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 Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)...

KOSI 101.1

Spring break in Denver: Family-friendly stuff to do when the kids are bored (again)

Spring break is here, the weather is pretending it’s spring, and your kids have officially hit peak chaos. If you’re staying in the Denver area, you’ve got plenty of options […]

1 hour ago

(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)...

Jenny D

Water restrictions begin March 25 as Denver faces near-record low snowpack

With our mountain snowpack dipping to near-record lows, Denver Water is officially moving to combat dry conditions. Beginning March 25, new seasonal water restrictions will take effect across the metro […]

2 hours ago

(Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)...

KOSI 101.1

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo does it again: No. 2 Best Zoo in the U.S.

The results are in…and Colorado’s got another reason to brag!  Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs has been named the No. 2 Best Zoo in the United States for the second year in […]

2 hours ago

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO - DECEMBER 04: Clemens Millauer of Team Austria competes in the Men's S...

Brailey Jones

Steamboat Sets Closing Date After Unseasonably Warm Winter

Steamboat Resort will close a week early this year, citing a mild winter. The resort announced Wednesday that it will end the season April 12, a week earlier than last […]

23 hours ago

(Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)...

Brailey Jones

Power outage triggers ground stop at Denver International Airport

UPDATE: As of 11:15am, DIA Social Media has posted that “Power has been restored and airport operations are beginning to resume. Please be patient as we return operations to normal. […]

1 day ago

(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)...

Kathie J

Amazon Launches 1-Hour & 3-Hour Delivery

Amazon has started faster U.S. deliveries for a fee. The charge for a three-hour delivery is $4.99 for Prime members and $14.99 for non-members. The charge for a one-hour delivery […]

1 day ago

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