A new airline rule could mean fewer free meals and hotel stays when flights are delayed
The change takes effect Oct. 19, ahead of holiday travel. Here’s which disruptions are affected and what airlines still owe you.
An overnight flight delay can leave you shopping for a hotel room you never planned to book.
Starting Oct. 19, a new federal rule could make it less likely that the airline picks up that bill.
The Department of Transportation is changing how airlines classify 10 causes of delays and cancellations. In its analysis of the rule, DOT expects the change to reduce the disruptions for which airlines provide free amenities or compensation, though it cannot reliably estimate the decrease.
What the new rule changes
The rule implements a provision of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. It moves 10 specified causes out of the reporting category reserved for events within an airline’s control.
Those include removing an unruly passenger, medical emergencies through no fault of the airline, and certain cybersecurity attacks when the carrier complies with applicable cybersecurity regulations.
Also excluded is unscheduled maintenance outside a scheduled maintenance program that cannot be deferred or must be addressed before flight, including work required by an airworthiness directive. The exclusion has specific conditions; it does not cover every maintenance delay.
Why this is important for meals and hotel rooms
Many airlines’ promises to provide meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation depend on whether a disruption is considered within their control.
DOT’s airline cancellation and delay dashboard lets travelers compare those commitments. It’s a useful page to bookmark before a trip, especially if an unexpected hotel bill would put a dent in your budget.
Airlines choose which amenities to offer, but DOT says they must follow through on commitments in their customer service plans when the applicable conditions are met.
If your flight is disrupted, ask what caused the problem, whether the airline considers it controllable, and what assistance it will provide. Before booking a room yourself, ask whether the airline will arrange accommodations or reimburse you, and what limits apply.
Your right to a refund is separate
An airline declining to cover your hotel does not automatically mean it can keep your airfare.
Under DOT’s refund rules, you are entitled to a refund if the airline cancels your flight and you decline the alternative travel or compensation offered. That applies regardless of the cancellation’s cause, including to nonrefundable tickets.
You can also qualify after a significant delay or change if you choose not to travel or accept an alternative. DOT’s definition includes a scheduled arrival at least three hours later for a domestic itinerary or six hours later for an international one, among other changes.
You do not have to accept a travel credit instead of a refund you’re entitled to receive. However, if you take the delayed flight or an alternative flight offered by the airline, DOT rules do not entitle you to a refund of the airfare simply because of the disruption.
Where travel insurance may help
Travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth says travel delay coverage may reimburse meals, lodging, transportation, and other essential expenses when a disruption meets the policy’s requirements.
“The key difference is predictability,” Chrissy Valdez, Squaremouth’s senior director of operations, said.
The policy details still deserve a close read. Check the covered causes, how long a delay must last before benefits begin, and the reimbursement limits. Missed connection, trip cancellation, and trip interruption benefits also depend on the policy and circumstances; a disrupted flight does not automatically trigger every benefit.
For holiday travel, I’d bookmark the airline’s customer service plan alongside my reservation. If a flight falls apart, you’ll at least know which questions to ask then.
If you’re checking a bag for your holiday trip, I also took a look at which U.S. airlines have the worst rates of mishandled luggage. The worst airline ranking surprised me.
United ranks as the worst U.S. airline for mishandled luggage. I’ve checked bags with them for nearly a decade without an issue
New DOT baggage data tells a very different story from my own years of flying United with an overpacked suitcase.
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The EU has great consumer protection laws, I wish the US had better ones
Not good news for passengers
That’s too bad
It seems like they are trying more and more to let airlines off the hook.
I feel like airlines should be doing more for passengers, not less.
Ugh everyone is cutting back these days
Bad news for travellers governments should be doing more to help consumers not less imo