Airlines must refund customers for flights canceled due to COVID-19

Travelers who canceled their air travel plans to protect their health shouldn't have to take a financial hit for making a responsible choice. Right now, airlines still have yet to refund $10 billion of customers' money from flights canceled due to COVID-19 last year.

The Department of Transportation's upcoming "Airline Ticket Refunds" notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) must ensure that airlines can never again deceptively steer consumers toward ticket vouchers when they have a right to a full refund because of airline-initiated flight cancellations.

In addition, the DOT must ensure that consumers holding non-refundable tickets who canceled travel plans because they chose not to fly during COVID due to their doctor's recommendation, local, state or federal health regulations, or other medical guidance, be provided refunds if they cannot or do not want to use the voucher they were given.