The Department of Transportation is proposing new rules that would make major improvements for travelers who get stuck with canceled or changed flights.

Officials say they have gotten a huge amount of complaints over the last years from travelers seeking refunds for canceled flights.

The department has long required airlines to refund travelers if airlines cancel or significantly change their flights -- but the terms significant change and cancellation had not previously been defined.

Some of the significant new policies would include:

• Changes that affect the departure and/or arrival times by three hours or more for a domestic flight or six hours or more for an international flight;

• Changes to the departure or arrival airport;

• Changes that increase the number of connections in the itinerary;

• Changes to the type of aircraft flown if it causes a significant downgrade in the air travel experience or amenities available onboard the flight.

The public will have 90 days to comment on the proposed rules -- and then the DOT will decide whether to proceed.

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