Ryanair, Jet2, TUI and easyJet passengers facing '4 hour rule' change
The carriers will no longer have to pay out if their flight is delayed for three hours under new plans.
Passengers flying with carriers like Ryanair, TUI, Jet2 and easyJet would no longer be able to claim money if their flights are delayed by three hours. The European Union has put forward proposals that the delay now has to be four hours for compensation to be paid.
Until now, if a short-haul flight was delayed by three hours or more and it was the airline's fault, customers would be entitled to compensation. But EU countries have now agreed to increase the amount of time passengers will have to wait before they can claim compensation for a delayed flight after 12 years of negotiations.
It also means that those taking long-haul flights would need to be delayed for six hours before they are entitled to any compensation, under the plans.
The EU countries agreed to increase the amount of compensation for those delayed on short-haul flights from €250 (£211) to €300, but plan to reduce compensation for long-haul flights from €600 to €500.
The decision was made by EU transport ministers last week, reports Birmingham Live. But the proposals have still to be negotiated with the European Parliament before becoming law.
Airlines for Europe (A4E) represents Europe's major airlines, including Lufthansa, EasyJet and Ryanair.
It said that 70 per cent of flights that end up being cancelled could be saved at a five-hour threshold 'benefiting up to 10 million passengers per year'.
In a statement they said: 'Europe has been waiting for transparent and workable passenger rights for 12 years and member states have fallen at the final hurdle to deliver. Member states have diluted the European Commission's original proposal and introduced even more complexity."
German lawmakers from the European People's Party said that 'decreasing the rights to compensation for air passengers would be a step in the wrong direction."
They went on: "Reimbursement after a three-hour delay has been standard for many years and should remain so."
The change would be a significant blow to holidaymakers who are held up at airports across the continent.
The UK does have its own rules on air passenger rights, based on EU regulation.
They are that airlines must compensate passengers if their flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late and extraordinary circumstances did not cause the delay.
There are fears that the plans could affect UK travellers though as it will apply to those flying with an EU carrier.
It comes as 16 consumer protection associations from 12 member states are accusing seven low-cost airlines of charging passengers undue fees for their hand luggage.
"The European Court of Justice has made it very clear that hand baggage is an integral part of the basic ticket price. Normally, there is no surcharge on the price as long as the hand luggage is of a reasonable size," said Steven Berger, a lawyer with the European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC).
"All we're seeing is a proliferation of airlines charging for this baggage (...) we're calling for very clear rules. Passengers must be able to take one piece of luggage, a small suitcase or a rucksack," he added.
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