The passengers of aircraft, more protected than ever but uninformed

posted on: Nov 20 2011 13:36 by RDugey. Viewed 15 times.


Passengers are more protected than ever against the airline, but sometimes the lack of clarity of laws prevents them from exercising their rights, according to coincide the specialists.

The recent case of the Austrian airline Comtel Air, which demanded during a stop to their passengers from India 150 euros to complete its flight to United Kingdom, has reopened the debate on the protection of travellers and the impact of the crisis economic and financial in their rights.

"This case is really unusual because there are several companies involved, which makes it very difficult and exceptional", explained to Efe Ruth Turner, of the Association of consumers "Which?".

The passengers had bought their tickets through a UK travel agency who went bankrupt, so the airline tried to recover the money in a way unprecedented, claiming the passengers during the stopover in Vienna.

Despite the high emotional cost of this type of u000aepisodes for travelers, who feel helpless without knowing when going to return home or how much money is going to cost, it is of situations exceptional.

"We must put this in perspective, if we take into account the number of aircraft which take off every day and how many companies go bankrupt, it is relatively a very small risk," said Turner.

In this sense, Sean Tipton, a spokesman for the Association of British travel agents (ABTA, its acronym in English), told Efe that "believe it or not the rights of passengers have improved considerably in recent years".

That the European directives on this subject always favor travelers is somewhat coincide specialists, reminiscent, however, how the most important thing is to be "well informed" about the rights to the passenger.

ABTA spokesman pointed out that in cases of cancellations or "overbooking", for seven years, the u000aairlines are obliged to "take care" passenger: offering a hotel and provide food so they manage to locate it on a new flight.

The liability of airlines was highlighted with the crisis of the ash cloud in the spring of 2010, which paralysed several days European airspace and forcing companies to attend more than 150,000 passengers British.

However, despite the high level of protection that give laws, the general feeling is that passengers are stranded, and in many occasions, "find and badly treated" by the companies.

According to this expert, this is due to travel more, and to have increased significantly the security measures in airports, which makes flying something very uncomfortable.

"Perhaps had a preconceived idea that flying was glamorous, because it was expensive and rare, but it has never actually been, and I think that people" u000a"is beginning to realize this," said Tipton.

In consumer associations agree that the law is part of passengers, but they insist that in many cases the rules are ambiguous and its lack of clarity makes it difficult for passengers to claim their rights.

This is heightened further at a time in which companies, due to the crisis, are not very buoyant and some resist everything they can to pay compensation.

In this regard, Ruth Tuner recalls that the British Government has long consultation with the aviation and travel agencies industry a number of proposals for reform, the next year, legislation in that regard.

"Is having many discussions for years to clarify the situation with the end that people know exactly what they are or not right when mounted on a plane," explained.

Turner recommends that if you fly outside u000aof the European Union, where it is more protected, must be more cautious and ascertain our rights.

"We do have them, but we must learn and know them," insisted to refer to the rights of passengers.