26/04/2024
TRAVEL CHAT by Wandel Adventures
New Federal Fee Disclosure Rules for Airlines & OTAs -
From airlines' own sites/mobile apps to online travel agencies (OTAs) will be required to display many of the extra fees from the outset. That includes extra charges for adding a first and second checked bag, carry-on bags, and even change and cancellation fees. Disclosure of additional seat selection fees – particularly for families traveling with children – is part of a separate federal rulemaking process that's still underway.
This new rule will apply to any flight that touches American soil, whether it's a domestic flight on a U.S. airline or an international flight to or from the states on a foreign carrier. Airlines could choose to add pop-up displays or expandable text boxes to disclose these fees, but they can't force travelers to click a link to another page dedicated to fees.
Stricter Standards for Airline Refunds -
Beginning fall 2024, the Department of Transportation's tighten refund requirements, setting a clear standard across all airlines.
Refunds for significant flight changes and cancellations -
> Changes to departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally
> Departures or arrivals from a different airport
> Increases in the number of connections
> Instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service
> Connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability
Refunds for late luggage -
Fliers who file a mishandled baggage report with the airline and whose delayed luggage isn’t delivered to them within 12 hours of their domestic flight or 15 to 30 hours of their international flight (depending on the flight’s length) can receive a full refund of their baggage fee.
Refunds for in-flight services -
Passengers are also now entitled to automatic refunds for in-flight services they paid for, but the airline failed to provide.
Refunds for when you are sick -
If a country or medical professional advises passengers not to travel to, from, or within the US for this reason, airline customers will be entitled to a travel voucher or airline credit that’s valid for at least five years
