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IN BRIEF
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The European Union has just shaken up the traveler’s sky! The rules for compensation in case of flight delays in the European space have just been revised downwards. From now on, you will have to wait much longer before seeing compensation after a flight that drags on. Some new developments are also on the agenda for passenger rights… Fasten your seatbelts, habits are changing at the airport!
When the European sky misbehaves and your flight is delayed, it is rarely an adventure that one wants to prolong. Yet, the European Union has just trimmed the compensation rules for passengers in the case of delays or flight cancellations. From now on, you will need to be patient… and wait longer to receive compensation. Nevertheless, there is good news: clearer new rights should ease the situation. Let’s focus on this change that is likely to transform our airport adventures!
Reduced compensation for passengers
The 27 members of the European Union have just approved a major overhaul of the airline passenger compensation system. The unpleasant surprise is that the threshold from which a passenger can claim compensation will rise from 3 to 4 hours of minimum delay for flights under 3,500 kilometers. A true test of patience if your plane is hopping through the clouds between Paris and Lisbon! As for compensation, you will now only get €300 for a four-hour delay on intra-European flights or equivalent distances, compared to sometimes more advantageous rates before. For longer trips over 3,500 km, the wait goes up to six hours and the compensation caps at €500.
Why this change?
This legislative twist did not come out of nowhere. For about a dozen years, the European Council had been considering the idea of reducing costs for airlines, annoyed by what they deemed too generous compensations. But what about traveler associations? They will have to settle for a compromise that is not really in their favor. The stated objective is to find a fair balance: relieve the financial burden on airlines while maintaining some essential protections for tourists and aviation professionals.
New rights for passengers… to keep a close watch on
Fortunately, not everything is being cut back. The reform also brings about thirty new rights for the benefit of air passengers. From the moment you purchase your ticket to when you claim your baggage upon arrival, Europe establishes greater transparency. A notable gain in terms of the right to information, re-routing in case of unforeseen events, or assistance to provide when fate turns against you (think about plane rentals or missed connections, which you can look into with this dedicated article). Travelers with reduced mobility, for their part, benefit from enhanced protection to travel with a bit more serenity.
What changes concretely for travelers
A higher compensation threshold… and fewer cases affected
Were you hoping for a refund for every lost minute sipping on a bad airport coffee? That’s missed! From now on, only major troubles – those that exceed four hours of waiting – will truly warrant compensation. This decision will mechanically reduce the number of travelers compensated: patience and zen will be required, for example during an air traffic jam at Heathrow (more info on the subject here), or anticipating the consequences of a staffing shortage like at Newark during the holidays (see the analysis).
A future still in limbo
This new regulation, even if it has passed the ramp of member countries, still needs to be adopted by the European Parliament. Let’s just say that with the arguments from passengers, tourism professionals, and airlines, the Brussels ice rink is about to get warmer. We will be monitoring in particular how travelers connecting to business destinations like London-Milan (by train, for smart alternatives) will experience this reorganization of the rules of the game… Between savings for the airlines and new rights, the game promises to be tight for all those regulars of the boarding halls!
To go further: let’s travel smarter!
While waiting for the sky to clear in European bureaucracy, why not take advantage of some tips for stress-free travel? Optimize your connections, keep useful information about security and air liability handy (see here), or explore rail alternatives and good accommodation plans to tackle those unforeseen circumstances. The adventure awaits you, even if sometimes, it begins… the next day in the departure hall!
