New DOT likely to keep automatic flight refunds and other rules

Whenever a new primary resident moves into the White House, the way the government is run changes. Under the Biden administration, the Department of Transportation enacted a series of new consumer protections, including automatic refunds for canceled flights and policies around family seating, as well as stepping-up enforcement on airlines that violate their own terms of service.
As Washington prepares for the second Trump presidential term, travelers may be left wondering what will happen to these recently enacted regulations. Though it’s true Republican administrations typically favor fewer rules for companies, experts say there are no guarantees that the Trump administration will unwind these policies that Americans across the political spectrum reacted favorably to. Even if the new Transportation Department secretary wants to get rid of them, it may not be simple to do in many cases.
“There’s a big difference between fighting for a new rule and trying to overturn an existing rule. I would caution anyone who would think about trying to overturn the new automatic refunds rule,” William J. McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, told USA TODAY in an interview. “Once some of these rules are in place, there may be a perception out there that, oh, with a flick of a pen, we can undo this, but it’s not that simple, particularly if it’s codified by Congress.”
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Many of the recently enacted air traveler protections were ordered by Congress in one way or another, with many required by the most recent Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization legislation, which passed both chambers of the legislative branch with bipartisan support.
Here’s where some of the recently enacted and proposed airline regulations stand:
McGee said the automatic-refund rule will get its first major test over the winter holidays this year, and it’s likely to become popular with travelers quickly.
“Customers are aware of this now,” he said. “I would say woe to anyone who wants to take that away because they’re going to have a huge fight on their hands, and I don’t just mean from consumer advocates. I mean from the public at large.”
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].