Flight Refund Fairness Act

Summary

Requires clearer, faster refunds for canceled, significantly delayed, or changed flights by tightening the timing rules in federal aviation consumer protection law and by assigning a specific payment window for ticket agents. Instead of a vague “prompt” refund requirement, the law ties refund timing to an express statutory deadline and says ticket agents must pay customers within 7 days after they receive funds from the airline. Affects air carriers, foreign air carriers, and ticket agents: it clarifies when refunds are due and creates a 7-day rule for ticket agents once they receive transferred refund funds. The change does not create new funding or broad new programs but imposes a precise payment timing requirement on private companies that sell tickets and issue refunds.

• Replaces vague “prompt” refund timing with a clearer statutory deadline referenced in the statute.
• Requires ticket agents to pay customers within 7 days after the agent receives refund funds from the air carrier or foreign air carrier.
• Applies to refunds for canceled, significantly delayed, or changed flights.
• Clarifies wording across refund-related subsections to reduce ambiguity about responsibilities.
• Does not create new federal spending or programs; it changes private-sector refund obligations under federal law.
• Strengthens consumer protections by creating an explicit, enforceable timeline for refunds.
• May increase administrative and cash‑flow requirements for ticket agents and intermediaries.