Airlines to fill insurance gap on delays?

EU airlines to become more accountable

Travel Insurance News - 18/03/2008

<< Car hire insurance for seniors | Travel News | Green passport programme launches >>

Most frequent air travellers have at least one horror story about a plane delay that has left them stranded for much longer than tolerable at one of the world’s airports. Chances are the most you’d receive in compensation is a meal voucher for some fast food.

But now with the European Commission seeking to tighten up loopholes that absolve airlines from responsibility for passengers’ needs during delays, travellers could find themselves with more rights when faced with such situations. In 2005, a law passed that airlines were responsible to supply passengers with food, phone calls and at times hotel rooms if a flight was delayed for over two hours. If a flight is cancelled, compensation is required.

The catch is that the airlines don’t have to pay out of the cause of the delay is of unforeseen circumstance, which of course they will claim absolutely every time. The European Transport Minister Jacques Barrot said that amendments needed to be made to prevent airlines from exploiting loopholes to avoid taking care of their customers. With many people opting for private travel insurance to cover them in cases like this, if the new guidelines are affective, private coverage cold be a thing of the past.

<< Car hire insurance for seniors | Travel News | Green passport programme launches >>