New Airline Compensation Rule Could Offer Relief for US Passengers by 2025
Passengers in the U.S. may soon have similar airline delay compensation rules as EU passengers have had for over 20 years.
The Biden Administration has put forward a rule requiring US airlines to provide compensation to passengers for delays of 3 or more hours that are within their control as well as cancellations.
With the possibility of going into effect as early as January 2025, the new rule may have the potential to improve air travel in the States by holding airlines accountable for flight disruptions.
A Policy Long Overdue
This new proposal would require airlines to provide cash compensation to passengers affected by flight disruptions as well as meals and lodging. The specifics of these rules are still being sorted, but this new proposal will mirror the European Regulation EU261 that has been in place for the past 20 years.
U.S airlines who fly from EU or UK airports have also had to comply with these regulations. This means that they must compensate passengers between $275 and $660 (€250 to €600) for delays and cancellations that result in the passenger arriving 3 or more hours late to their final destination. Compensation amounts are ultimately determined by the flight distance.
Anton Radchenko, licensed attorney and CEO of air passenger rights group, AirAdvisor weighed in on this new development.
Passengers in the US deserve to have the same protections offered in the EU, UK, and Canada. For avoidable delays and cancellations, they should be compensated for the trouble and inconvenience caused by the airline.
According to data from the US Department of Transportation and the US Government Accountability Office, the economic impact of flight disruptions cost passengers an estimated $30-$34 billion every year.
An airline ticket is like a contract, and passengers purchase tickets under the assumption that they will be delivered to their destination within a certain timeframe and under certain conditions.
Airlines state in their contract of carriage that flight schedules are subject to change, but passengers are the ones who bear the burden with out-of-pocket expenses, missed work, missed vacations, missed family events and business events. They deserve to get something back.
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