Can You Get Refunds For Delayed Flights?

If you’re an avid traveller, you must know the pain of delayed and cancelled flights. After weeks and months of planning, the airline has delayed your flight when you show up at the airport. For many travellers, this is the start of a really bad trip, as it spoils your mood from the get-go. When you’re in this situation, one of the first things you might think of is what kind of compensation you can get for major delays. For sure, airlines can’t just expect you to wait hours at the airport. Well, with the new federal rules, you might be able to get a cash refund on your delayed flights, and we have all the details.

How the New Federal Rules Guarantee an Automatic Cash Refund

The United States Department of Transportation recently announced new aviation rules. These rules were created to protect airline passengers from costly fees and delays. Under the new rule, travellers can now be guaranteed an automatic cash refund. This refund, however, only applies if the scheduled flight is delayed three or more hours for domestic travel and six or more hours for international flights. One catch to keep in mind here is that it is not yet clear whether this applies to all delays regardless of the reason.

According to statistics by the Bureau of Transportation, in 2023 some of the major reasons for delays include:

Aircraft arriving late: 40.04%
Air carrier delays: 36.44%
National aviation system delay: 18.12%
Extreme weather delay: 5.21%
Security Delay: 0.20%

I don’t see that this necessarily means that any reason now that your flight is delayed, you’re automatically going to get this refund, and I think people need to understand this. In most cases, you’re still going to want to take a flight, whether it’s delayed three hours or next day. So you’re not going to get a refund and the flight. I hope people are clear on that, says Commercial pilot Kathleen Bangs.

With this new rule, passengers can hopefully expect the Department of Transportation to guarantee an automatic refund. Additionally, travellers can also expect alternate travel, a voucher or alternate compensation for any flight delayed over three hours or cancelled. While this new rule has not gone into effect yet, some airlines already offer compensation for delays and cancellations!

China has escalated the ongoing U.S.-China trade conflict by instructing its domestic airlines to stop accepting new deliveries of Boeing aircraft. This significant move follows the United States’ imposition of hefty tariffs on Chinese goods. In response, China slapped 125% tariffs on U.S. exports. The new restrictions, as reported by Bloomberg, include halting the purchase of Boeing aircraft and any associated U.S. aerospace parts or equipment.

This decision severely impacts Boeing, one of America’s largest exporters. Boeing has long viewed China as a crucial growth market, especially as the Chinese aviation industry expands. The halt affects the delivery of Boeing 737 MAX jets, with approximately ten aircraft ready for delivery. However, the government may still allow planes for which payment and delivery documents were completed before the tariffs took effect, on a case-by-case basis.

The move comes amid escalating tensions between the two economic superpowers. U.S. President Donald Trump increased tariffs on Chinese imports up to 145%, prompting China to retaliate with its own tariffs. This situation has forced companies like Boeing to grapple with rising costs and logistical uncertainties. Boeing’s stock has already taken a significant hit, with shares falling 7% since the beginning of the year.

The Chinese government is also considering how to assist domestic airlines that lease Boeing jets, as these carriers face rising costs due to the tariffs. While the decision poses a setback for Boeing, it could benefit Airbus, which has a more established presence in China. As the dispute evolves, the global aviation industry remains uncertain about the long-term effects of these trade restrictions.

In addition to halting aircraft deliveries, China has tightened its control over the supply of critical aerospace components, complicating the situation for both U.S. and Chinese manufacturers.

Can You Get Refunds For Delayed Flights?

How the New Federal Rules Guarantee an Automatic Cash Refund

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