After a severed fiber optic cable disrupted thousands of flights to and from East Coast airports on Monday, customers are entitled to a full refund under U.S.law, but they also have other options, Eric Napoli, the chief legal officer at AirHelp, told Fox News Digital."Under U.S.
domestic law on flights, the rules are that you're entitled to a full cash refund," Napoli explained."If you are flying to and from Europe and fall under European rules, if the cause of the delay is directly attributable to the airline, then you could be entitled to up to $700.In this case, this is completely outside of the airline's control.
This is a tower-to-ground issue, so you don't get any compensation.But what you are entitled to is — if you decide not to take that flight, or whatever flight they give you next — a full cash refund," Napoli said.U.S.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed Amtrak for the cancellations, claiming that a construction crew cut the cable.However, the company quickly pushed back.LAGUARDIA AIRPORT RUNWAY SHUT DOWN AFTER SINKHOLE DISCOVERED DURING ROUTINE MORNING INSPECTIONFILE - U.S.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed Amtrak for the cancellations, citing a construction crew.(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)"This incident occurred on New Jersey Transit property and involved a New Jersey Transit contractor," Amtrak said in a statement.NJ Transit acknowledged working on the site where the cable was cut, but claimed "the crew was digging approximately 10 feet away from the utility markings."Because the incident was not caused by any of the airlines, customers traveling to and from Europe are not entitled to a $700 cash payment that European law would entitle them to if the airport caused the delays, Napoli said.DELTA FLIGHT DIVERTED TWICE AFTER LAVATORY LEAK FLOODS CABIN, LEAVES PASSENGERS STRANDED FOR HOURS"In this scenario, European law wouldn't say that the airline has to pay compensation because the network connectivity issue was completely out...