Airline passengers could have fewer opportunities to receive airline-provided benefits such as meal vouchers or hotel accommodations for some flight disruptions starting Oct. 19, when the U.S. Department of Transportation changes how certain delays and cancellations are categorized and reported.
The DOT is amending a rule that identifies which flight disruptions are considered within an airline's control. The change affects how those incidents are tracked in federal on-time performance data and could influence whether passengers qualify for benefits under individual airlines' policies.
In 2024, Congress passed the FAA Reauthorization Act, which identified specific events, including maintenance problems, crew scheduling and aircraft cleaning, as being
within an airline's control.
Under the new rule, 10 types of disruptions will be classified differently beginning Oct. 19. The DOT said the change is intended to ensure government delay data accurately reflects which events airlines can control.
The reclassification means those incidents will no longer be counted under the "Air Carrier" category in Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time performance data. Depending on the circumstances and an airline's customer-service commitments, passengers affected by those disruptions may be less likely to qualify for airline-provided amenities such as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations or ground transportation.
Which flight disruptions are being reclassified?
The 10 types of events that will no longer be classified as within an airline's control are:
- Aircraft cleaning required after the death of a passenger.
- Aircraft damage caused by extreme weather, foreign object debris or sabotage.
- Baggage or cargo loading delays caused by an outage of a baggage system not controlled by the airline or its contractor.
- Cybersecurity attacks, provided the airline complies with applicable cybersecurity regulations.
- An unexpected shutdown or system failure of government systems that directly affects an airline's ability to operate flights safely.
- Overheated brakes resulting from a safety incident that requires emergency procedures.
- Unscheduled maintenance, including maintenance required by an airworthiness directive, that falls outside a scheduled maintenance program and cannot be deferred or must be completed before a flight.
- Medical emergencies requiring attention through no fault of the airline.
- The removal of an unruly passenger.
- An airport closure caused by volcanic ash, wind or wind shear.
How will the change affect travelers?
Airline and travel experts say the change favors the airline industry over passengers and could reduce accountability and transparency.
"This is going to impact passengers in a very direct way," said William J. McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project. "If I had one thing to say about this, this is really going to hurt consumers because you're going to be given fewer rights in terms of compensation through meals, hotels and things like that."
The DOT says passengers may be entitled to refunds in certain circumstances and may receive amenities such as meals, hotel accommodations or transportation when disruptions are considered within an airline's control, depending on the carrier's policies. The agency's refund guidance explains passengers' rights, while the Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard outlines the policies of major U.S. airlines.
Under the new classifications, passengers whose flights are disrupted by one of the 10 events may be less likely to qualify for certain airline-provided benefits. Eligibility will depend on the circumstances and the airline's policies.
McGee also said the change could make it harder for travelers to compare airlines' reliability when choosing a carrier.
"That's problematic for consumers, they're making decisions based on on-time performance of an airline," McGee said.
The DOT said the rule implements a provision of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 requiring the agency to create a new reporting category for the 10 specified events. The agency said the change will ensure delay and cancellation data more accurately reflect which disruptions are considered within an airline's control. The DOT also projected cost savings for airlines in its regulatory analysis, outlined in a Federal Register notice.
Contributing: USA Today Network
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New airline delay rule takes effect Oct. 19. What travelers should know
