U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) filed a bipartisan amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 to ensure consumers’ right to an automatic refund if an airline cancels or significantly delays their flight.
"Passengers shouldn’t have to beg airlines for a refund when their flight gets delayed or is canceled altogether. This amendment would protect consumers and put Americans before airline profits," said Senator Hawley.
"When your flight gets delayed for hours or outright canceled, you shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get your money back. Congress should come together to make this important change for automatic refunds and put American families ahead of airline profits," said Senator Warren.
Under a recently announced Department of Transportation rule set to take effect next month, airlines are mandated to refund passengers should their flight be canceled or significantly delayed. However, this year's version of the FAA Reauthorization Act, which the Senate is currently negotiating, includes a provision that puts consumers last—stripping the automatic refund guarantee and forcing passengers to jump through endless bureaucratic hoops for reimbursements.
Senator Hawley's bipartisan amendment would crack down on these burdensome corporate processes put in place to maximize airlines' profits.
Click here to read the amendment's full text.