In 2023 government agencies are proposing changes for airlines to
keep in mind when they offer tickets for sale.
For instance, passengers will ne entitled to compensation if a flight is
cancelled.
According to Travel Weekly, the travel industry's weekly print
newspaper and daily online newspaper, "Regulations proposed by the DOT in
early August would place new refund requirements on airlines
that delay flights and create a right to a refund for passengers who cancel travel
plans for health reasons. Specifically, the proposal would require airlines to
offer refunds for domestic flights that are delayed more than three hours and
for international flights that are delayed more than six hours." And as well,
the FAA began a "regulatory process to minimum seat sizes on commercial
airplanes and
minimum requirements for the amount of space between aircraft rows."
And Nerdwallet.com claims that airlines like Delta and others are
allowing flight cancellations into 2024,
and they say, "It might be a good time to start planning your 2023 flights
and adventures – including spring break."
It's also a good idea to
remember that "real ID" is 1 year away and that's 2023. Also, the US Department of Transportation is
extending the public comment period for "Airline Ticket Refunds and
Consumer Protections" until December 16, 2022, and after that a decision
will be made whether to mandate airlines to offer those guarantees to consumers.
Here's my 2023 prediction: the "consumer" is now in ascendancy and travel in 2023
will be a banner year for those among us who can afford to travel despite the
expected inflation.
As it stands now, despite the Federal Reserve's raised interest rates, so far there is hope that the Fed's aggressive interest rate increases may allow a "soft" landing. Yet until we know for sure most Americans are not able to predict their "travel
future." On the other hand, the retired seniors with a pension that increases with inflation
are planning a "bucket list" while they are still healthy.
In my opinion, travel in the year 2023 is "murky" and dependent on whether the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes does indeed bring a "first soft landing" by the Federal Reserve ever in it's history.
