Navigating Turbulence: How New EU Passenger Rights Could Undermine Justice for Travelers
Amen Amouna | Contributor on travel and airline-related topics
As a claims manager, I’ve seen firsthand the vital role that robust passenger rights play in ensuring fair treatment for air travelers. It’s with significant concern, therefore, that I view the recent European compromise on passenger rights, which, while aiming to clarify certain aspects, threatens to diminish the very protections designed to assist those at their most vulnerable.
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The position agreed upon by the council focuses on four key rights: rerouting, assistance, compensation for cancellation and delays, and information.
While the emphasis on a right to rerouting, including via other carriers or alternative transport, and the disincentivizing of the “no-show” policy are welcome advancements, the proposed changes to delay compensation thresholds are deeply worrying.
The Looming Blow to Delayed Passengers
For years, passengers have been able to claim compensation for delays exceeding three hours. The new proposal, however, drastically alters this:
- Short and Medium Haul Flights: The delay threshold for compensation will increase from 3 hours to 4 hours. While the compensation amount for these flights is proposed to increase from €250 to €300, this is cold comfort when fewer passengers will qualify.
- Long Haul Flights: The impact here is even more severe. The delay threshold will jump from 3 hours to a staggering 6 hours. To add insult to injury, the full compensation amount for long-haul flights is slated to be reduced from €600 to €500.
This is a particularly bitter pill for my clients who travel to destinations like Africa, Asia, America, and various Caribbean islands. These long-haul journeys already represent a significant financial outlay, often for economy-class tickets. To then face an extended delay without the current compensation rights feels fundamentally unfair. As the European.
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Consumer Organization (BEUC) rightly points out that most flight delays fall between two and four hours, meaning a significant majority of passengers will be deprived of their compensation rights under these new rules.
Having worked for a major airline, I’ve witnessed how the existing passenger rights framework incentivized airlines to improve their service. My former employer, for instance, became proactive in offering compensation, sometimes even with the option of travel vouchers, without passengers having to ask.
Airlines also began updating their websites with clear information on passenger rights, a stark contrast to a few years prior. These positive developments are now at risk.
Unaddressed Gaps and a Call for Global Fairness
One critical area that seems to have been overlooked in these discussions is delays with missed connections.
For many travelers, particularly those on complex international itineraries, a seemingly minor delay can cascade into significant disruption if they miss a connecting flight. The absence of specific provisions addressing this scenario leaves a gaping hole in passenger protection.
This situation underscores a larger point: the need for robust local legislation in African, Asian, and other nations to protect their own citizens traveling to and from their countries. A fairer world for air travelers requires a collective commitment to strong passenger rights, not a race to the bottom.
Ultimately, it appears that shorter carriers and long-haul passengers will be the biggest losers in these proposed changes. Travel insurance providers, too, will need to urgently review and update their policies to align with these new legal realities.
At getiback.com, our chief aim is to democratize the claim process and bring justice to those who cannot access it. We will continue to fight for our clients’ rights, adapting our approach to navigate this evolving landscape.
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While the path to a truly fair and transparent air travel experience faces new hurdles, our commitment to our clients remains unwavering.
Amen Amouna – Founder of Getiback.com
