Critics voice concerns over planned EU changes to travel delay compensation rules
Spiel the Devil's Advocate: EU Flight Delay Compensation Reforms Under Scrutiny
Get Social: Share Your Thoughts on the EU Flight Delay Compensation Rant
Chats and Emails: Here's the dirty lowdown on the controversial proposed changes to EU flight delay compensation rules.
Air travelers, beware! The EU is planning to significantly shake up the compensation rules for delayed flights. Consumer advocates are sounding alarm bells over the potential repercussions this could have for frequent flyers.
"The tiny guy on vacation or the businessperson rushing to a meeting could very well go empty-handed if these changes go through," warns André Duderstadt, the flight passenger rights guru at the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv), speaking to AFP recently.
The European Commission's proposals from 2013 are making a comeback. They envision a much higher threshold for compensation claims. Currently, passengers are entitled to compensation if their flight is delayed by three hours or more. New proposals suggest this flat-rate payment will only be due from five hours delay, and the wait could be even longer for long-haul flights.
These reforms have not yet been adopted. The 27 EU countries had a meeting last week, but couldn't agree on the changes. Poland, currently holding the EU Council presidency, is pushing the negotiations forward and expects a resolution at the meeting of EU transport ministers on Thursday in Luxembourg. The final outcome might be different from the original proposal. Germany has reportedly presented a counter-proposal, which would maintain the same threshold of three hours, but cut the compensation amount to a flat rate of 300 euros.
Duderstadt welcomes this proposal, "[It] will ensure that everyone who has a claim to compensation today will continue to have this claim." However, the vzbv still insists on pressing for higher compensation, "we haven't said our final word on this yet," Duderstadt added.
Meanwhile, the airline industry argues that the current three-hour rule is too restrictive and often leads to flight cancellations instead of delays. They'd rather have more flexibility in managing delays, potentially increasing the average delay times but reducing cancellations.
On the other hand, consumer groups fear that raising the thresholds could strip 85% of passengers of their right to compensation, particularly on shorter routes. They also worry that airlines may become less motivated to minimize delays, lowering overall punctuality and service quality. What's more, the proposals seem to overlook established case law from the European Court of Justice, which has historically strengthened passenger rights.
In summary, the proposed changes to EU flight delay compensation rules are expected to reduce the number of passengers entitled to compensation, potentially lead to increased delays, and muddy the waters of legal clarity. At the same time, it could result in a reduction of flight cancellations.
Where do you stand on this issue? Sound off and let your voice be heard!
- The European Commission's proposed changes to EU flight delay compensation rules, if adopted, could potentially impact various industries such as travel, leading to an increase in delays and decreased service quality.
- The finance sector might also be affected by these proposed reforms, with a potential reduction in the number of compensation claims resulting from delayed flights, particularly in the short-haul industry.
- Lifestyle choices, such as vacations and business trips, could be significantly impacted by these proposed changes, as frequent travelers may no longer be eligible for compensation if their flights are delayed by more than five hours.
