CONSUMER RIGHTS:THE EUROPEAN Commission has launched an online "one stop shop" for passengers seeking information about their rights when travelling by air or train, or if they have mobility problems.
Amid continuing confusion over passenger rights, the Commission has embarked on a Europe-wide publicity campaign to tackle the lack of clarity and reliable information available to travellers.
At the heart of the “Your Passengers Rights at Hand” campaign is a dedicated website –
ec.europa.eu/passenger-rights – as well as posters reminding people of their rights, which will be displayed in airports and train stations around the EU.
The website tells consumers about their entitlements in the event of flight cancellations and delays, or when they are denied boarding. The rules that apply when baggage is lost or damaged are also covered, as are the issues faced by passengers with disabilities or other mobility problems.
“As millions of Europeans prepare to set off for a well-deserved holiday this summer, we want to make it as easy as possible for them to travel, knowing that they have rights and how to get support in claiming them if they need to,” said Commission vice-president, Siim Kallas, who is responsible for transport.
At present, the website is available in English only and contains only limited information, but it is expected to be developed further over the two-year cycle of the €1 million campaign.
The Commission says it is working on extending passenger rights to other transport modes. In particular, it has launched proposals for passengers travelling by sea or inland waterways and for those travelling by bus or coach. Specific proposals are expected as early as this year.
More information on rights for travellers in advance of the holiday season is available from the European Consumer Centre office in Dublin, which has prepared a “summer survival kit” to help consumers avoid unnecessary costs and hassle while on holidays.
The guide includes money-saving tips, alerts about scams, information about rights and advice on what to do when it all goes wrong.
Some 39 per cent of Irish people plan to visit another EU country in 2010, according to a recent EU survey.
Kallas has estimated that the recent closure of European airspace due to a cloud of volcanic ash cost the air transport sector between €1.5 billion and €2.5 billion in lost revenues and passenger compensation.