I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9636 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure prompt refunds for cancelled 
flights, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 20, 2022 
Ms. PORTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure prompt 
refunds for cancelled flights, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prompt Refunds for 
Cancelled Flights Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PROMPT REFUNDS FOR CANCELLED FLIGHTS. 
(a) UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES AND UN-
FAIR METHODS OF COMPETITION.—Section 41712 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
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‘‘(d) 
PROMPT
REFUNDS
FOR
CANCELLED 
FLIGHTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—It shall be an unfair or de-
ceptive practice under subsection (a) for any air car-
rier, foreign air carrier, or ticket agent that sells a 
ticket for air transportation to fail to provide a cov-
ered refund with respect to such ticket if the air 
transportation is cancelled or significantly changed. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION.—Paragraph (1) does not 
apply if a ticket holder voluntarily accepts alter-
native transportation or other compensation offered 
in lieu of a covered refund. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) COVERED REFUND.—The term ‘cov-
ered refund’ means a refund of the amount 
paid for a ticket for air transportation that is 
provided— 
‘‘(i) to the holder of the ticket; 
‘‘(ii) in the same format in which the 
amount was paid; and 
‘‘(iii) not later than— 
‘‘(I) in the case of payment by 
credit card, debit card, or other elec-
tronic format, 48 hours after the rel-
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evant 
cancellation 
or 
significant 
change; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of payment by 
cash or check, 14 days after the rel-
evant 
cancellation 
or 
significant 
change. 
‘‘(B) 
SIGNIFICANTLY
CHANGED.—The 
term ‘significantly changed’ means, with respect 
to air transportation, that— 
‘‘(i) the departure or arrival time as-
sociated with such transportation has 
changed— 
‘‘(I) in the case of air transpor-
tation within the United States, by 3 
or more hours; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of air transpor-
tation to or from a location outside 
the United States, by 6 or more 
hours; 
‘‘(ii) the departure or arrival airport 
associated with such transportation has 
changed; 
‘‘(iii) the number of intermediate 
stops associated with such transportation 
has increased; or 
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‘‘(iv) the type of aircraft associated 
with such transportation has changed and, 
as determined by the Secretary, the change 
will result in a significant downgrade of 
the air transportation experience.’’. 
(b) CIVIL PENALTIES.—Section 46301(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(8) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE COVERED 
REFUND.—Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (5)(D), 
the amount of a civil penalty for a violation of section 
41712(d) shall be the amount that is 10 times the amount 
paid for the relevant cancelled or significantly changed air 
transportation.’’. 
Æ 
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