Consumer advice – travel tips – travel news

Your passenger rights.. Ash cloud. It is interesting to note that the Airports are now whining about losing money. But for all of us that get ripped off at airports all year round, this does come as something to smile about..

Air passenger rights:

If a flight is cancelled, or delayed for more than five hours, in Europe, there are strict European rules in place, which mean that the airline is obliged to provide assistance at the airport. This includes supplying meals and refreshments, along with accommodation if an overnight stay is required.

Key points include:

People flying into the European Union from overseas are also covered by the rules, as long as they are travelling on a European airline
There should be no time limit on their provision of accommodation and food, even though it adds to the financial pressure on airlines.

If passengers have organised their own return travel or hotel stays, they should apply to the airline for the money back when they return. But if these are costs are “unreasonable” – such as a taxi back from Spain – then the airline will not pay.

Alternative return transport organised by airlines will be safest as there will be no need to pay out and claim back.

Those flying on non-EU carriers, from outside the EU, are entitled to a refund or to be rebooked under alternative regulations, but will probably have to make a claim to their insurance company for hotel and food costs.

Package holidays have their own protection. Operators must refund customers for the whole holiday if trips are cancelled, meaning they could not get to their destination.

In reality, operators tend to give three options to people on package deals.

• They are: deferring the leaving date of the holiday.
• Transferring to another holiday of the same or similar value.
• Or a refund of the amount paid for the whole holiday.