What we checked
On October 4, 2026, the live DOT consumer refund page used two different descriptions of the noncredit-card deadline. Under “What if the airline offers to rebook me on alternative transportation?” it said 20 calendar days for other payment methods. Under “What should I do if I am entitled to a refund and would like to receive one from an airline?” it said 20 business days for cash purchases. This note records a wording inconsistency on one guidance page; it does not claim the regulation changed.
What the rule says
The current 14 CFR § 260.2 definition of “prompt refund” specifies seven business days for credit-card purchases and 20 calendar days for cash, check, debit-card or other purchases, subject to the rule’s requirements for when a refund becomes due. The published April 2024 final rule uses the same seven-business/20-calendar distinction. DOT’s ticket-refunds source directory links to both the current Part 260 and the final rule.
Calendar days and business days are different ways to count time. A traveler or reporter citing a deadline should identify the payment method and use the governing source and current guidance, rather than treating the isolated “20 business days” sentence as a separate policy.
Scope and practical limits
This comparison concerns U.S. DOT rules for covered airfare and related refunds; it is not a promise that every changed flight qualifies. A significant change or cancellation, the traveler’s choice about a replacement flight or credit, the merchant of record, and the event that starts the refund period can affect the result. An airline’s rebooking flexibility is a separate question. The educational DOT checker explains some significant-change criteria without deciding an individual case.
If you are assessing a particular booking, keep your purchase method, original and revised itinerary, airline notices and any response to an alternative offer. Consult the live official sources and the responsible airline or ticket seller. This is educational information, not legal advice or a guaranteed refund deadline for a specific transaction.
Research method and correction route
We compared two named sections of the same current DOT consumer page with the current regulation and the published final rule on October 4, 2026. We did not use a secondary article to interpret the legal text or infer when the DOT page acquired its differing wording. If DOT corrects that page, this note should be updated and versioned. Our public research methodology describes source checks and corrections.