New site aims to help travelers with flight delays or cancellations — but the devil is in the details
CBSN
On the surface, the recent announcement by the U.S Department of Transportation of a new online consumer "dashboard" for air travelers seemed to give passengers some hope. For the first time, consumers can easily view their rights in the event of a flight delay or cancellation and compare the policies of 10 of the biggest airlines in the U.S.
In theory, at least, this seems helpful. The major airlines agreed that when a delay or cancellation forced passengers to be stuck overnight in a city where they didn't live, and the problem was directly the airline's fault — a missing crew member, a mechanical issue, or a delayed incoming flight — they would provide a meal and a hotel for the night. And if they are unable to do so, they would offer compensation.
The major exception where the airlines are off the hook: delays or cancellations due to weather, an event beyond their control.