All EU Travellers Will Be Protected
Dave BondIndependent travellers are set to benefit from improve consumer protection stemming from new regulation which are scheduled to be revealed by the European Commission later today.
Dubbed “Dynamic Packages”, these represent instances where European travellers make their own arrangements involving the combination of flights, accommodation and car hire.
The new measure will consist of an extension of the financial protection which is already applied to traditional holiday packages in the case of insolvency or other misfortunes such as poor quality of service.
Dynamic packages do not currently benefit from any coverage under the 1990 EU directive.
This travel package protection will include the same of which is already offered to traditional packages, meaning providing consumers with information, insolvency protection, sub-standard service liability.
Travel agents have long argued that further measures were necessary for independent travellers because their businesses are exposed to liability. Feeling unfairly disadvantaged, they said that travel agencies had to respect stringent regulations which are not applicable to commercial passenger carriers as well as other travel providers of online dynamic packages.
The recent string of busts experienced in the airline industry has also highlighted concerns about the absence of consumer protection when facing an insolvent provider.
Scheduled to be published today by the EU commission, a consultation document is calling for basic insolvency protection, including the right to cancel without a penalty or a refund, saying it should also be offered to airline tickets purchased directly by the consumer as well as complete dynamic packages.
It’s been said that in excess of 66% of independent travellers who make their booking online are not aware that their custom-made vacation plans are not necessarily protected by the EU directive currently in place.
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Filed under Business & Finance, Europe News, Health & Environment, Travel News, UK News