New airline refund rules: What you need to know and how the internet reacted

A new rule from the Biden/Harris administration that took effect this week requires airlines to issue customers a refund—not a voucher, not a new flight—if their flight is significantly delayed. This is a huge, positive change for U.S. airline passengers, and the internet was excited about it.

The rules are simple, and, importantly, you don’t need to do much to get your refund should you qualify for it. Here’s what you need to know.

The new airline refund rules, explained

The first thing you should know is that refunds are automatic. You do not have to do anything besides deny the significant changes to your flight.

Cancellations qualify for a refund, as do domestic flights delayed three or more hours and international flights delayed six or more hours, USA Today reported. Significantly changed flights — like those where the airport changes, stops are added, etc — can also qualify. Passengers are required to automatically get a refund for any flight that is “canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept the significantly changed flight, rebooking on an alternative flight, or alternative compensation,” read a statement from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

So, in short, if the airline makes a big change to your itinerary and you do not accept that change, you get your money back with zero hassle. The new rule from the Biden/Harris administration requires the refund to be processed within seven business days for a credit card purchase and within 20 days for other forms of purchase.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them—without headaches or haggling,” wrote Buttigieg in the statement posted to X.

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The internet reactions

There are few things the internet enjoys more than complaining about travel hassles and airline screw-ups. It’s an entire genre of post. So the internet was actually pretty pleased to see a new rule forcing airlines to give passengers their money back. If your flight is too late to make your meeting, then it sure makes sense the airline doesn’t get to keep your money.

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Considering the cost of tickets and the lack of legroom, it’s probably not going to be fun to fly anytime soon, but it did just get a little less painful.