COLORADO NEWS

Airlines will soon have to issue refunds for flights canceled or delayed at Denver International Airport

Jul 29, 2024, 5:05 PM | Updated: 5:08 pm

Have you paid more to take a certain flight at a specific time at Denver International Airport, only to have a delay or cancellation completely derail your schedule? Most of us have, and usually, there’s little to no compensation from the airlines.

Well, that’s changing.

Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had a news conference on April 24, where he announced that within six months, airlines will be required to comply with new rules, which will require cash refunds for cancellations and long delays as an “expansion of passenger rights.” This means this all will go in effect by the end of October.

But, you won’t get $300 for a one-hour delay. Here’s how it’ll work.

Passengers will be “entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits.” This includes airlines changing your itinerary before the day of your trip.

The delays covered would be “more than three hours for domestic flights” and “more than six hours for international flights.”

This includes tickets purchased directly from airlines, travel agents and third-party sites like Expedia and Travelocity.

To be clear, you get the refund if you don’t take the later delayed or rescheduled flight. So, if your flight is canceled and they’re able to put you on a flight the next morning, if you opt to take it, that’s accepting “alternative travel.”

This is basically to save travelers from having to haggle and chase down compensation if they need to bail on a flight because of a delay or cancellation.  They have to give you a refund in cash, so no “travel vouchers,” within seven days.

The DOT is also requiring airlines to give cash refunds on luggage if your bags are lost and not delivered to you within 12 hours.

The new rules also force airlines to refund you for extra services you specifically paid for and didn’t get, like wi-fi, premium seat selections and in-flight entertainment.

Denver International Airport spot named the best airport restaurant in America

Denver’s new apartment building with canyon running through it has unit over $15,000 per month

Colorado News

Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images...

Shawn Patrick

The late, great Demaryius Thomas goes into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame on Sunday

Through the Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning years was thing was always there for the Denver Broncos… Demaryius Thomas. One of the best receivers the team ever had, and an […]

19 hours ago

Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images for Sky...

Shawn Patrick

These are the 10 most haunted places in Denver

Spooky season is upon us, and there are a few of you brave souls out there who seek out a real spooky experience in the form of the paranormal. Then […]

20 hours ago

(Photo by Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images)...

Shawn Patrick

When’s the last time it snowed on Halloween in Denver?

Growing up in Colorado, it felt like it always snowed on Halloween, but it turns out it’s pretty rare, at least in Denver! Based on National Weather Service records, it has only […]

20 hours ago

(Photo by Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)...

Shawn Patrick

WATCH – Trains at DIA run with doors open

If you’ve flown out of Denver International Airport, you’ve almost certainly ridden the train that goes from the terminal to the concourses and back. It isn’t slow…so having doors on […]

20 hours ago

(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)...

Shawn Patrick

WATCH – Video of Adam Sandler playing pick-up basketball in Colorado goes viral

Never in my life have I been so sad that I wasn’t in a random gym in Colorado playing basketball…I say this because the greatest actor of them all (in […]

2 days ago

Photo By MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images...

Shawn Patrick

Weinermobile to make Denver return for multiple events this October

It always felt like a rare occurrence when the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile rolled into to Colorado when I was younger. Nowadays it feels like it’s here more, but I still […]

2 days ago

Airlines will soon have to issue refunds for flights canceled or delayed at Denver International Airport