The US govt link-->https://www.transportation.gov/brie...inal-rule-requiring-automatic-refunds-airlineMore passenger rights in the USA. Presumably applies to all airlines operating in the USA including QF. With QF already subject to the UK 261 and EU 261 this will add to the case for change in Australia but don't hold your breath.
The proposed rules are very USA domestic airline/flight centric.
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I dont think the airline gets to auto cancel and refund the tickets, it's still on the passenger not to accept the alternative and then get refunded.The US govt link-->https://www.transportation.gov/brie...inal-rule-requiring-automatic-refunds-airline
As opposed to a bloggers opinion
The rules seem not to have EU extraordinary exceptions. Say with a massive storm or similar the airlines would still need to pay out. Airfares could rise the cover that. But cancelling-refund after 3hr could be a windfall for the airlines. After a storm(3hr) airlines refund all tickets, as required. How the refund would work on multi segment ticket is unknown. The airlines could then raise fares 100% 200% 500% in the recovery, instead putting them on the next available flight, with no extra cost from the passenger.
The proposed rules are very USA domestic airline/flight centric. No consideration of how the international air travel market operates. And that many 1000's of people travelling by air in USA do not directly pay a USA airline
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Passenger "claim" or "accept alternative flight" is not written in the text.Automatic: Airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops.
QF would be in knots with the 7-day timeline. It takes them >7 days to even get to your refund request, then four weeks to pass it to accounts payable, and then another two weeks to pay out something.These automatic refunds must be provided promptly, i.e., within 7 business days for credit card payments and within 20 calendar days for other forms of payment.