Stranded? Who pays when air travel breaks
Summary
Patrick McKenzie discusses the financial and regulatory complexities of air travel disruptions, triggered by a September 2024 fiber optic cable cut that caused widespread ATC failures. He outlines the "loss waterfall" for compensation, distinguishing between mandatory DOT refunds, voluntary airline commitments, and credit card benefits. The episode provides tactical advice on navigating airline bureaucracy, such as using self-service tools and targeting high-tier support agents, while warning against purchasing low-value travel insurance.
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