MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Proposed travel guidelines from the department of transportation are aimed at making your airline commute easier.
Something we all want this holiday season.
“From the airport coming back to Memphis, it’s always horrible and that’s because of delays," said Memphian James James.
He’s not the only one experiencing the headache.
Consumers flooded the Department of Transportation with thousands of complaints about their inability to get refunds when airlines canceled a huge number of flights – after the pandemic hit.
“We have to fit more into the airline’s agenda or whatever the airline has got going on than what we the purchaser of the ticket has going on," said James. "That’s no definitely not good at all.”
The transportation agency is proposing updated airline ticket refunds and consumer protections.
One proposal is that it’s an unfair business practice for an airline carrier to refuse a requested refund when a carrier has canceled or made a significant change to a scheduled flight.
“It seems like there weren’t enough wheelchairs or enough wheelchair support," said traveler Michael McClain.
The flier, visiting family from Colorado said he had to pay almost $400 for a new flight after missing a Frontier flight with little wheelchairs available.
“I would think they would have a better policy as far as you miss that flight we’ll get you not a refund but we’ll put you on a different flight…instead of having to pay a whole other ticket,” McClain shared.
Before any guidelines take effect a public comment period has been extended to December 16.
Travel experts advise it’s a good idea to use a travel agent to keep you up to date on policy changes.
The U.S. Department of Transportation released a customer service dashboard on cancellations and delays.
Travel experts say – it’s a good idea to use a travel agent to keep you up to date on policy changes.