Passengers of aircraft – poor message

In the summer – more flights, more complaints of passengers. Thus, the European Union Transport Ministers in Luxembourg have matured to change the outdated rules of air transport passengers.

« Negotiations on what the transport ministers have achieved took 12 years. In other words, it is not so easy to achieve a consensus at the European Union level, » said Julius Glebov, Vice -Minister of Transport and Communications.

But from the agreement, for passengers both good and bad news. Ministers agreed to extend the duration of a flight delay from which the passengers’ compensation and partly, to reduce the amount of compensation itself.

« This is not good news for passengers. It is now estimated that on average, 85 % of passengers who have received compensation so far will be touched and they will not receive them, » explained Rimvydas Širvinskas, founder of the Makalius travel agency Makalius.

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Passengers now include compensation when the flight is at least 3 hours late. However, it is suggested to extend this time to 4 or even 6 hours.

It is proposed to reduce the amount of compensation for 50 or 100 euros. If the flight was up to 3.5 thousand. kilometers or more.

Lithuania did not approve such amendments, but other countries did not feel sorry for the passengers.

« We do not agree, because it would be a worsening of passenger rights, » Glebov emphasized.

Traveling by plane is the least predictable in the summer, when the highest holiday peaks and winter, when the planes take the cold to prepare. However, the traveler is comforted that even then, flights are extremely rare.

« Last year I flew 101 times by plane and only once did I get compensation, » said R. Širvinskas.

The airline’s airlines avoid paying themselves. So the passenger was forced to fight for the time at the airport.

« Sometimes it is a quick payment, but the courts are taking place from a couple of weeks to a couple of years, » said Skycop.com lawyer Nerijus Zaleckas.

To prove the damage suffered, you need to have a ticket or boarding card, but only for a fixed compensation. If you have more problems at the airport, you will have to rely on the courts.

« If the luggage was damaged, did not give meals, lost in the hall where it was hot, the passengers apply for moral damage to the courts, » Zaleck said.

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However, new rules would also encourage airlines to stretch. One is particularly relevant when GPS connectivity interference planes fail to land at Lithuanian airports.

« If the flight did not take place to the specified airport, this would be equated with the cancellation of the flight, » the Vice -Minister of Transport and Communications said.

Upon cancellation of the flight, compensation and money repayment would be automatic – the passenger would not have to make a separate request.

« Many people travel, they do not know how to fill in. It is difficult for me to fill in the compensation form, but now the airlines will have to do everything for you, you will have to record your requisites, » the founder of the travel agency Makalius said.

However, these changes are not final yet. Negotiations with the European Parliament are now waiting and may take up to two years.