SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Countless travelers experienced disruptions to their holiday plans at the end of 2022 and it's important to know the U.S. Department of Transportation protects passenger rights in the event of controllable cancellations.
Airlines have differing policies on what they provide when flights are canceled or delayed.
When it comes to cancellations, most airlines will rebook you and some may even transfer you to another airline. If your flight is canceled and you choose to cancel your trip because of that, you’re entitled to a refund no matter what ticket you bought. For really significant delays, refund eligibility is case-by-case. The term ‘significant delays,’ as it pertains to flights has not been defined by DOT.
If the airline offers you a voucher, make sure to ask if there are any restrictions on using those funds.
The DOT says when flights are simply delayed, federal law doesn’t require airlines to compensate travelers. Airlines also aren't required to reimburse you for things like meals, hotels, or transportation in the event of cancellations but you should always ask what accommodations they offer.
Christie Hudson, a spokesperson with the Expedia group, says to play it safe when booking and choose a more flexible fare.
“Even if it's not a fully refundable ticket, you can get tickets that are more flexible. Avoid base economy tickets, the saver tickets. Those are tempting because they're cheap but they also don't give you as much flexibility. Usually changes aren't allowed and [you] can't get any vouchers back. You might just lose that fare,” said Hudson.
She says another tip to save money is to try your best not to no-show for a flight. Instead, cancel in advance. She says when you no show, you’re basically forfeiting your fare.
“Canceling in advance manually will often give you the best flexibility with your ticket, you can usually get a credit or something like that,” said Hudson.
You can find out more about each airline's policies and DOT protections here. You can also file a complaint here on the DOT website.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | 'Crazy story' | Woman who lost luggage reunited with Good Samaritan who found it
