The government shutdown has affected virtually every sector that keeps the country running smoothly. Salaries, jobs, healthcare, SNAP benefits, and flights have all been impacted. Because of this government paralysis, many people have been affected by delays or cancellations of domestic flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states that up to 10% of flights will have to be canceled due to the government shutdown. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s policy on airline refunds, if an airline cancels a flight, regardless of the reason, customers are entitled to a refund if they choose not to travel.
The consumer is also entitled to a refund if the airline significantly delays or modifies a flight and the consumer chooses not to travel or accept travel credits
The US Department of Transportation reports that, on the one hand, if a flight is canceled, the passenger is entitled to a refund. On the other hand, the consumer is also entitled to a refund if the airline significantly delays or modifies a flight and the consumer chooses not to travel or accept travel credits, vouchers, or other forms of compensation offered by the airline.
Government shutdown: The budget agreement still needs to be approved by the House of Representatives
The fact is that after more than 40 days, the government shutdown is ending. What happened? Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement to reopen the government. The budget agreement still needs to be approved by the House of Representatives before the current government shutdown officially ends. Until then, many state services will remain paralyzed, and approximately 1.4 million federal employees will remain furloughed or continue working without pay.
It’s important to check all the information before leaving home if you have an upcoming flight
The US Department of Transportation states that airlines are required to notify you of flight cancellations, delays, or significant changes, as well as your right to a refund. If you subscribe to email, text message, or push notifications in the mobile app, these notifications will be sent to you using your chosen method. Therefore, it’s important to check all the information before leaving home if you have an upcoming flight, as, as explained in the paragraph above, the end of the Government Shutdown has not yet been officially announced.
Departures or arrivals delayed by 3 hours for domestic flights and 6 hours for international flights do not count as significant delays
It’s also important to note that you’ll only be eligible for a refund if you were actually affected by the Government Shutdown. This means you should carefully review all the requirements before filing a claim, as, for example, not all flight delays qualify for a refund. Departures or arrivals delayed by 3 hours or more for domestic flights and 6 hours or more for international flights do not count as significant delays.
Consumers are entitled to a refund of fees paid for ancillary services if the ancillary service was unavailable
The Department of Transportation (DOT) website explains in which specific cases a refund is and is not applicable. The DOT states that, “if you choose to take a flight with a significant delay or change, or an alternative flight offered by the airline, you will not be entitled to a refund under DOT rules.” The website also specifies that consumers are entitled to a refund of fees paid for ancillary services if the ancillary service was unavailable due to circumstances beyond the consumer’s control (e.g., broken Wi-Fi, flight cancellation by the airline, involuntary denied boarding). Therefore, before flying, it is essential to ensure you have all the correct information and, in the event of a delay or cancellation, verify that you are eligible for a refund or any other form of compensation.
