Travelers wait in line at the Southwest Airlines ticketing counter at Nashville International ... [+]
Under a new rule announced by the Department of Transportation, Southwest Airlines must provide passengers with a $75 travel voucher for certain flight delays and cancellations.
The delay or cancellation must be caused by something Southwest could control (maintenance, staffing), the flight must arrive three hours later than planned, and it must be canceled or delayed within seven days of departure.
Passengers can request the $75 travel voucher within one year of the flight disruption simply by filling out this online form.
While the amount of the voucher - and the fact that it’s a voucher, not a refund - may be seen like a small token, the fact that you can request it online is perhaps the best part. Previously, you may have had to wait in a long line at the customer service desk, or remain on hold to seek compensation for disruptions.
Delays caused by weather are not covered under this new rule; however, additional rules announced last week by the Department of Transportation allow customers to get cash refunds (instead of travel credits) for weather-related delays and cancellations.
The new rules, which went into effect April 30th, make things very cut and dry, and are legally bounding, so in theory, you won’t have to spend any more of your time arguing with the airline over compensation.
The announcement comes on the heels of some other big news from Southwest. After posting a higher than expected loss in the first quarter of 2024, the airline is reportedly considering changes to some of its long-standing policies, including its first-come, first-serve seating.
