Lawmakers Want The DOT to Force Airlines to Refund Flight Credits

If you have flight credits just sitting there due to a canceled flight during the pandemic, there is a chance that it could go to waste. For hesitant travelers, these flight credits will soon expire. Senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal, along with Representatives Jesus G. Garcia and Steven Cohen, call for the Transportation Department to force airlines to either offer cash refunds or extend the flight credits for canceled flights during the pandemic.

With most pandemic-related flight credits expiring soon, lawmakers believe that it’s an “unfair business practice” to not extend the flight credits indefinitely or issue cash refunds for consumers.

The lawmakers wrote in their letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that “At the outset, we reiterate our belief that airlines should offer a cash refund for all tickets canceled during the coronavirus pandemic, whether the flight is canceled by the airline or traveler”. They added that “Americans need cash in their pockets during this emergency, and it is unconscionable that airlines are largely refusing to return customers’ money on a technicality”.

More than $10 Billion in Unused Travel Credits

The industry now has $10 billion in unused travel credits. On top of that, the airline industry received aid from the federal government. Unfortunately, the law states that airlines don’t have to issue refunds for those who canceled on non-refundable tickets. However, it becomes complicated as many Americans canceled their flights due to COVID.

Lawmakers emphasized in their letter that “We believe the DOT (Department of Transportation) must take strong action to address these complaints and ensure the return of travelers’ money”. They added that “At a minimum, it is imperative that the DOT does not allow pandemic-related flight credits to expire”.

Aside from the possibility that travel credits will just expire, airlines have also imposed complex rules when it comes to redeeming flight credits. Lawmakers wrote that “Consumers should not have to jump through hoops or spend hours o hold before having their concerns heard”.

Not The First Time

This isn’t the first time we heard lawmakers fight for consumer rights regarding unused flight credits. Markey and Blumenthal sent a letter to different airlines last May regarding the same issue. Markey during a guesting on CBS This Morning last month said that “It shouldn’t be up to the airlines to determine when a passenger feels comfortable flying again”.