Vouchers or tell you that they are not required by law to compensate you, like United told me. (United would have owed me at least five refunds under the new rules)
What if I don't want/can't make the other flight? If I book a hotel for the 20th, and they overbooked and can only give me a room on the 25th, they don't get to keep my money even if I don't want the 25th.
The analogy isn’t really fair. Honestly, getting the date right on a hotel stay is often more important than getting it right on a flight. Both are an inconvenience, and a good chance that both are major, but really…it’s different. If I get back from my holiday or business trip a day late, it sucks, but it’s workable. If I get to my hotel, they tell me they oversold, but not to worry they’ll fit me in tomorrow…well, I still need somewhere to stay.
This really needs to be considered on its own merits. And, in my view, it still happens to warrant a refund, when asked, when the delay is significant.
Cancelled/delayed flights can mess with visa/immigration, mess with events (imagine being the speaker to a conference/doing a tour and then not being able to show up because your flight was delayed or cancelled), and even hotel rooms (some places will void your reservation if you don't show up). Also if you get stuck in an area for an extra day it's effectively the same as having gotten the date wrong on a hotel. I've gotten screwed due to a soccer playoff in the EU once happening the same weekend I was supposed to crash at a friend's place
I don't see it that way. Most of my travel (and what I assume is true for the majority) is that they are traveling to a location because of an event, be it work or personal. If I am delayed a day, then there is no longer any reason to travel, because I've missed the meeting or event. Every time this has occurred it is quite problematic.
Conversely, with a hotel, if they overbooked and I cannot stay there, there are usually quite a few locations nearby where I can get a room for a night. I've had this happen a few times and it's never been more than a minor inconvenience.
Rebooking onto another flight is often going to be the most economical option, since flights tend to be a lot more expensive on/near the date of travel.
the problem is republicans don't like consumer rights, they like business rights. it's like the age old US vs EU difference of "freedom TO" vs "freedom FROM", or positive vs negative freedoms.
>The DOT rules lay out that passengers will be "entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered."
In other words, evermore useless travel credits will be accepted and nothing will have fundamentally changed.
Are you not interpreting the "and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered" clause to mean that the customers have a choice to take the refund?
The wording definitely implies that customers may be offered alternative transportation or travel credits, but that they have the right to not accept those, and take a refund instead.
