id90 travel rules

Eligible Travelers FAQ

Allow the people that share your flight privileges to list themselves.

The days of having to be the family travel agent or sharing your work password are behind you! With ID90 Travel, you are able to grant access to the flight listing system to anyone that you share flight privileges with from your Pass Department.

Sharing Non Rev Access Is Simple

Log in to ID90 Travel and go to your profile

Select the Eligible Travelers option to view all the people with flight privilege eligibility from your employer

Enter that person’s email address and send an invitation. Once they create an account, they'll gain access to book non-rev flights through ID90 Travel's website and mobile apps.

What is an Eligible Traveler?

Eligible Travelers are those family members, partners, and close friends you’ve designated to share non-revenue flight privileges with. You can book on behalf of your eligible travelers under “Other Passengers” when booking a non-rev ticket.

I think there is someone missing from my Eligible Traveler list. How do I add someone?

ID90 Travel can only display the people your employer tells us have access to your flight privileges. If you feel someone is missing, please contact your employer to have them update your Eligible Travelers.

Why should I give my Eligible Traveler access to book their own flights?

Managing travel plans for others can be a pain. We found many airline employees felt the same — they didn’t want to be their Eligible Traveler’s full-time travel agent. Giving your Eligible Traveler access will remove you from the equation while giving them all the information they need to make an informed decision.

Can I give access to Eligible Travelers via the ID90 Travel app?

Unfortunately, not at this time. We’re actively working on making this feature and many others available in the mobile app in the near future.

Can I give access to all of my Eligible Travelers?

You can give access to any eligible travelers over the age of 18.

Can I remove someone’s access from booking their own flights?

Yes! Removing access is just as easy as granting it. You can go to the Eligible Traveler section of your profile and click the “Remove Access” button on that travelers card and they will no longer be able to book their own flights.

Please note this does not remove a person from your Eligible Traveler list or cancel any flights they currently have booked. To remove a person you will need to work with your employer to update your list of eligible travelers.

Why am I not seeing my buddy pass travelers on my profile?

Your list of Eligible Travelers only shows the people listed with your employer. Any buddy pass (or similar program) travelers will not be displayed here. You will still be responsible for booking travel for these pass travelers.

I added the wrong email address. Can I update the contact information for that Eligible Traveler?

Yes. Before an invitation is accepted, you will see the "Give Access" button updated to "Resend Access." Clicking on this will ask you to provide a new email address and give you the opportunity to add the correct contact details.

Will Eligible Travelers be able to view non-rev policies such as Dress Codes?

Yes, all Eligible Travelers will be able to see the non-rev policies for each airline they book with. The policies are listed both in the trip itinerary and in the confirmation email.

ID90 Travel Review: Are Their Employee Travel Discounts Worth It?

If you work within the travel and airline industry, chances are you might have heard of ID90 Travel. Regardless, you'll want to know more about their travel discounts! Should you sign up if you qualify, and are they worth it?

Working within the travel industry is often deemed one of the most glamorous jobs you can have. Still, it also comes with long hours, days, or weeks spent away from home and a potentially erratic lifestyle. However, one of the main advantages, and one of the main reasons people enter the travel industry, is the opportunity to fly and travel around the world for free! 

While working for an airline provides these perks, it can be challenging for an employee to get a seat on a particular flight, book a hotel or arrange transport. This is where ID90 Travel steps in to help. Keep reading to learn more about ID90.

What is ID90 Travel?

ID90 is a travel agency that provides the technology that makes airline employee travel possible and accessible. The ID in ID90 stands for Industry Discounts. Their platform aims to be a one-stop solution for any airline employee's travel needs by providing discounted rates on hotels, cruises, and rental cars and realtime tracking of flights.

With staff travel programs often being outdated and challenging to track, ID90 Travel counteracts these potential challenges. They intend to use innovative and easy-to-use technology to provide an easy way for travel employees to make the most of their job perks. 

What do ID90 Travel Provide?

As mentioned previously, ID90 Travel aims to be a unified platform for everything travel-related for employees. With over one million hotels worldwide, ID90 claims to be the biggest platform for travel within the employee travel industry. They also claim to have access to 70 car rental companies.

They've also set sail to 40,000 cruises, providing you with plenty of choices to travel. On average, people save between 25-40% on their bookings, making it worthwhile to use!

Where can you Travel with ID90?

ID90 Travel offers an abundance of locations for travel both inside and outside of Europe. These destinations include Argentina, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Thailand, to name a few. 

ID90 Travel's website also contains travel guides written by airline employees with recommendations and essential information. You can also take part and build your travel profile, and this allows you to share where you've been, connect with other people, and create a friends list. 

Do they Provide Travel Insurance for their Trips?

Yes. ID90 Travel allows you to purchase travel protection during the flight, hotel, and cruise check-out process. ID90 members can also buy standalone travel protection at any time as long as it is within 24 hours before your trip begins. 

What Happens if you Need Help or Support?

ID90 Travel also has a dedicated customer service team to help you encounter any obstacles on your trip. Their website allows you to submit a request easily, and they have a great FAQ page for many more common issues. Instead of waiting months for in-house travel customer service, ID90 Travel helps airlines in that department by having a committed team to help employees.

Is ID90 Travel Useful for Those Who Qualify?

ID90 Travel is useful for airline staff as it utilizes technology to make travel as hassle-free as possible. The app updates in real time, which lets you know the flight load and flight updates, and has a built-in watchlist to check any necessary details before a departure. 

For airline companies, the maintenance of an in-house staff travel program can be cumbersome. Therefore the strain is taken by someone else. Airlines often don't have the time, money, or resources to make their travel programs worthwhile for their employees. By committing to ID90 Travel, employees have much better access to trips and can use ID90 Travel's technology to their advantage. 

How do I use ID90 Travel?

Using ID90 Travel seems relatively straightforward. Click on 'Get Started' and start making your account on their website. You need your company, email, employee number, and password. However, a few airlines initially created your account for you, and you must get your login details from them. Still, these are listed on ID90 Travel's website. Once you've created an account, you're free to browse for your trips.

Moreover, ID90 Travel also has a helpful app. The app contains all your travel needs and again allows you to browse hotels and keep track of flights in realtime. 

Who is Eligible to Use ID90 Travel?

To use ID90 Travel, you need to be an airline employee and register on the website to access available discounts. You can add "Friends and Family" to your account so they too can browse and purchase trips, but only if this is in line with your company policy. 

For example, some airlines will offer privileges such as discounted or free travel for friends and family alongside their employees. If this is the case, then ID90 Travel will also allow those friends and family to use their website and book trips as long as you give them access.

Is ID90 Worth it?

ID90 is a platform for airline and travel employees to travel and enjoy numerous discounts and resources. While we haven't personally used their service, we can say that their services sound great from the reviews they've received.

Our Rating: 4.0/5

• Great Discounts
• An abundance of resources you can rely on
• Real-time flight and booking updates
• Members (employees) only
• Subpar travel experience quality

Easily curate your travel plans with Pilot!

ID90 Travel is a great go-to for all things traveled as an airline employee. They aim to remove the stress of organizing trips and enable employees to make the most of the perks of working within the travel industry.

Whether you're looking for flights, hotels, car rental, or a cruise, ID90 Travel has everything you need to make your trip run as smoothly as possible. With the help of innovative technology, you can keep track of everything you might need in one space. 

Do you know what else can help make your travel plans as hassle-free as possible? Pilot!

Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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Exploring the Best Airline Employee Travel Platforms: StaffTraveler, ID90, and MyIDTravel

As airline employees, we are fortunate to have access to various online platforms that cater to our travel needs. This article will explore three popular platforms for airline employee travel: StaffTraveler , ID90 , and myIDTravel . Each platform offers unique features and benefits designed to enhance our staff travel experiences.

StaffTraveler: Near Real-Time Load Information at Your Fingertips

StaffTraveler is our platform that revolutionizes how you communicate and share information about non-rev travel. The app can be used on your desktop or mobile phone and offers near real-time load information. This allows you to assess seat availability on specific flights. You can make informed decisions about your travel plans by requesting and receiving load information from our colleagues from other airlines around the world. StaffTraveler boasts the world’s largest airline community, with members from all airlines. You can also use StaffTraveler to look for tips from other airline employees or to book travel services like hotels and car rentals. 

ID90: Your Gateway to Discounted Global Travel

ID90 refers to a type of discounted travel fare available to airline employees. It stands for “Industry Discount 90%.” This discount applies to both domestic and international flights operated by participating airlines. But in the context of this blog, we refer to a platform with the name ID90. 

Through the ID90 Travel platform, airline employees can search for and book discounted flights for themselves and their eligible travel companions. The platform connects with multiple airlines and provides access to industry discounts, including ID90 fares. With ID90, we gain access to a range of travel services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises. It serves as a one-stop shop, connecting us with discounted travel opportunities across multiple airlines.

It’s important to note that ID90 Travel is not affiliated with any specific airline but serves as an intermediary between airlines and airline employees. The platform verifies the employment status of users to ensure eligibility for discounted travel options.

MyIDTravel: Non-Rev Bookings platform

Created by Lufthansa Systems, MyIDTravel is an online portal tailored specifically for airline employees to book non-revenue (non-rev) staff travel tickets. It is designed for internal use within our airline or its alliance partners. The platform enables you to manage your non-rev bookings, view flight schedules, and check seat availability on your own airline and participating airlines. 

MyIDTravel either caps the number of available seats or uses smiley faces to indicate the availability of seats on a particular flight. A happy smiley represents a higher availability of seats, while a sad smiley indicates limited availability or no open seats. However, it’s important to note that smiley faces on MyIDTravel have been known to be unreliable. They may not always accurately reflect the actual availability of seats on a flight. It is therefore recommended that airline employees verify seat availability with the airline directly or use StafTraveler to get accurate and up-to-date flight loads while making travel plans.

StaffTraveler, ID90, and myIDTravel are valuable online platforms catering to airline employee travel. ID90 offers a comprehensive interline travel experience, connecting us with discounted options across multiple airlines globally. On the other hand, myIDTravel provides a convenient internal portal for non-rev bookings within our airline and alliance partners. Lastly, StaffTraveler enhances our non-rev travel experience with load information and city tips shared by fellow airline employees.

The Best The Best Online Airline Employee Travel Platform

As airline employees, we find online platforms incredibly helpful in maximizing our non-rev privileges. StaffTraveler, in particular, is an invaluable tool that perfectly caters to our unique travel needs, whether we’re discovering new destinations or planning a visit back home. If you haven’t tried StaffTraveler yet, download it now for free.

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The StaffTraveler app gets an average of 4.9 stars from our members. Here…

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How to Save Big on Travel with ID90

If you’re an airline employee or know someone who is, you may be eligible for industry discounts on on hotels, all-inclusive resorts, flights, and cruises. ID90 is one of our favorite travel sites to help you get the most of your travel benefits. It’s very easy to use and the extensive discounts make it the ultimate resource for those in the airline industry. So how does it work?

What is ID90 and how does it work?

ID90 is a travel platform that offers exclusive discounts and deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and more to airline employees, and their friends and families. It’s similar to other online travel agencies like Expedia, TripAdvisor, and Booking.com, except that it offers even deeper discounts for those connected with an airline.

To access the discounts, airline employees create an account and provide proof of their affiliation with the airline. Once verified, they can search and book travel at discounted rates. For friends and family, you’ll need a special link provided by your airline friend or family member. From there, you can sign up and you’re ready to roll right away. ID90 also offers a mobile app for easy access to travel deals if you prefer to go that route.

How to sign up for ID90 and access travel deals

Signing up for ID90 is easy and only takes a few minutes. Depending on whether you are the airline employee, or the friend or family member of the airline employee, your process may look a bit different

Airline employee

Visit the ID90 Travel website and click on the “Sign Up” button. You’ll create an account by providing your airline, employee number, company email address, and a password.

Once your account is verified, you are off to the races and can start searching for deals. Once you have your account, download the ID90 mobile app and you login to search there as well.

Friend or family member of airline employee

You’ll need a special link to sign up. If you don’t have one, use our ID90 friends invite link . You’ll get a special $10 credit to apply to your first booking. Using the invite link, all you’ll need to provide is your email and a password to use. Remember to use the friends and family tab when signing in. And that’s it! You create an account and right away you have access to search all the industry discounts.

How to refer your own friends and family

If you are the airline employee and you want to give access to your own friends and family, there is an easy way to create your own referral link. All you need to do is sign in and click the “invite friends” button at the top of the page. You’ll see different options to share your own sign up link: email invite, QR code, Facebook, or link. Use these options to invite friends and family, and keep track of sign-ups through this page.

Tips for using ID90 to find the best deals

ID90 works just like any other booking site. You enter your dates, destination, and number of travelers. From there you can search through all the options and book on the spot. Here are some strategies to find the best rates:

Super Savers

When you’re searching, you’ll have the ability to filter Super Saver rates. Selecting this option will show you results with the highest savings. Use this option if you are flexible and looking for the best deal. Sometimes you’ll also have an “exclusive rate” filter option as well. Use both to your advantage!

All inclusive rates

ID90 offers a special all-inclusive section. You can also use the “All Inclusive” slider to filter just all inclusive hotels. Once you activate the all inclusive filter, change the “Sort By” dropdown to “Price low to high”. All inclusive rates typically include the room, food, and drinks. These rooms are some of the largest we’ve ever stayed in. And searching this way can help you find all inclusive deals at a great price.

Be flexible with dates

As with any booking site, you’ll find the best rates if you play around with the dates. Keep trying different date combinations to get your price down. Sometimes even changing by a day or two can give drastic results in price. Or hotels with the best discounts may be sold out on your original search dates. Changing the dates will allow different hotel options to appear.

Sort by savings

By default, your search will display what ID90 recommends. However, if you’re looking for a good deal, change the sort filter to “Savings”. Then you’ll see hotels with the biggest discounts at the top of the list. And this is where your airline discount really kicks in as you see some of these huge deals.

Can airline employees book travel for friends and family?

Yes, if you are an airline employee, you can use ID90 to book travel for your friends and family. All you need to do is book like you normally would, except ensure their name is on the reservation when make the booking. ID90 also calls this out on their website if you need some added reassurance. Cruises operate a little differently. You may need to do a little extra digging to find out if you can book a cruise cabin for friends and family.

Does the employee need to be with the friend or family member at check-in?

No – the great thing about using ID90 is it allows family and friends to travel without the employee. If you are an airline employee, you can relax knowing you won’t have to do anything extra for your friends and family. They check-in like any normal guest, regardless of whether you book for them or they book themselves.

If you are the friend or family member, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you won’t be requested to show an airline ID or the airline employee in person. It’s reassuring to know you can book the discounted rates without all the red tape.

“Hotel bookings made through ID90 Travel do not require airline badges to be shown upon check-in.”

ID90 member rewards

Another nice feature of ID90 is the rewards program. Here’s how it works:

• Book a hotel or all-inclusive stay
• After your visit in complete, the total spent will count toward future travel credit
• The amount of travel credit earned through the program depends on your reward level and the amount spent. This chart will give you an idea of how much you can earn

Travel credits can be used on hotel, all-inclusive resort, and cruise bookings. For all the details, check out the ID90 member rewards page .

How much can I save with ID90?

We’ve been using ID90 for several years and the rates are almost always lower than online travel agencies. But to show you the potential savings, here are a few examples:

* for consistency we used 2 adults and the same dates (August 6th – August 13th) for all searches

TripAdvisor

Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana

Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown

Park Grand London Kensington

Whenever we do price comparisons, ID90 regularly comes out on top. It is always worth checking and the savings can be a gamechanger.

How do you typically book travel? Let us know in the comments.

You may also like:, flying standby tips: how to increase your chances of getting on a flight, the best discounts for airline employees and where to find them, buddy passes: is the discount worth the hassle, what is non-rev travel breaking it down for newbie standby travelers, leave a comment cancel reply.

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At ID90 Travel, we have the deepest interline travel discounts.

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I work for an airline and we “use”…

I work for an airline and we “use” ID90. So far flights have been spot on. HOWEVER, I decided to book a rental car thru them😱🤯. I booked a 1 day, 1 way rental from SJU to BQN and all appeared good. The afternoon I booked it I call Sixt Car Rental directly in San Juan, PR. and learned it was booked returning back to SJU 🤬. Both the rental location and Sixt corporate tell me since a 3rd party booked it they must make the change. It’s now been 3 days, 3 emails and 3 voicemails WITHOUT the courtesy of a return call or email, just the auto generated responses. I now have 3 days until our trip and am out $$$. Will NEVER used ID90 again !!!!!

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

Booked and prepaid for a rental car but…

Booked and prepaid for a rental car but they never provided us with one. They used a company called Car Trawler as a third party. Both companies use Unethical business practices and partners with horrible customer service. Essentially this company is crooked and took our money without providing us a product or service. They stranded my family (including 3 young girls) in Florida with no transportation. BUT they are happy to keep our money and refuse to provide a refund because it is burried in paragraph 7 of the fine print that they will keep your money even though they have not provided you with the product.

Date of experience : March 26, 2024

When booking with A hotel book direct

When booking with A hotel book direct. This ID90 Travel is nothing more than Expedia and it actually cost more than going direct with the hotel. We lost our free breakfast included by going with ID90 and lost the Boyne Rewarda points too! Don’t use ID90 travel

Date of experience : March 27, 2024

Pretty sorry

Unfortunately, they advertise deals that are not available. The ad says to call them, but no number is given. If you eventually get through to a real person, you learn that that price quoted is unavailable. It's very rare that you can ever get a person to pick up the phone. I would not even deal with this company if they didn't have some excusive deals. I wish those companies would go through Perx so I could get it booked.

Date of experience : February 21, 2024

ID90 Hotel Room Booking

Booked a hotel for three nights through ID90 and paid up front and got a confirmation. Went to the hotel less than 2 hours from booking the room. The hotel said they were totally booked up. They never got a verified reservation and was unable to give me a room off that reservation. Kept calling ID90 customer support for days. After 10 minutes I would get sent to voice mail. No one returned my calls. I’m disputing the charge through Chase bank and had to look and pay for a new hotel room last minute at 10:30 p.m. Is ID90 is not responsive. They are quick to take your money for a service they never provided. Stay away from this site!!!!

Date of experience : February 16, 2024

Unsure they work with YOUR airline until you create an account with your WORK ID/E-MAIL

Bad quality support, on hold forever. Makes you reveal your WORK ADDRESS and EMPLOYEE ID before letting you know if it supports your airline's ID90 agreements. No simple place to see WHICH airlines have agreements with ID90travel.com until you provide them ALL YOUR INFORMATION first, only to discover your airline isn't supported?

Date of experience : November 24, 2023

Don't ever book with them

Don't ever book with them, got to our hotel last night and it was canceled. No one told us. Called them and they said it wasn't when it was. I am still waiting for a refund. After this we booked another hotel with them. When the reservation came up it was a different hotel in a different location. I am not impressed.

Date of experience : February 08, 2024

Be Sure to Confirm Your Reservations With the Hotel!

I'm not sure I want to leave a 1-star review because I have used ID90 Travel several times in the past with no issues, but I am instructed to "Rate your recent experience". I booked a hotel about six months in advance, but when I arrived at the hotel I was told it had been closed for two years! Hard to describe the feeling when you arrive in a foreign country only to be told you now have no place to stay. Luckily it occurred during the day, so I was able to make other arrangements. To be fair, ID90 Travel refunded my money quickly. Going forward I believe I'll always contact the hotel directly and confirm my reservations.

Date of experience : July 06, 2023

No customer support-left stranded

I had a problem with accidentally booking wrong date for a hotel for Oct 19 instead of Oct 18 when my layover for flight occurred. I arrived to the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas-and it was then that I was informed of my error. Later I realized it was due to them using a European calendar with the week starting on Monday. I emailed and called them repeatedly with no one available. It has been 24 hrs and still no response. I had to pay for another night. The manager Janice is willing to work with them but they won’t contact hotel or me or respond to my voicemail or emails. I’m not sure what to do. Do not use these guys. Even Hotwire is better with resolution. All they have to do is fill paperwork with the hotel.

Date of experience : October 19, 2021

Can't book a flight - site down for months.

The site to book a flight has been done for months. I wish Frontier could use a different service than id90.

Date of experience : July 16, 2023

Think twice before using

I can share a few. (Jan 2022) This is got to be one of the most underhanded dealiing company's out there. Recently I was billed for 2 hotels-2 rooms. I was contacted by ID90 January 2022-- 3 days prior to trip reminding me of the UPCOMING stays. I promptly emailed them back saying I canceled both reservation in Jun 2021 right after making them. Sent the time and date of each email. (you can't cancel directly with hotel) There is no place on the reservation to cancel either. You have to email. I responded back to ID90 res the paper they sent me confirming my res-- with the cancelation notice to them FROM ME. -- again this was back in Jun of 2021. I dug through 9 months of emails to find it. The ID folks said OH! you canceled on the do notreply email-- and how was I suppose to know that? Why did it accept my email cancelation? if it wasn't accepted why not a notice-- unable to reply? This is a terrible situation. Now they want ME to contact hotel-- the same hotel that wouldn't confirm my res! This is one of some recent problems with ID. Like booking a 5 hour catamaran trip that had no toilet, no bimini, no food, no wash area. How about just last week a tour in St Martin-- that when we got to the tour start a man came out and said oh it's canceled? A recent hotel res in Galveston the hotel refused to give me a copy of my room bill. So there was no way to chack charges? I have many recent bad experiences recently. Most of my booking are made way out and not last minute either. Stay away. Book with independant vendors or directly. I read they have a new CEO so maybe thats where the ball is being dropped. I asked for his contact but they wouldn't give it.

Date of experience : February 02, 2022

The hotel had cockroaches.

Date of experience : July 10, 2023

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Automatic Refunds and No More Hidden Fees: D.O.T. Sets New Rules for Airlines

The Transportation Department issued new requirements on refunds when flights are canceled or delayed and on revealing “junk” fees before booking. Here’s what passengers can expect.

By Christine Chung

The Transportation Department on Wednesday announced new rules taking aim at two of the most difficult and annoying issues in air travel: obtaining refunds and encountering surprise fees late in the booking process.

“Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them — without having to ask,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement, adding that the changes would not only save passengers “time and money,” but also prevent headaches.

The department’s new rules, Mr. Buttigieg said, will hold airlines to clear and consistent standards when they cancel, delay or substantially change flights, and require automatic refunds to be issued within weeks. They will also require them to reveal all fees before a ticket is purchased.

Airlines for America , a trade group representing the country’s largest air carriers, said in a statement that its airlines “abide by and frequently exceed” D.O.T. consumer protection regulations.

Passenger advocates welcomed the new steps.

Tomasz Pawliszyn, the chief executive of AirHelp, a Berlin-based company that assists passengers with airline claims, called it a “massive step forward and huge improvement in consumer rights and protection” that brings the United States closer to global standards in passenger rights.

Here’s what we know about the D.O.T.’s new rules, which will begin to go into effect in October.

There’s now one definition for a “significant” delay.

Until now, airlines have been allowed to set their own definition for a “significant” delay and compensation has varied by carrier . Now, according to the D.O.T., there will be one standard: when departure or arrival is delayed by three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights.

Passengers will get prompt refunds for cancellations or significant changes for flights and delayed bags, for any reason.

When things go wrong, getting compensation from an airline has often required establishing a cumbersome paper trail or spending untold hours on the phone. Under the new rules, refunds will be automatic, without passengers having to request them. Refunds will be made in full, excepting the value of any transportation already used. Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in the original form of payment, whether by cash, credit card or airline miles. Refunds are due within seven days for credit card purchases and within 20 days for other payments.

Passengers with other flight disruptions, such as being downgraded to a lower service class, are also entitled to refunds.

The list of significant changes for which passengers can get their money back also includes: departure or arrival from an airport different from the one booked; connections at different airports or flights on planes that are less accessible to a person with a disability; an increase in the number of scheduled connections. Also, passengers who pay for services like Wi-Fi or seat selection that are then unavailable will be refunded any fees.

Airlines must give travel vouchers or credits to ticketed passengers unable to fly because of government restrictions or a doctor’s orders.

The vouchers or credits will be transferable and can be used for at least five years after the date they were issued.

Fees for checked baggage and modifying a reservation must be disclosed upfront.

Airlines and ticket agents are now required to display any extra fees for things like checking bags or seat selection clearly and individually before a ticket purchase. They will also need to outline the airline’s policies on baggage, cancellations and changing flights before a customer purchases a ticket.

The rules, which apply to all flights on domestic airlines and flights to and from the United States operated by foreign airlines, have varying start dates.

For example, automatic refunds must be instituted by the airlines within six months. But carriers have a year before they’re required to issue travel vouchers and credits for passengers advised by a medical professional not to fly.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Christine Chung is a Times reporter covering airlines and consumer travel. More about Christine Chung

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

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Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

FILE - Passenger drop off their baggage at United Airlines in C Terminal at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, in Houston. The Biden administration issued final rules Wednesday, April 24, 2024, to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)

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The Biden administration issued final rules Wednesday to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation.

The Transportation Department said airlines will be required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for canceled flights and “significant” delays.

Under current regulations, airlines decide how long a delay must last before triggering refunds. The administration is removing that wiggle room by defining a significant delay as lasting at least three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones.

Airlines still will be allowed to offer another flight or a travel credit instead, but consumers can reject the offer.

The rule will also apply to refunds of checked-bag fees if the bag isn’t delivered within 12 hours for domestic flights or 15 to 30 hours for international flights. And it will apply to fees for things such as seat selection or an internet connection if the airline fails to provide the service.

Complaints about refunds skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as airlines canceled flights and, even when they didn’t, many people didn’t feel safe sharing a plane cabin with other passengers.

Airlines for America, a trade group for large U.S. carriers, noted that refund complaints to the Transportation Department have fallen sharply since mid-2020. A spokesperson for the group said airlines “offer a range of options — including fully refundable fares — to increase accessibility to air travel and to help customers make ticket selections that best fit their needs.”

The group said the 11 largest U.S. airlines issued $43 billion in customer refunds from 2020 through 2023.

The Transportation Department issued a separate rule requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose upfront what they charge for checked and carry-on bags and canceling or changing a reservation. On airline websites, the fees must be shown the first time customers see a price and schedule.

The rule will also oblige airlines to tell passengers they have a guaranteed seat they are not required to pay extra for, although it does not bar airlines from charging people to choose specific seats. Many airlines now charge extra for certain spots, including exit-row seats and those near the front of the cabin.

The agency said the rule will save consumers more than $500 million a year.

Airlines for America said its members “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers” from their first search.

The new rules will take effect over the next two years. They are part of a broad administration attack on what President Joe Biden calls “junk fees.” Last week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that his department will let state officials in 15 states help enforce federal airline consumer protection laws .

What fliers need to know about new refund rules for airlines

Starting in about six months, u.s. airlines will have to offer customers cash refunds before vouchers.

New federal rules for airlines will go into effect later this year, giving travelers a better picture of the full cost of flights before they book — and getting them an easier refund if things go awry.

After a process that lasted more than a year, the Biden administration announced the rules on passenger protections Wednesday.

“This is a big day for America’s flying public,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news conference at Reagan National Airport.

While the trade group Airlines for America said its members “abide by — and frequently exceed — DOT regulations regarding consumer protections,” consumer advocates praised the administration’s move.

“These rules are not only critical but also common sense,” said William McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, who spoke at Wednesday’s event.

Most new rules go into effect in the fall

At the event Wednesday, Buttigieg said that “the bulk of these protections” will go into effect in about six months. Others will start in a year.

That means refund rules that get customers automatic cash refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change flights won’t be in place during the busy summer travel season. But they should be set in time for the Thanksgiving and winter holiday season rush.

Buttigieg said that the department expects airlines to take some time to develop the processes to return cash to travelers, but added that he doesn’t want them to drag their feet.

“They don’t have to wait the number of months that it’ll technically take for this to go into effect,” Buttigieg said Wednesday. “They could and should be doing this right now.”

You should get refunds without having to ask

Instead of first offering a voucher or credit, airlines “must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops,” the Transportation Department says. The refunds need to be issued within seven business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days when bought through other methods.

However a traveler originally paid is the way the refund needs to be issued, the rule says, whether that’s by credit card or airline miles . Other types of compensation are allowed only if a passenger chooses one of those alternatives.

“No more defaulting to vouchers or credits when consumers may not even realize that they were entitled to cash,” Buttigieg said.

You can still choose to be rebooked

If travelers’ flights have been canceled or significantly changed, they can still continue with their trip. Passengers are only eligible for a refund if they have declined to accept alternative transportation.

Airlines will have to pay for delayed bags and broken WiFi

There are many ways for a trip to go awry, and the new rules cover more than just a late or canceled flight.

If a checked bag isn’t delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight arriving at the gate, or within 15 to 30 hours of an international flight arriving, depending on how long that flight is, passengers will be entitled to a refund of their checked-bag fee. They will need to file a mishandled baggage report.

Refunds will also be given if passengers pay for a service such as WiFi, seat selection or in-flight entertainment and the airline fails to provide.

‘Significant’ changes will be the same for all airlines

Automatic cash refunds are due to passengers if their flight experiences a “significant change.” But what does that mean? Previously, the definition could vary from airline to airline.

The new rules provide some consistency. A change is considered significant if a departure or arrival is different by more than three hours for domestic flights or six hours for international trips.

Other changes considered significant: the departure or arrival is from a different airport; there are more connections; passengers are downgraded to a lower class; or service or flights are on planes that are less accessible for a person with a disability.

No more hidden fees for bags and seat selection

The rule on extra fees — what the Biden administration refers to as “surprise junk fees in air travel” — will require airlines and online travel booking sites to disclose up front the fees for a checked bag, carry-on bag, reservation change and reservation cancellation. Those fees must be clearly noted and not shown through a hyperlink, the rule says.

Consumers must also be informed that they don’t have to pay for a seat assignment to travel and that a seat will be provided without an additional price.

“Healthy competition requires that, as a consumer, you comparison shop, which means knowing the real price of a trip before and not after you buy,” Buttigieg said. “Airlines will now be required to show you these costs up front, so you have all the information you need to decide what travel option is best for you.”

Travelers can either search without providing their personal information to see standard fees or, after entering their information, see more tailored fees that might apply given their military status, frequent-flier membership or credit card use.

“The final rule puts an end to the bait-and-switch tactics some airlines use to disguise the true cost of discounted flights,” the Transportation Department said in a news release. “Prior to the rule, some airlines were offering deceptive discounts that consumers may have believed applied to the full fare that was being advertised but only applied to a small portion of the ticket price.”

You will still have to report complaints

Buttigieg said the main way for the department to find out about a violation of the rules is when people submit complaints through the site flightrights.gov . But he said he hopes that by making refunds automatic, there will be less need for complaints — and more flexibility for employees to perform audits or spot-checks of airline compliance.

Europe-style compensation is still not in the rules

Some travelers heading to or from Europe who experience delays under certain circumstances are entitled to compensation worth more than $600. That kind of system does not exist for domestic flights in the United States, but Buttigieg said it is on the agenda.

“On compensation, we continue to develop that — and to be clear, with this rule on the books, that does not stop or slow the progress that we’re driving in terms of a compensation rule,” he said.

More on air travel

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Pet peeves: Why do “gate lice” line up early for a flight ? Psychologists explained for us. Another move that annoys airline workers: abusing the flight attendant call button . For more on how to behave on a flight, check out our 52 definitive rules of flying .

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Airlines are ordered to give full refunds instead of vouchers and to stop hiding fees

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023.

WASHINGTON — In an effort to crack down on airlines that charge passengers steep fees to check bags and change flights, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced new regulations aimed at expanding consumer protections .

One of the final rules announced Wednesday requires airlines to show the full price of travel before passengers pay for their tickets. The other will force airlines to provide prompt cash refunds when flights are canceled or significantly changed.

"Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them - without having to ask," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement announcing the new rules.

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Surprise junk fees have become a large and growing source of revenue for airlines in recent years, according to the DOT.

"Today's announcements will require airlines to both provide passengers better information about costs before ticket purchase, and promptly provide cash refunds to passengers when they are owed — not only saving passengers time and money, but also preventing headaches," Buttigieg said.

The airline industry is unlikely to welcome the new rules. At a hearing on the proposed fee rule in March 2023, an industry lobbying group representing American, Delta and United said it would be too difficult for airlines to disclose their charges more clearly.

"The amount of unwanted and unneeded information forced upon passengers" by the new policy would only cause "confusion and frustration," warned Doug Mullen, the deputy general counsel at Airlines for America . "Very few, if any, need or want this information, and especially when they are initially trying to understand schedule and fare options."

But the DOT insists its new rule will give consumers the information they need to better understand the true costs of air travel.

Transportation Department cracks down on airline 'junk fees'

"I believe this is to the benefit of the sector as a whole," Buttigieg said in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition , because passengers will have "more confidence in the aviation sector."

The new rules require airlines to disclose all baggage, change, and cancellation fees, and to share that information with third-party booking sites and travel agents.

The regulation also prohibits bait-and-switch tactics, the DOT says, that disguise the true cost of flights by advertising a low base fare that does not include all mandatory fees.

"This is really about making sure that we create a better experience for passengers, and a stronger aviation sector in the United States," Buttigieg said in the NPR interview.

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Enough with airline hidden fees: DOT rules take aim at 'corporate rip-offs'

The Department of Transportation announced new rules on Wednesday to better protect airline passengers against “costly surprise airline fees,” the agency said.

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to crack down on “corporate rip-offs,” two new air travel rules were finalized. The rules mandate airlines to pay full refunds in a timely and straightforward manner and ensure transparency regarding fees associated with air travel.

The new regulations are expected to save consumers over half a billion dollars each year in hidden junk fees, the DOT said. 

“Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them – without having to ask,” Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. 

“Today’s announcements will require airlines to both provide passengers better information about costs before ticket purchase, and promptly provide cash refunds to passengers when they are owed – not only saving passengers time and money, but also preventing headaches.”

Learn more: Best travel insurance

What to know about the newly finalized rules for airline passengers:

What are the new rules from the DOT and how do they impact passengers?

The first new regulation will simplify the process for airline passengers to get what they’re owed by requiring airlines to give automatic cash refunds. Passengers can get these refunds when their flights are “cancelled or significantly changed, their checked bags are significantly delayed, or the ancillary services, like Wi-Fi, they purchased are not provided,” the announcement said. 

The second will require airlines and ticket agents to be upfront about any hidden fees, such as checking a bag or changing a flight, to help “consumers avoid unneeded or unexpected charges that can quickly increase and add significant cost to what may, at first, look like a cheap ticket.” Airline fees, increasingly common for airlines to boost their profit, have grown “confusing” for passengers.

Both rules will go into effect in about six months, or around the end of October, the agency said.

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How will the new rules make getting refunds from airlines easier? 

Getting a refund from airlines is a long-winded and often complicated process. Sometimes, passengers end up getting a travel credit or voucher instead of an actual reimbursement or just a partial refund. Under the new regulation, refunds will be much more straightforward. 

Airlines must promptly provide automatic refunds without passengers explicitly requesting them, and the refunds must be issued in the original payment method used to make the purchase.  

How fast will the refund get to me?

Airlines will have seven business days to make full refunds for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods. 

How else is the DOT cracking down on hidden airline junk fees? 

It can be tricky to know exactly how much your final airline ticket will cost due to hidden fees. What may look like a low price at first can quickly add up. Airlines will now have to disclose any baggage, change and cancellation fees and policies before purchases are made – and it has to be clear and upfront, not hidden behind a hyperlink. Airlines will also need to be transparent about weight and dimension limitations. Third-party websites such as Expedia or Booking.com will also be required to display this information. 

These days, it’s common for people to pay for seat selection, especially for the lowest price fares, but carriers will now need to inform consumers that seats are guaranteed and it’s unnecessary to pay for one.

The DOT is also banning airlines from using bait-and-switch tactics, in which an airline advertises a discounted fare that doesn’t include mandatory fees that drive the ticket price up. 

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .