For a brief moment, it looked like US travelers might finally get automatic cash when an airline's own problems wrecked their plans.

The Department of Transportation, under former President Joe Biden, drafted a rule requiring carriers to pay passengers at least $200 and up to $775 for the longest holdups. The compensation would cover meals, hotels, ground transport and rebooking when disruptions were within the airline's control.

But no longer. On Sept. 5, the Trump administration's DOT officially withdrew that plan , saying the move aligns with its priorities to roll back regulations it perceives as burdensome.

In practical terms, nothing changes for US flyers. There's still no legal right to cash compensation for delays or most cancellations, and protections will continue to depen

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