EU Reaches Consensus: Bans Extra Fees for Parents Seating Next to Children; Flight Delay Compensation Threshold Unchanged

The European Union has reached a significant consensus on reforming air passenger rights regulations, notably prohibiting airlines from charging extra fees for parents to sit next to their children under 14 years old. This agreement, reached on June 12, aims to enhance passenger comfort and fairness.

In addition to the adjacent seating rule, the consensus also covers banning airlines from charging fees for correcting minor spelling errors in passenger names. These measures are part of an update to the EU's Passenger Rights Regulation (EU261), which has been in place for over two decades.

However, the agreement did not resolve more contentious issues. Discussions to relax the compensation thresholds for flight delays, a long-standing demand from airlines facing significant financial burdens, were put on hold. Currently, passengers are entitled to compensation ranging from 250 to 600 euros for delays of three hours or more, depending on the flight distance.

Airlines have argued that these compensation requirements impose heavy costs and often lead them to cancel flights rather than risk substantial delays that could impact subsequent services. While 27 EU member states supported the airlines' position and attempted a swift revision last year, strong opposition from Members of the European Parliament led to the current impasse on this specific issue.

Another proposal that was shelved involved banning airlines from charging fees for carry-on baggage. Instead, the agreement mandates that ticket-selling websites must display fares that include the cost of carry-on baggage. The revised regulations still require formal approval from both member states and the European Parliament before they can take effect.