Flight delayed, canceled? Rule coming in October could impact your compensation

A new federal rule taking effect Oct. 19 will change how nearly a dozen types of flight disruptions are categorized, potentially reducing compensation for passengers. Under current U.S. reporting rules, cancellations and delays of at least 15 minutes are attributed to categories such as air carrier, extreme weather, National Aviation System, security and late arriving aircraft. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, signed by President Biden in May 2024, will instead move 10 specific disruption types into a new “Section 511(b)” reporting category, no longer treated as within the airline’s control. The Transportation Department says this should reduce reputational harm to airlines. An aviation law firm described it as a significant step, while industry commentary suggests travelers may see fewer amenities and hotel coverage, since Frontier will not offer complimentary hotel accommodations for overnight disruptions.