The Biden Administration just released two new rules that will affect people who fly in the United States. One rule says that planes have to be clear about the extra fees they charge customers. Biden’s second rule says that they have to give cash returns right away, instead of waiting for a customer to ask for one.
These rules were made by the Department of Transportation. They will be fully put into place in six months to two years. If an airline cancels or changes a flight, when customers don’t get the services they paid for, like WiFi, or when their bags are returned late, they are required by law to give refunds.
When an airline owes a passenger money, Buttigieg said, “Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them—without headaches or haggling.” He went on to say that the DOT’s consumer protection team has fined airlines “multi-million dollar penalties” for not giving customers their refunds.
Under the rule about surprise fees, airlines would have to make all extra fees “clearly, conspicuously, and accurately” clear on their websites. There are also saving strategies used by airlines that seem to apply to the whole flight but only do so for a part of it.
“To be clear, we want the airline sector to thrive,” Buttigieg said. Not only that, but he also said that’s why these rules were made: to protect passengers more seriously.
In addition to these two rules, the Biden Administration made a third one that said parents who want to sit next to their children would not have to pay extra. They want to take this even further by making some services required and making it easier for people in wheelchairs to get on the plane.