New DOT airline rules could mean fewer accommodations for passengers when flights are disrupted

A new Department of Transportation rule that took effect October 19 changes what counts as an airline-controlled delay or cancellation, potentially reducing the number of passengers eligible for hotel stays. The rule narrows the situations airlines are responsible for, shifting more disruptions into categories considered outside carrier control. The changes come as travel demand rises toward Thanksgiving and the end-of-year peak. Under the updated framework, issues such as extreme weather damage, airport closures from volcanic ash or wind, cybersecurity attacks, government system shutdowns, baggage system outages, overheated brakes, unscheduled maintenance, medical emergencies, aircraft cleaning after a passenger death, and unruly passengers are no longer treated as airline-controlled.