7 Key Airline Policies Every Traveler Should Know

7 Key Airline Policies

When things don’t go as planned on a trip, it can be hard to know what to do next or what your rights as a traveler might be.

Especially over the last year, policies regarding airline compensation and support have been shifting under the Trump administration’s Department of Transportation, making it difficult for even savvy, frequent fliers to keep track of the current rules.

“The Department has been systematically examining what few protections American consumers have with airlines and either modifying or eliminating them, rule by rule,” says William J. McGee, senior fellow for aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project. “[Secretary of Transportation] Duffy already axed the Biden-era rulemaking on flight disruption compensation. Next up may be junk fee transparency that will make booking flights much more opaque.” 

That means it’s more important than ever for airline passengers to get clear on their rights during every step of the travel journey, from booking and boarding to delays, cancellations, and all the services in between. Having all of the information means you can calmly negotiate the best solution when things inevitably go off the rails.

“The most successful travelers are those who advocate for themselves with confidence and grace,” says Mandee Migliaccio, CEO and travel specialist at Stepping Out Travel Services. “Staying calm, informed, and kind goes a long way, especially when airline staff are managing high pressure situations, and often leads to the best possible outcome during travel disruptions.”

Here’s a look at 7 key airline policies – rules and regulations that all travelers should know in order to protect their consumer rights.

7 Key Airline Policies: Refunds for Canceled Flights 

Travelers are entitled to a full refund if a flight is canceled or significantly changed/delayed and they decide not to accept any other airline offers, like a rebooked itinerary or travel voucher. Airlines also must notify passengers when they’re entitled to a refund. 

The automatic refund must be provided within seven business days for credit card purchases or 20 business days for cash purchases after the airline becomes aware that you do not accept alternative transportation or compensation, according to Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

24-Hour Cancellation Rule 

Travelers who might need a bit of flexibility with their flight itineraries will want to keep this regulation in mind.

“One passenger right that often flies under the radar is the 24-hour booking rule,” says Migliaccio. “This allows travelers to cancel most flights within 24 hours of purchase for a full refund. With airfare prices changing so quickly, this rule offers a valuable window of flexibility that many people don’t realize they have.”

The DOT says that for airfares purchased at least seven days before a flight’s departure date and time, airlines must either allow fliers to cancel their reservation within 24 hours and receive a full refund or allow travelers to reserve a ticket at the quoted price without paying for 24 hours.

Lost and Delayed Bags

If your checked luggage is significantly delayed or lost by your airline, you’re entitled to get your baggage fee refunded. 

Most carriers declare a bag officially lost between five and 14 days after the flight, according to the DOT, but check your airline’s policy.

The DOT considers a checked bag “significantly delayed” if it’s not delivered within 12 hours of landing for domestic flights. For international flights that are 12 hours or less in duration, a bag is considered significantly delayed if it’s not delivered within 15 hours of landing. For international flights more than 12 hours long, an airline has 30 hours to deliver your baggage before it’s considered significantly delayed.

To receive the refund, you must fill out a mishandled baggage report with the airline. The DOT advises travelers to do this as soon as they realize their bags didn’t arrive on time.

Family Seating

Officials still do not require airlines in the U.S. to guarantee parents and children sit together. However, the DOT maintains an online dashboard that shows which carriers have committed to seating parents with their children 13 years old or younger. According to the dashboard, there are currently five U.S. airlines who have made this commitment, even for basic economy fares: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier, Hawaiian, and JetBlue.

“One of the main reasons families don’t want to buy the cheapest fares is that they can’t get seat assignments in advance on those fares,” says Brett Snyder, founder of the Cranky Concierge. But on those carriers, “families with children will get seats together, and everyone should know that.” 

Be sure that you and your child are on the same airline reservation to ensure the airline’s seating system links you together. To find your airline’s family seating policy, look up their customer service plan, where the rules will be listed.

Tarmac Delays 

Sometimes flight delays can hit when passengers have already boarded and the plane has pulled away from the gate. When a plane is delayed on the tarmac at a U.S. airport, either before takeoff or after landing, airlines must allow passengers the option to get off the plane before three hours for domestic flights and before four hours for international flights, according to DOT regulations. Exceptions are allowed for safety reasons.

Airlines are also required to provide drinking water and a snack no later than two hours into a tarmac delay, as well as ensure comfortable cabin temperatures, working toilets, and adequate medical attention, if required.

Denied Boardings

“Another important area is overbooking and denied boarding protections,” says Migliaccio. Carriers are actually allowed to sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane because no-shows or last-minute changes happen often. 

But when all of those passengers show up, it can lead to an uncomfortable game of musical chairs. Most carriers will offer some form of compensation, like flight vouchers or giftcards, to entice volunteers to give up their seats. 

“Airlines frequently oversell flights, and if a traveler is involuntarily bumped, they may be entitled to meaningful compensation,” Migliaccio says. “Many passengers accept a voucher on the spot without knowing they can ask about other options, such as cash compensation, a full refund, confirmed rebooking on the next available flight including partner airlines, or hotel and meal accommodations if an overnight delay is involved.”

If there aren’t enough volunteers, gate agents start involuntarily bumping passengers. Who gets bumped can be determined by a multitude of factors, such as the passenger’s check-in time, the fare paid by the passenger, or the passenger’s frequent flyer status, according to the DOT. For involuntary bumpings, the airline is usually not required to pay any compensation.

Travel Insurance Coverage

When there’s a situation that the other rules and regulations don’t cover, travelers can always turn to a good travel insurance policy for extra support. “Travel insurance gives travelers another layer of protection and can even fill voids where their rights may fall short,” says Chrissy Valdez, senior director of operations at Squaremouth. 

For instance, travelers who need to make last-minute changes to flight itineraries can use an insurance plan to fill in any gaps. “Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefits can provide a safety net for travelers with nonrefundable bookings, ensuring they’re not left with out-of-pocket losses if plans unexpectedly change or get canceled,” Valdez says. 

Insurance plans are more important now for widespread flight disruptions, as the DOT recently rolled back proposed regulations that would offer passengers extra support and compensation during lengthy flight delays. “If you experience a significant delay, the Travel Delay benefit can reimburse your expenses while you’re stuck, including food, accommodations, and transportation,” Valdez says. “While this benefit doesn’t provide a lump sum payment for a delay, it can protect you from out-of-pocket costs incurred while waiting.”

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.

Contact My Journey Begins Travel to book your next flight (keeping in mind the above 7 key airline policies),