From Oct. 19, the US Department of Transportation will classify some flight delays and cancellations differently. The change could make compensation harder to obtain; the department expects it to reduce the value of airline-provided amenities and compensation.
An aviation-industry spokesperson told The Hill that 10 types of disruption will be tracked in a new category intended to make government data reflect what airlines can and cannot control. The Transportation Department says the change should lower airline costs by avoiding reputational harm. The Points Guy editor Clint Henderson warned that fewer issues may count as airline-controlled and said mechanical or maintenance problems would no longer be reasons for compensation.
For disruptions deemed controllable, major US airlines generally rebook passengers on another of their flights without extra charge. Delays of at least three hours typically qualify for a meal, meal cash or voucher. Nearly every major airline covers an overnight hotel stay; Frontier is the exception.
