Texans are just a few weeks away from the busiest travel time of the year. The bags will soon be packed and East Texans will be heading to Tyler Pounds Regional Airport in Tyler or D/FW or Love Field in Dallas to be jetted off to meet up with family and friends for the holidays.

Traveling during the holidays can be stressful. The flying public can be met with delays, cancellations, winter weather, and other situations beyond their control, which could cost them time and money. Flight delays and cancellations are frustrating. Now, things have changed, and they're more in favor of the traveler than the airlines.

New consumer protection rules went into effect Monday (October 28th) for airline passengers

If airline passengers encounter long delays or cancellations, the airlines must now issue cash refunds to those affected. In addition, according to the new consumer protection rules, the airlines must now give better information about disclosing fees.

In the past airlines were able to determine how long delays could be and whether or not passengers were going to be reimbursed for the inconvenience or offered a travel voucher for future travel.

With the new rules, the Transportation Department now defines a significant delay as (WFAA):

  • lasting more than three hours for domestic flights
  • lasting six hours for international flights

The rule states:

Passengers are entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept the significantly changed flight, rebooking on an alternative flight or alternative compensation."

When it comes to delayed luggage upon arrival at a destination the government has required airlines to refund any checked bag fees on bags that are not:

  • delivered within 12 hours for domestic flights
  • delivered within 15 to 30 hours for international flights

Let's just hope that your holiday travel plans go smoothly, but in the event there's a hiccup with the airlines - flight delay or bag issue - you now have concrete rules and guidelines to use.

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