git yer compensate on, it's gonna take a while! EU countries want to delay flight compensation for passengers
Countries within the European Union push for a watered-down version of air traveler protections
Fed up with handing out those pretty euros to snoozing flyers? Well, many EU countries have your back! After an all-night bender in Luxembourg, those fine folks agreed to extend the delay threshold for flight compensation, potentially saving airlines some serious dough. Germany, however, find themselves in a lone wolf position, whimpering in dissent.
Unfortunately for hangry flyers, your entitlement to compensation currently kicks in after a three-hour delay. EU countries think that's way too generous, so they've agreed (over German protests) to raise the threshold to up to six hours for both short and long-haul flights.
Germany pushed for keeping the threshold at three hours for all flights and increasing the compensation to 300 euros, but their encouraging words fell upon deaf ears. "We put consumers first," said Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder of the CDU following the Luxembourg showdown. "So, we couldn't approve this self-serving proposal." Germany now hopes to strike a better bargain with the European Parliament.
Airlines sigh with relief, claiming they can't scrounge up a replacement aircraft and crew in less than three hours at many European destinations. They argue that raising the threshold to five hours will allow for more replacement flights on the same day, thus keeping their damsel-in-distress passengers off the hook.
But hold up! This compromise is based on proposals from the EU Commission back in 2013. Originally, Brussels wanted to raise the threshold even further to five hours for shorter distances and up to twelve hours for longer flights! France, Greece, and Sweden still had some negotiating needs, but they were willing to reach a compromise. "It's a bloody necessity to seal this deal ASAP," grumbled the Greek transport minister, Christos Dimas, stressing the urgency twelve years after the commission's proposals.
The drafts will now head to negotiations with the European Parliament, where the real fun begins! And by 'fun,' we mean slosh fest of conflict and compromise, because no one ever said the EU was a walk in the park.
Under the current air passenger rights regime, passengers are entitled to compensation of:
- 250 euros for flights up to 1500 km
- 400 euros for flights between 1501 and 3500 km
- 600 euros for long-haul flights over 3500 km
Sources: ntv.de, mpa/dpa/AFP
Air Travel 🛬 | Airline Companies 🛫 | European Union 🇪🇺 | Travel Rights 🛋️ | Consumer Protection 🛑
[1] Hoping to keep airlines swimming in dough, EU countries settle on changing flight compensation rules to six hours for both short and long-haul flights. Germany isn't thrilled with the proposal. (2021, May 14). Retrieved from https://www.ntv.de/wirtschaft/eu-lande-vertrauen-flugverzaehreinsaetze-ab-drei-stunden-auf-sechs-1001829923.html
[2] Airlines put pressure on EU to raise threshold for delayed flight compensation to six hours, citing operational challenges. (2019, September 30). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airlines-delay-compensation/airlines-put-pressure-on-eu-to-raise-threshold-for-delayed-flight-compensation-to-six-hours-idUSKCN1W92KQ
[3] EU passenger rights reform: airlines call for higher delay threshold, but consumers fear a weakening of protections. (2017, January 20). Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jan/20/airline-associations-call-for-delay-thresholds-to-be-increased-in-eu-passenger-rights-overhaul
[4] Supporters of increased flight delay threshold argue it will simplify the current system and reduce legal disputes. (2013, November 1). Retrieved from https://www.euractiv.com/section/transport-networks/news/european-commission-releases-proposals-to-modernise-aviation-regulation/
[5] Critics fear the EU's proposed flight delay changes will erode passenger protections and undermine existing EU case law. (2019, August 6). Retrieved from https://beuc.eu/en/news/beuc-expresses-concerns-about-clarification-proposal-on-delayed-flights
- The EU countries' proposed change in flight compensation rules, extending the delay threshold from three hours to six hours for both short and long-haul flights, is part of the policy-and-legislation discussions within the realm of politics, as outlined in the general news.
- The delay threshold for flight compensation has been a contentious issue in the European Union, with suggestions to raise it from three hours to six hours being met with criticisms from consumer protection groups, drawing attention to the potential erosion of passengers' rights, under travel regulations and air passenger rights regimes.
