consumer investigator chris gamora is responding. >> reporter: good morning. several passengers contacted us with this problem. they all have trips that are put off. they are not happening and will not happen. they expect a cash refund. and uncle sam largely agrees a cash refund is what hey should get. but the airlines are largely not offering cash refunds. the bold red message to travelers on the state department website could not be clearer. do not travel. so some people canceled their flights on their own. then got an airline voucher instead of a cash circumstances me -- me a credit towards future flights. >> reporter: for others like karl in chicago, the airline canceled the flight. still no cash back. >> the trip is nonvaluable. but the unused value of their ticket is safe and will be able to be used towards future travel. >> the average american only goes on a plane trip once every one to three years. they're not going to care about a voucher that may be good from anywhere to 90 days to a year. >> reporter: a quick check of complaints shows he's right. t