FILE-Travelers stand in a TSA PreCheck line at the Miami International Airport. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Winter weather is barreling down on parts of the U.S. on Monday, and it's creating problems for air travelers, but there could be some relief for them if their flight is impacted based on new rules from the Department of Transportation to protect air travelers.
What could air travelers receive if their flight is delayed?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is considering new requirements for airlines to reimburse air travelers impacted by a flight cancellation or a lengthy delay related to winter weather or other circumstances.
Cash reimbursement
DOT officials are considering a cash repayment system for air travelers that could range from $200-$300 for domestic flight delays of at least three hours but less than six hours, $375-$525 for delays of at least six hours but less than nine hours, and $750-$775 for delays of nine hours or more.
According to a DOT release, the agency is also considering whether small airlines should pay less than large airlines and whether compensation should be required when a passenger is informed a week or two in advance of the cancellation or significant delay to their flight.
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Flight rebooking
The DOT may require airlines to offer free rebooking to air travelers if their flight is cancelled, delayed three hours or more for a domestic flight or six hours or more for an international flight, or if a flight delay is due to a missed connecting flight.
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DOT officials noted in a release that they are also considering requiring rebooking on the next available flight operated by the airline or its partners, and if flights on those airlines aren’t available within 24 hours, then any carrier that the airline has an agreement to transport the airline’s travelers.
Food, lodging, transportation expenses
Air travelers could have their meals overnight lodging, and related transportation expenses covered.
The DOT is considering requiring airlines to provide meals, overnight lodging, and transportation to and from lodging for stranded passengers and establishing standards related to what must be covered as part of each service.
According to the release, the agency is weighing a requirement for airlines to automatically pay a minimum reimbursement for each service an impacted passenger should receive when airlines don’t provide these services upfront, and air travelers don’t provide receipts for costs up to a maximum repayment available for each service.
In 2023, the DOT highlighted expanded protections for passengers with the launch of a customer service dashboard that details the commitments from airlines. All 10 major U.S. airlines guarantee free rebooking and meals, and nine guarantee hotel accommodations when an airline issue causes a delay or cancellation, the agency noted.
Over 1,400 flights were canceled and another 740 were delayed across the country on Monday morning, the Associated Press reported, citing the tracking platform FlightAware. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport reported roughly 46% of arrivals and 59% of departures canceled.