The European Parliament has agreed a set of new rules for air travellers which are likely to be adopted in the UK. A landmark deal struck this week is set to shake up travel to Europe, with the UK expected to follow suit shortly after. The European Parliament announced sweeping changes covering passenger compensation, child seating arrangements and flight pricing.
The fresh regulations could spell significant changes for passengers flying with budget carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz and Jet2, with a key focus on ensuring ticket prices are upfront and inclusive of hand luggage costs. The agreement also aims to better safeguard travellers against disruption, including denied boarding and delayed or cancelled flights. Notably, the rules had not been reviewed since 2004.
Upgrading Passenger Rights
Under the updated regulations, passengers will now have the right to bring one personal item on board, such as a small bag or backpack, free of charge. Following pressure from MEPs, airlines, intermediaries and booking portals will be obliged to display fares inclusive of carry-on luggage from the very start of the booking process, boosting both price transparency and ticket comparability, reports the Liverpool Echo. However, negotiators agreed that carriers may still offer reduced fares to passengers who voluntarily opt to travel without hand luggage.
Air travellers will no longer face additional charges for correcting spelling mistakes in their names, or for obtaining a printed boarding pass after already checking in. MEPs also secured passengers the right to receive boarding passes digitally upon check-in, without any further request, obligation to hold a user account, or requirement for a specific application. Furthermore, the agreement states that passengers cannot be refused boarding simply because they used their own printed version of a digitally issued boarding pass.
On the matter, UK television travel expert Simon Calder commented: "The parliamentary proposal is unworkable within the confines of a typical low-cost jet." Ryanair, Europe's biggest low-cost airline, says it can accept only 90 large pieces of cabin baggage in its Boeing 737 planes, which seat up to 197. Conferring the right for everyone to bring a roll-along case would involve much of the luggage ending up in the aircraft hold, causing delays. "So a fudge has been agreed in the package of proposals to reform passenger rights. Airlines will be required to always display the air fare inclusive of carry-on luggage at the outset of the book process."
This will make no difference to British Airways, Jet2 and many Continental carriers such as Air France and KLM, which already allow two items. But the move is likely to add £20-£40 to existing one-way fares on easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air. However, the carriers can immediately offer a discount that reduces the price to passengers taking only minimal baggage.
Compensation and Duty of Care
Parliament's negotiators successfully resisted attempts to dilute air passenger protections. Under the agreement, air travellers retain their entitlement to reimbursement or alternative routing in the event of cancellation, and to seek compensation if a flight is delayed by over three hours, cancelled fewer than 14 days prior to departure, or if boarding is refused. Compensation for disrupted or cancelled flights will be determined by flight distance: €250 for trips up to 1,500km, €400 for journeys spanning 1,500km to 3,500km, and €600 for all lengthier trips.
Airlines will have the option to halve compensation on their longest routes if travellers are provided with alternative routing to reach their final destination following disruption, or if arrival delays don't exceed four hours. Nevertheless, carriers will be exempt from paying compensation if the disruption or cancellation resulted from circumstances outside their control. The updated regulations will feature an open-ended list of these exceptional circumstances, encompassing situations such as natural catastrophes, armed conflict, adverse weather, disruptive passengers, or industrial action by airport, air navigation or ground handling staff. In all cases, air operators will be obliged to look after stranded passengers by supplying refreshments after every two hours of waiting, a meal following three hours, and, where necessary during lengthy delays, overnight accommodation for a maximum of three nights, according to the agreement.
Faster and Easier Reimbursement
Airlines will be required to electronically furnish passengers facing travel disruptions (delay or cancellation) with straightforward guidance on how to lodge a compensation request within four days of the conclusion of their journey. MEPs made certain that passengers are not compelled to hold a user account or utilise a specific application to obtain this information. Air passengers will have nine months to submit a compensation claim, while airlines will have 30 days to settle the compensation or cite extraordinary circumstances, clarify why compensation will not be forthcoming and direct passengers towards complaint handling procedures, the deal states.
Protecting Vulnerable Passengers
MEPs announced that passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility (PRM) will be entitled to compensation, rerouting and support from airlines if they miss a flight because the airport failed to assist them in reaching the gate on time. They also ensured that families with children won't be split up during seating, by requiring air carriers to guarantee that anyone accompanying a child under 14 is seated in an adjacent seat at no additional cost. The same entitlement will extend to passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility, as well as expectant mothers.
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, said: "The European Parliament has always been the strongest advocate for strong air passenger rights. This agreement will strengthen the rights of air passengers across Europe. It will bring greater transparency and predictability for both consumers and airlines, without creating unnecessary bureaucracy for our industry. Parliament fought hard to make travel fairer and procedures clearer, and this is what we have delivered."
