EU Supports Significant Modification in Passenger Privileges, Incorporating Complimentary Hand Baggage Privileges
The European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee has recently proposed significant updates to passenger rights legislation, aiming to reinforce protections and improve transparency for travellers across the EU.
Key updates in the proposal include:
1. **Enhanced Transparency and Ticket Information**: Carriers and intermediaries must clearly disclose the type of ticket being sold, whether single, combined, or separate multimodal tickets. Failure to provide this information could result in sellers being liable for reimbursement, along with 75% compensation if a connection is missed.
2. **Clear Definition of Free Hand Luggage**: The proposal defines free hand luggage rights as those with a maximum size of 100 cm, helping passengers avoid unjustified extra fees.
3. **Common Reimbursement Form**: A uniform form for compensation and reimbursement claims is proposed, with carriers required to send pre-filled forms to passengers within 48 hours to facilitate claims processing through automated communication channels.
4. **Improved Compensation Rules**: The Committee supports strengthening compensation thresholds, such as triggering €300-400 compensation after three hours of flight delay, as opposed to the Council's proposed four-hour threshold and €300 compensation. It seeks to narrow exceptions airlines can claim to deny compensation by establishing a defined list of extraordinary circumstances.
5. **Better Protection for Vulnerable Travelers**: The updates include provisions for enhanced assistance and safety for persons with disabilities and reduced mobility, as well as no extra fees for child seat selection and free onboard personal items and small hand luggage.
6. **Enforcement and Accountability**: Sellers failing in their obligations take on financial liability. Reimbursement processes must be completed within 7 to 14 days depending on who is responsible. The Committee also calls for stronger enforcement bodies and clearer roles for intermediaries and ticket vendors regarding cancellations, delays, or denied boarding.
7. **Support and Clarity for Road Transport**: While mainly focused on air travel, the proposals also acknowledge road passenger transport with exemptions and clarifications to avoid overburdening smaller operators, aiming to preserve passenger choice and sustainable mobility goals.
These updates collectively represent an important advancement toward fairer, clearer, and more enforceable passenger rights in EU transport, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and improved service quality across multiple modes of travel.
The proposal on air passenger rights is pending final approval from a majority of EU member states. If approved, the new rules would provide stronger rights for passengers, ensuring a more enjoyable and stress-free travel experience.
By integrating clear guidelines for free hand luggage and enhanced transparency in ticket information, the proposal aims to enrich the travel lifestyle of EU residents, offering a more affordable and transparent travel experience. With stronger enforcement and accountability measures, the new legislative updates anticipate to make every journey, whether on the road or in the air, a more enjoyable and stress-free adventure for all travellers.
