(CBS DETROIT) — With the Fourth of July holiday season in full swing, we wanted to let consumers know what’s changed since the last major travel season in December 2023.
In April, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued new consumer protection rules which could save travelers $500 million annually.
As of Tuesday evening, Detroit Metro Airport had only two delayed flights and no canceled flights, a far cry from the last time Darron Cole flew a few years ago.
“I bought a really good ticket that I thought was too good to be true,” Cole said. “It turned out to be too good to be true and my flight was delayed over six hours.”
Cole also said the airline he had his ticket with did not offer compensation, but he also didn’t know he should have asked for it.
Even with the Department of Transportation’s new compensation requirements, there is no specific amount set out that must be paid.
“That compensation is still not completely clear,” said David Fishman, owner of Cadillac Travel Group in Southfield. “You really have to be your own advocate and know what your own rights are.”
Fishman recommends that you educate yourself on the differences between different airline policies before booking your trip.
“If you search, you’ll find your rights,” Fishman said. “You need to find out what those rights are so you’re prepared for the situation. That way you know what you deserve and what you can ask for.”
It’s a lesson Cole would rather not have learned the hard way.
“It was really annoying and I wish I had known about the differences in compensation,” Cole told CBS News Detroit. “I would have pursued it, but I just didn’t know.”
