Why are flight refunds taking so long?

Why are flight refunds taking so long? “Travel and tourism labor is being stretched to keep up with the unprecedented demand for travel,” says Thomas. A backlog of refund requests. Some travel companies are still struggling to get out from under a pile of refund requests from as far back as 2020.

Do airlines give full refunds?

Passengers can receive both a refund of an airline ticket and compensation for the cancellation, provided that their flight qualifies for compensation. To qualify, the airline must have let you know about the flight cancellation less than 14 days before it was due to depart.

Do airlines legally have to give you a refund?

To be clear: Refunds are required by law when the airline cancels the flight itself, for any reason, whether in the airline's control or not. If you want a refund and paid by credit card, you must get that refund within seven days. If you paid by check or cash, you must get your refund within 20 days.

What is the best flight delay compensation company UK?

How do I get my money back instead of an airline credit?

So the airline has offered you a voucher, which is perfectly legal, but you'd rather just have the cash. You'll need to proactively ask your airline for a cash refund in writing. The same goes for if you've booked through an online travel agency like Expedia. They are also covered under DoT rules.

Can you claim compensation for a 2 hour flight delay?

According to the DOT, airlines are not required to provide money or other compensation when flights get delayed, regardless of how late they are. However, when a “significant delay” takes place, passengers may receive refunds for seat selection fees or checked baggage fees.

How much is a flight refund?

Every major U.S. airline (except Southwest Airlines) typically charges penalty fees to change or cancel an economy fare flight. The fees, however, can vary from as low as $75 on a domestic flight to more than $400 on an international flight.

Why are airline refunds taking so long?

That may be because of the large number of flight cancellations and delays, as the airline industry has struggled to keep up with the post-pandemic demand for travel. On average, 1 in 5 flights arrived behind schedule as of July 2022.

Do airlines owe me money for delays?

There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed, the DOT states. Each airline decides what it will offer customers for significant delays within its control.