rescheduled flight with the airline or proceed with a significantly altered itinerary, they will not receive a refund, according to the Department of Transport.

Many US airlines have pledged to offer lodging for overnight delays or meals for impacted passengers amid major cancellations and delays that are brought on by circumstances beyond the airline’s control.