DOT rule would require airlines to issue refunds for domestic flights delay

abcnews.go.com

31 points·ptgastambide··6 comments

This is pretty weak.

All it does as proposed is to make it so you're entitled to a refund if the delay is over 3 hours. I think that means you don't fly, you can just get refunded and go home. That is like not a penalty. It does not appear to be compensation/refund on top of getting to complete the delayed flight, at least from what's in this article.

I wonder if this will simply increase ticket prices, or if it will actually reduce the occurance of flight delays. Not as if airlines love screwing up their tightly choreographed schedules anyway.

You can check in the EU as this rule is already applied there: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-right...

It did not increase price and it provides a straightforward compensation. I've received twice a compensation for work travels (doesn't matter who paid the ticket, it is the traveller who is compensated)

Likely a combination of both things. If airline management can improve these metrics for less than the cost of the fines then they’ll do it.

Ultimately if ticket prices go up because that’s the cost of having a somewhat reliable service that actually delivers on its promise I would not say it’s a bad thing. It makes the playing field even such that airlines can’t get away with undercutting service quality to compete on price.

It can only increase ticket prices or reduce profit.

You know which way that always goes.

How about increasing only first-class ticket prices? Is that an option?

(yesyes, i know...)

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