Refund policies on the largest airlines in the US
Published in Slideshow World
In 2023, almost 196,000 flights from U.S. airports were canceled, and even more were late.
According to the Department of Transportation, that number represents the lowest rate of scheduled flight cancelations in 10 years. Still, refund policies for flight cancelations, delays, or schedule changes are more important than ever.
The coronavirus pandemic highlighted airline issues bubbling beneath the surface. Planes were parked or retired in response to low travel demand, leaving them unprepared for the era of revenge travel years later. Pilots were hard to come by, and jet fuel shortages began cropping up. Other staffing shortages, outdated technology and infrastructure, plus surging demand when COVID-19 restrictions eased meant airlines couldn't meet their schedules without cascading problems. When problems happen, long holds on phone calls, offers for flight credits instead of cash, and a host of other obstacles further add to a frustrating situation.
The Biden-Harris administration is trying to solve the problem, and the Department of Transportation outlines general refund policies for tickets and fees. Foremost among them is the ability of consumers to cancel purchases within 24 hours or hold itineraries for that same period as long as the tickets are purchased at least seven days before a scheduled departure.
To help air travelers sort through the fine print, Airalo compiled a list of the five largest airlines in the United States–using data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics—and researched their refund policies. Airlines were selected based on domestic market share from December 2022 to November 2023.
Visit thestacker.com for similar lists and stories.