A LAWMAKER has recently filed a measure mandating airline companies to refund in full the tickets of passengers who cancel their flight reservation three days before the scheduled trip.
House Bill 5676, authored by Nationalist People’s Coalition Rep. Evelina Escudero of Sorsogon, seeks to protect the right of passengers by granting them the privilege to avail of themselves a full refund of their ticket without service charge or cancellation fee.
The bill provides that the cancellation of the flight should be made three days before the scheduled trip, and subject to the submission of the ticket and other pertinent documents.
Under the measure, the refund availed of by the passenger or the purchaser of the ticket shall be processed and release not later than seven working days after submission of complete requirements.
The bill also imposes a fine of P10,000 for violation of the proposed act. The fine shall be imposed for each violations committed.
In filing the bill, Escudero said the policy on refunds is included in the “condition of carriage” of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for all Philippine-registered airlines.
“Local or foreign airlines allow voluntary refund subject to certain conditions, including the payment of service charges or cancellation fees,” Escudero said.
She said the airlines are compelled to refund the ticket of the passengers if the carrier cancels a flight or fails to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule.
“Likewise, airlines may refund the tickets if the carrier causes the passengers to miss a connecting flight on which the passenger holds a confirmed reservation or unable to provide previously confirmed space,” Escudero said.
The lawmaker said that in case a portion of the ticket has been used, the refund would be the difference between the fare paid and the applicable fare for the transportation used.