With another miserable travel weekend reported, DOT considers proposal that would put money in your pocket for delayed flights
Following a miserable weekend for travel, Monday isn't looking much better. Another wave of airline cancellations and delays is taking its toll on passengers across the United States on Monday.
According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, about 500 US flights had been canceled by midday Monday. On Sunday, 950 flights were canceled.
"I used to travel every week pre-pandemic, and now, I'm starting to travel for work again," said Jim Burson, who was at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Monday.
Burson said his summer travel has been mostly smooth sailing, but Monday, his flight was one of the ones delayed out of RDU.
"It was supposed to be at 12:50 and now it's at 1:30 so I'm maybe going to miss my connection," he said.
More than 2,000 flights had been delayed across the United States by midday Monday after more than 8,000 were delayed Sunday.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport was struggling on Monday for a second day, with about 12% of flights originating there canceled by 12 p.m. ET.
Chicago saw heavy rain on Sunday, including a flash flood warning that was in place for parts of the afternoon for portions of Cook County.
On Sunday, Chicago O'Hare saw the most cancellations and delays, with approximately 12% of flights canceled, and over 45% of flights delayed.
Chicago's Midway airport also continued to be affected, with 12% of its flights delayed and 4% canceled by noon on Monday.
Newark Liberty airport also struggled with delays and cancellations Sunday, and about 6% of its flights were canceled by noon on Monday.
Weekend of cancellations
Saturday saw a total of 657 flight cancellations and 7,267 delays within, into or out of the United States.
American Airlines canceled 4% of its flights and 24% of its Saturday flights were delayed, according to FlightAware.
United had 4% of its flights canceled and 23% delayed, followed by Delta with 2% canceled and 22% of its Saturday flights delayed, FlightAware notes.
41% of JetBlue's flights and 36% of Southwest's flights were also delayed on Saturday, according to the website.
DOT proposal could put money back in your pocket for delayed flights
Currently, airlines are required to refund passengers if their flights are canceled or significantly changed. But the definition is vague.
Under the Department of Transportation's proposal, passengers on domestic flights delayed three hours or more and international flights delayed six hours or more would be eligible for cash refunds.
While Burson's delay on Monday wouldn't be eligible for a refund under the proposed rule, he still thinks the change would be positive overall.
"The more clarity I think there is for travelers, the better off I think it'll be," he said.
Scott Keyes founded the travel website "Scott's Cheap Flights" almost a decade ago. He believes the changes are overdue.
"If it gets enacted, and I think it will, it will be the largest expansion of travelers' rights in decades," said Keyes.
"I think it's going to make the experience of air travel significantly better that you don't have to be quite as worried after you book your flight that you're no longer going to be able to get your money back."
Under this proposed rule, airlines would also have to give non-expiring vouchers for any pandemic-related disruption.
"They're going to make it far easier for people to get refunds that are rightfully owed under law," said Keyes.
Under the proposal, Keyes said it wouldn't matter if the tickets purchases were non-refundable.
"[It] doesn't matter if they're basic economy ... doesn't matter if the reason is outside the airlines control," he said.
In addition to pandemic protections, airlines that take bailouts also have more guidelines.
"If they take significant government financial assistance, then, instead of having to give non-expiring vouchers, they would actually have to give cash refund to travelers," said Keyes.
The proposal isn't likely to change ticket prices, Keyes said.
"Europe for the past two decades have been awash in cheap flights and travel there is as safe as it ever has been."
