If dealing with airlines and trying to get refunds for cancellations or delays makes you want to pull your hair out, get ready for some sweet relief. The Department of Transportation recently dropped new rules that make it way easier to get your money back when flights go awry. And we're breaking it all down so you know exactly when you're owed cash and how to collect.

One of the biggest wins is that airlines can no longer fob you off with those annoying travel vouchers that expire before you can use them. If your flight is canceled or "significantly" changed and you don't accept the rebooking, you're entitled to an actual refund —  paid out in cash or returned to your original payment method within 7 business days for credit cards and 20 calendar days for other methods. No more voucher games!

And just what constitutes that magic "significant change" classification that triggers refund eligibility? The DOT is laying it all out, finally bringing some clarity to those perpetually ambiguous airline policies:

For Domestic Flights:

• Departure/arrival shifts over 3 hours from the original time
• Changing airports
• Adding connections
• Getting downgraded to a lower cabin class
• Inaccessible accommodation for disabilities

For International:

• Departure/arrival over 6 hours delayed
• Any of the above domestic qualifiers

No more getting stuck on a 6-hour delayed flight from LA to NYC or rebooked through an inconvenient alternate airport in the middle of nowhere and being told by the airline to deal with it. If you don't accept whatever alternative they're offering, you get your money back, period.

But the refund rules get even better for those checked bag fees we all despise. If your luggage takes a separate world tour and doesn't arrive until over 12 hours after your domestic flight lands or 15-30 hours for international (depending on flight length and destination), you immediately get that bag fee refunded, too. You’ll no longer be waiting around for your luggage or wondering where your stuff vanished to for days.

There's also an awesome new provision helping anyone who has to cancel travel due to serious communicable diseases and health advisories. As of June 25, 2025, if illnesses like COVID, monkeypox, etc., make it unsafe for you to fly as booked based on government guidance, the airline is required to issue you a transferrable travel credit valid for five years minimum. Once the ruling comes into effect, you won’t have to worry about losing your money entirely for getting sick.

To enforce these new rights, airlines will also be mandated to clearly explain your refund options right up front any time there's a cancellation or major delay. No more sales tricks trying to force you into a basic rebooking first — you'll know explicitly if you qualify for cash back before having to make a decision.

And if an airline tries to pull a shady move like ignoring your refund request or delaying payment beyond those 7/20 day windows, they'll be hit with federal penalties. Thankfully, the DOT isn't messing around anymore with carrying out these consumer protections.

Of course, these sweeping new rules only apply to flights to, from, or within the U.S. But it's still a landmark shift in the government finally holding airlines accountable and equipping consumers with transparency around our refund rights. This way, you won’t have to be tied to an airline's whims or lose the basic amenities you paid for.

When it comes to airline refunds, the DOT just changed consumer protections in a major way. So keep these policy changes in mind next time your air travel plans get disrupted. Stop settling for that future travel voucher that always seems to expire before you can use it. Get your money back when it's outrightly owed, no jumping through hoops required. Rest assured that if any snafus happen during your upcoming summer travel, you’ll have a much easier time getting everything sorted out so you can be relaxing on the beach ASAP.

If you’re looking to read the fine print, check out the DOT’s ruling here.