Can I get a refund if my flight is delayed or canceled due to FAA cuts?

The government shutdown has dragged on now for over a month leaving government workers without pay checks. In the case of air traffic controllers, who like TSA agents are required to work unpaid, it has led to a spike in the number of them calling in sick exacerbating staffing shortages that already existed.

This has resulted in tens of thousands of flight delays, and it could be about to get much worse. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that out of safety concerns, he will order a 10% cut in flights at 40 major US airports starting Friday if the government doesn’t reopen.

The news sent airlines scrambling to readjust their flights and ticketholders inundating customer service lines to find out if their travel plans will be affected. So will customers get a refund if their flight is delayed or cancelled because of the Federal Aviation Administration’s cuts to flights?

Getting an airline ticket refund amidst predicted travel chaos

According to the US Department of Transportation website on airline refunds, if the airline cancels a flight “regardless of the reason,” customers will be entitled to a refund in the event they choose not to travel.

Passengers are also entitled to a refund if their original flight is significantly delayed or altered by the airline and they chose not to travel.

The DOT defines “significant delays” as departing or arriving late by 3 hours or more for domestic flights and 6 hours or more for international flights. “Significant change” can include the departure or arrival airport being changed, additional connections being added or passengers being downgraded to a lower class.

The DOT warns that, “if you choose to take a significantly delayed/changed flight or an alternative flight offered by the airline, you are not entitled to a refund under DOT rules.” However, the agency states that airlines must refund the difference in fare price to downgraded customers who continue on a flight.

Furthermore, “you may be entitled to compensation for certain expenses and/or amenities if the delay was due to something in the airline’s control and causes a long enough inconvenience during travel,” according to the DOT.

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