Differences between the United States and European passengers rights

 Periods recent really bad weather in Europe and the United States resulted in a considerable number of flight delays and cancellations. Apparently, many travellers have noticed that airlines has done much more for travellers in Europe than in the United States.

Why is this?

A reader has asked simply:

"European travellers have more rights than the travellers U.S. theft major delays and cancellations?"

Short, the answer is, "Yes, European requirements are much higher, but the application seems to be a bit inconsistent."

In February 2004, the European Parliament and the Council of 11 established "of the common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denial of boarding and cancellation" or long delay of flights, and Regulation 261/2004 resulting in detail requirements. Here is a summary of key provisions, with highlights the differences between the requirements of American and European.

Application

The regulations apply to (1) passengers on any Flight departing from the airport in the European Community and (2) the passengers of flight on an airline based in the European Community of any other country to an airport in the European Community, unless offset in the country of origin. As the United States, passengers must comply with check-in and ticketing requirements.

Passenger on board an aircraft are served champagne

This is different: the American rules apply in General, not for flights to the United States of other countries, even on U.S. airlines. And while European regulation does not apply to travellers moving "for free", more specifically applies to travellers on the tickets of loyalty.

Denied boarding

When an airline expects passenger "Pearl", the airline must first call for volunteers in exchange for everything the airline and the passenger may agree on. If not enough passenger agreement, the airline must reroute them or compensate them. Compensation scale ranges from $300 to about $825, depending on the distance to the final destination of travellers.

This is different: limit U.S. rules displacement compensation cases of overbooking, but European regulations apply to bumping for a reason any. It's a big difference - a major weakness in US demands, but it seems the Department of transportation of the United States is not correct in the new rules he intends to publish in April. Also, U.S. compensation varies depending on the amount of delay rather than distance.

Cancellation and delay

If a flight is cancelled, an airline is required to provide "assistance", including a refund of the ticket or as soon as possible, or at a later date of convenience of the traveler of diversion. If a traveller selects a refund, it will be either (1) la part unused ticket or (2) the full price of the ticket dans the event where the completion of the journey would more serve the purpose of the trip. And the regulation guarantees the right to a refund even if an airline advises travellers to cancelations two weeks or less before departure expected unless the airline can ensure arrival alternate hours schedule.

Airlines must also provide and refusal of compensation of boarding, as specified above, at least for the airline to advise travellers of the cancellation at least two weeks in advance or if she cannot arrange alternative transportation will travellers to their destinations in the two to four original schedules hours (depending on the specificities) (of cancellation).