Bill Overview
Title: Prompt Refunds for Cancelled Flights Act
Description: This bill provides that it shall be an unfair or deceptive practice for an air carrier, foreign air carrier, or ticket agent who sells a ticket for air transportation to fail to provide a refund with respect to such ticket if the air transportation is cancelled or significantly changed. It does not apply to a ticket holder who voluntarily accepts alternative transportation or other compensation offered in lieu of a refund.
Sponsors: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-45]
Target Audience
Population: People who travel by air and could experience flight cancellations
Estimated Size: 65000000
- The bill targets airline passengers who experience flight cancellations or significant changes to their flight plans.
- A significant portion of the global population flies occasionally, but regular flyers or those dependent on air travel for business or family reasons are more affected.
- In 2023, pre-pandemic levels of air travel are essentially restored, with around 4.5 billion air passengers globally each year.
- Roughly 50% of the global population lives in countries with developed commercial air travel sectors, which increases their likelihood of being directly impacted.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy includes frequent flyers and those who depend on air travel for work or personal family reasons.
- As the USA accounts for about 20% of global air traffic, and with approximately 88 million passengers flying domestically each month, there is a significant pool of air passengers who could potentially benefit from this policy.
- Cost is a limitation since, even if a small percentage of the US population experiences cancellation-related issues, the refunds would need sufficient budget allocation.
- The policy also has peripheral impacts on customer satisfaction for the airline industry, potentially leading to more competitive practices.
- Well-being improvements might be noticeable among those frequently affected by cancellations and refund issues, enhancing their travel experience.
Simulated Interviews
software consultant (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy is overdue, and it will definitely make airlines think twice before canceling flights without proper compensation.
- It feels reassuring to know that if my flight gets canceled I won't have to fight to get my money back.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
regional sales manager (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will really help those of us who constantly have to deal with flight changes.
- Airlines must be held accountable, and it's great to have some protection.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
travel blogger (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I absolutely love this idea. As someone who travels a lot, dealing with refunds is such a nightmare currently.
- This policy could potentially save me a lot of hassle and money.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
IT specialist (Denver, CO)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to know that such policies are being considered, but I don't experience a lot of cancellations.
- I still appreciate the extra layer of security, just in case.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
freelance journalist (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This law could ease the stress associated with cancellation refunds, which is often a major hassle.
- However, it must be implemented well to truly benefit the travelers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
startup founder (Austin, TX)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Most of my flights get changed due to pressing work commitments, so this might not help as much.
- However, the idea itself is beneficial to put pressure on airlines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
retiree (Chicago, IL)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rarely face cancellations, so I can't see a big personal benefit.
- It's a positive policy for those frequently disrupted.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
college student (Boston, MA)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's great to know I'll get refund protection if my flights get canceled due to weather.
- Even though I don't fly often, it's reassuring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
environmental researcher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 43 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Traveling extensively internationally means encountering diverse refund policies.
- This US-centric policy helps balance expectations when flying within or from the country.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
small business owner (Kansas City, MO)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing that refunds are guaranteed means I can book without worrying about last-minute financial impacts due to cancellations.
- It's not earth-shattering, but it's a step in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $153000000 (Low: $102000000, High: $204000000)
Year 3: $156060000 (Low: $104040000, High: $208080000)
Year 5: $162440000 (Low: $108280000, High: $216560000)
Year 10: $175000000 (Low: $116000000, High: $233000000)
Year 100: $365000000 (Low: $240000000, High: $490000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill enhances consumer protections, which aligns with broader public policy goals of consumer fairness.
- The dynamics of airline operations are complex; unexpected increases in cancellations due to external factors could magnify cost estimates.
- IT infrastructure improvements may be necessary for airlines to process refunds efficiently.