DistantNews
Support us
Consumers Gain New Rights: EU Agrees on Changes to Air Passenger Protections
🇩🇪 Germany /Economy & Trade

Consumers Gain New Rights: EU Agrees on Changes to Air Passenger Protections

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • European Union representatives have agreed on changes to passenger rights, maintaining current compensation levels for flight delays of three hours or more under specific conditions.
  • New rules will require airlines to display prices including hand luggage by default, potentially simplifying price comparisons for consumers.
  • Other changes include allowing musicians to bring instruments on board, ensuring children can sit with parents without extra fees, and requiring airlines to inform passengers of their rights within 96 hours of a problem.

After years of negotiations, European Union representatives have reached an agreement on changes to passenger rights, largely maintaining the existing compensation framework for flight delays.

Under the new accord, travelers will continue to be entitled to compensation if their flight is delayed by at least three hours, with amounts tiered based on distance: 250 euros for delays up to 1,500 kilometers, 400 euros for flights up to 3,500 kilometers, and 600 euros for those exceeding 3,500 kilometers. This compensation is contingent on the airline being at fault for the delay. The agreement also aims to clarify what constitutes "extraordinary circumstances" for which airlines are not liable.

Significant changes are expected in how flight prices are presented. Airlines will be mandated to display prices that include the cost of hand luggage by default, a move intended to enhance price transparency and simplify comparisons for consumers. While a proposal to guarantee a free carry-on bag in addition to a personal item did not pass, the inclusion of hand luggage in the base price is seen as a consumer win.

This changes nothing about airlines being able to offer cheap tickets. But for consumers, it is clear that no additional costs for hand luggage will be added.

— Jan-Christoph OetjenGerman Member of the European Parliament Jan-Christoph Oetjen commented on the new rules regarding hand luggage pricing.

Further provisions address specific passenger needs. Musicians will be permitted to bring their instruments aboard flights. Additionally, children will be allowed to sit next to their parents without incurring additional seat reservation fees, a benefit also extended to individuals with mobility issues. Airlines will also be required to correct spelling errors on tickets free of charge and must provide passengers with written notification of their rights and the process for claiming them within 96 hours of an issue arising.

These regulations will apply to flights operated by EU carriers and flights departing from the EU operated by non-EU companies. German Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder welcomed the agreement, stating that Germany's objective in the revision was to establish a balanced regulation.

The goal of Germany in the revision was always to reach a regulation that is fair.

— Patrick SchniederGerman Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder expressed his satisfaction with the agreement on revised passenger rights.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog