The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has applauded the reintroduction of bipartisan legislation to protect travel agencies from unfair airline ticket refund liabilities. The Flight Refund Fairness Act (H.R. 5556) was introduced by Representative Maria Salazar (R-FL) in September with strong bipartisan support.
Under current Department of Transportation rules, travel agencies can be forced to issue refunds when airlines cancel or significantly alter flights even though these agencies have no control over the decision to cancel or change a flight and are not in possession of the funds. The Flight Refund Fairness Act would correct this imbalance by requiring airlines to assume full responsibility for refunds and remit funds back to ticket agents on the same timeline—seven days—that applies to consumer reimbursements.
“Travel advisors are consumer advocates. They navigate complex rules and fight for rightful refunds for their clients,” said ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby. “But the current regulatory structure threatens the financial viability of many travel agencies—95 percent of which are small businesses—by placing the refund burdens on agencies. We applaud the original cosponsors of this legislation, led by Representative Maria Salazar, for recognizing this inequity.”
Small travel agencies, 80 percent of which are women-owned, who focus on group travel are the most affected by the current DOT regulations. By ensuring that airlines, not travel advisors, bear responsibility for refunds when flights are canceled or significantly changed, H.R. 5556 protects small businesses from unrecoverable costs while preserving consumer rights. The bill requires airlines to return funds to ticket agents in a timely fashion, aligned with consumer refund deadlines and ensures that travelers continue to have clear, reliable reimbursement pathways.
“Miami is the premier tourism hub and the small businesses that support this industry must be protected,” said Rep. Salazar. “I’m proud to reintroduce the bipartisan Flight Refund Fairness Act, which will remove a regulatory hurdle for small travel advisors that may otherwise jeopardize business operations, while ensuring consumers are able to get any potential refund in a timely manner.”
Representatives Mark Alford (R-MO) and Dina Titus (D-NV) united Rep. Salazar in leading the legislation and were joined by Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) and Daniel Webster (R-FL) as original cosponsors. ASTA will continue leading grassroots advocacy efforts in support of H.R. 5556, working with Congress, the travel industry and consumer allies. Gaining support for the legislation will be the association’s top priority at its upcoming Legislative Day, when nearly 250 travel professionals will educate their congressional leaders on their businesses. ASTA urges Members of the House to cosponsor and advance this vital legislation for travelers and the small businesses that serve them.
For more information, visit www.asta.org.
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