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This week the EU has published proposed changes to EC261 and similar legislation that applies to rail and waterborne transportation.
https://transport.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/COM_2023_753_proposal.pdf
[was in 30 Nov chat but added as a separate thread on request!]
The biggest changes relate to improving protections for passengers using intermodal transport and expedited and codified processes for refunds if booking via travel agent.
So, in terms of proposed changes to the existing Articles :-
Article 2 – definition of ‘intermediary’ added at (z)
Article 8 – adds new 8a all relating to booking via an intermediary
Article 14 – adds new 14a re transfer of information [again principally re intermediaries]
Article 15 – adds new 15a re “Service quality standards” [there are various annexes setting out more detail – quite wishy washy; carriers will have to report their service standards in implementing regs every two years]
Article 16 – adds new 16aa – establishment of a common form for reimbursement and compensation requests [but pax can use another format if preferred]
Article 16 – adds new 16ab – requirement for national enforcement bodies to establish risk based monitoring of compliance with passenger rights
Reg EC 1107/2006 is amended in various ways to enhance the rights of disabled passengers and provision of free transport for accompanying passengers.
Not a lot else. No increase in compensation that was fixed in 2004, no automaticity, no change to delay before compensation, no time limit to handle compensation requests, no register of ‘extraordinary circumstances’ eligible flights, no penalties for non compliance etc. etc. all of which had been asked for by consumer rights organisations.
Thanks for doing this. I’ll have some. Thoughts on this later as I’m travelling at the moment but lest anyone thinks this is going to happen quickly it’s not!
A very quick glimpse and I spotted a bit about standardising across the industry the size and weight of hand luggage and required to monitor compliance. I’m all for this as fed up of different airlines stating different sizes. My trusty carry on is destined for the hold with some airlines.
I do like prescriptive legislation such as https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/53/section/110 what is there to gain by not being prescriptive.
A very quick glimpse and I spotted a bit about standardising across the industry the size and weight of hand luggage and required to monitor compliance. I’m all for this as fed up of different airlines stating different sizes. My trusty carry on is destined for the hold with some airlines.
That could go horribly wrong though!
It’s very convenient to be able to carry a 55x45x25 carry-on bag on BA or Easyjet – but they are pretty much the outlier for accommodating that size of bag. 55x35x23 is much more common and is only 70% of the size of a BA bag.
What if an airline, that utilises smaller planes such as the Q400, has too much influence on the decision?
Old Flybe was 55x35x20, last Flybe was 45x36x20 – that’s around half the size of the current BA bag.
At the same time if everyone was limited to a single 40x20x25 cabin bag like Ryanair, it might considerably improve boarding and disembarkation performance across Europe.
A very quick glimpse and I spotted a bit about standardising across the industry the size and weight of hand luggage and required to monitor compliance. I’m all for this as fed up of different airlines stating different sizes. My trusty carry on is destined for the hold with some airlines.
That could go horribly wrong though!
It’s very convenient to be able to carry a 55x45x25 carry-on bag on BA or Easyjet – but they are pretty much the outlier for accommodating that size of bag. 55x35x23 is much more common and is only 70% of the size of a BA bag.
What if an airline, that utilises smaller planes such as the Q400, has too much influence on the decision?
Old Flybe was 55x35x20, last Flybe was 45x36x20 – that’s around half the size of the current BA bag.
At the same time if everyone was limited to a single 40x20x25 cabin bag like Ryanair, it might considerably improve boarding and disembarkation performance across Europe.
I don’t actually care what standard size is ultimately agreed on, whether it’s a BA or Ryanair size . I just find it right faff to check it out every time I fly, and Im aghast at times the brazen flouting that goes on. I’m sure boarding and storing would be a doddle… provided it is rigorously policed until pax get the idea.
…No increase in compensation that was fixed in 2004, no automaticity, no change to delay before compensation, no time limit to handle compensation requests, no register of ‘extraordinary circumstances’ eligible flights, no penalties for non compliance etc. etc. all of which had been asked for by consumer rights organisations.
Thanks for posting this and your comment @JDB.
As you say, the proposals don’t address the real issues. It’s so little I’m wondering where is the impetus coming from to make changes if they’re so weak
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