Passenger rights
Free hand luggage? EU MP for new regulation
The political discussion of rights for passengers in the EU goes into the next round. MPs from the EU Parliament go on a confrontation course with the EU countries.
MEPs are campaigning for free hand luggage across the parliamentary group for air travelers’ claims. A majority in the European Parliament’s transport committee voted that passengers should have the right to be able to take two small luggage pieces on board without an additional fee. After the will of the parliamentarians, they are supposed to take a small piece of luggage such as a handbag, backpack or laptop (maximum dimensions of 40x30x15 cm) and also be able to take another small hand luggage piece like a case.
According to the information, the suitcase may be a maximum of 46 centimeters, and all three edge dimensions should be a maximum of 100 centimeters long. The MPs also want to ensure that children under the age of twelve can sit next to their accompanying person without additional costs. Before new rules can come into force, a compromise with the EU countries must be found.
EU countries only want compensation from a four hour delay
The basis of the discussion is a proposal submitted years ago to a reform of the currently applicable rights for flight travelers. In the course, compensation payments in the event of delays should also be regulated.
At the beginning of the month, the EU countries had spoken out against great resistance from Germany for the fact that passengers should only be compensated in the future after four hours of delay. According to the will of the ministers, the four-hour rule should apply to distances of up to 3,500 kilometers. A period of six hours is scheduled for longer air travel. According to the EU countries’ compromise, there should be 300 and 500 euros in compensation in the future.
So far, passengers have been entitled to compensation for a flat rate of three hours from a delay of three hours if the airline is responsible for them. Specifically, there is 250 euros for flights up to 1,500 km; 400 euros for flights up to 3,500 km and 600 euros for long -haul flights with more than 3,500 km.
Resistance from the European Parliament
The FDP MEP and at the same time one of the negotiators of the parliament, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, announced resistance to the position of the EU countries. In his opinion, it is a red line across parliamentary group to deviate from the three-hour rule.
The traffic policy spokeswoman for the Europa-SPD, Vivien Costanzo, also said that it was out of the question to weaken the compensation rules. Her CDU colleague Jens Gieseke announced that the parliament stated clear and reasonable duties for the carriers.
Oetjen assumes that negotiations with the EU countries will start in October and hopes to “be ready with the process shortly before Christmas or early next year”.
dpa
Source: Stern
