Compensation scheme coming to Australia?

[jb747]

Yes, of course the airlines should be compensated by the passengers who didn’t fly on their cancelled flight.

 

[Mwenenzi]

More passenger rights in the USA. Presumably applies to all airlines operating in the USA including QF. With QF already subject to the UK 261 and EU 261 this will add to the case for change in Australia but don't hold your breath.

https://loyaltylobby.com/2024/04/25/us-strengthen-consumer-protection-in-air-travel-forced-refunds-for-services-no-tendered-ban-on-junk-fees/

The US govt link-->https://www.transportation.gov/brie...inal-rule-requiring-automatic-refunds-airline
As opposed to a bloggers opinion

The rules seem not to have EU extraordinary exceptions. Say with a massive storm or similar the airlines would still need to pay out. Airfares could rise the cover that. But cancelling-refund after 3hr could be a windfall for the airlines. After a storm(3hr) airlines refund all tickets, as required. How the refund would work on multi segment ticket is unknown. The airlines could then raise fares 100% 200% 500% in the recovery, instead putting them on the next available flight, with no extra cost from the passenger.

The proposed rules are very USA domestic airline/flight centric. No consideration of how the international air travel market operates. And that many 1000's of people travelling by air in USA do not directly pay a USA airline
.

 

[dajop]

The proposed rules are very USA domestic airline/flight centric.

Of course it is. They make up the lions share of the concerns of the travelling public in the US. And on the flopside, how many foreign airlines bribe politicians in the US have their own PAC's to influence lawmakers?

 

[elanshin]

I thought it worked as - if a customer wants a refund, the airline has to give it when delay occurs and not in some bs flight credit or jump through 100 hoops manner.

If the customer takes the alternative flight at 3hr 10 mins they can't claim the refund.

It's not like EU261 at all where you get compensated for the delay.

Post automatically merged: Apr 26, 2024

The US govt link-->https://www.transportation.gov/brie...inal-rule-requiring-automatic-refunds-airline
As opposed to a bloggers opinion

The rules seem not to have EU extraordinary exceptions. Say with a massive storm or similar the airlines would still need to pay out. Airfares could rise the cover that. But cancelling-refund after 3hr could be a windfall for the airlines. After a storm(3hr) airlines refund all tickets, as required. How the refund would work on multi segment ticket is unknown. The airlines could then raise fares 100% 200% 500% in the recovery, instead putting them on the next available flight, with no extra cost from the passenger.

The proposed rules are very USA domestic airline/flight centric. No consideration of how the international air travel market operates. And that many 1000's of people travelling by air in USA do not directly pay a USA airline
.

I dont think the airline gets to auto cancel and refund the tickets, it's still on the passenger not to accept the alternative and then get refunded.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Getting off topic for AU compensation
The US govt link states

Automatic: Airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops.

Passenger "claim" or "accept alternative flight" is not written in the text.
Can't see any airline refunding and then transporting a passenger for nothing. Especially if the delay is not in the airlines control.

 

[TheRealTMA]

One often has to shake one’s head at things done in the good old US of A, but on consumer rights they are often far quicker to look after the consumer than we are.

Interesting, https://www.transportation.gov/brie...inal-rule-requiring-automatic-refunds-airline

also addresses the absurdity of family seating.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

elasthin is on the money i think. The automatic and prompt refund is ‘when requested’.The explanatory notes accompanying the final rule outline that when a passenger is entitled to, and requests a refund, it should be automatic. It applies when a passenger finds the alternatives offered to be unacceptable, and wants the refund instead.

https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news

and the final rule: https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2024-04/Final Rule Refunds and Other Consumer Protections (2105-AF04)_0.pdf

My bolding:

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is requiring automatic refunds to consumers when a U.S. air carrier or a foreign air carrier cancels or makes a significant change to a scheduled flight to, from, or within the UnitedStates and the consumer is not offered or rejects alternative transportation and travel credits, vouchers, or other compensation. These automatic refunds must be provided promptly, i.e., within 7 business days for credit card payments and within 20 calendar days for other forms of payment.​

 

[tdimdad]

These automatic refunds must be provided promptly, i.e., within 7 business days for credit card payments and within 20 calendar days for other forms of payment.

QF would be in knots with the 7-day timeline. It takes them >7 days to even get to your refund request, then four weeks to pass it to accounts payable, and then another two weeks to pay out something.

Perhaps I ought to put my process improvement hat on and sell myself to Mascot for a 6-month gig to optimise their refund process...