For much of the past few decades, debates have raged on regarding whether or not the nature of air travel is passenger friendly.
Of course, from a travel standpoint, few other modes of transportation offer similar levels of efficiency and speed. Because of that, on paper, flying should be the go-to option among those booking a trip across Europe. However, it perhaps isn’t as straightforward as it seems. So, let’s try and clarify whether air travel is becoming more passenger friendly.
Air Passenger Legislation Indicates a Consumer Focus, but Do People Know Their Rights?
Upon analysing the existing landscape of air travel, it’s important to not overlook the importance of European legislation. In 2004, EU Regulation No. 261/2004 came to fruition. For over ten years, Flightright has endeavoured to centre their operations around this 17-year-old piece of legislation in their efforts to enforce EU flight cancellation rights. The act itself relates to flight compensation and is applicable if your flight is cancelled or delayed. In the event of cancellations, the company strive to win flight cancellation compensation. To date, the award-winning organisation has achieved a 99 per cent success rate in court and continues to keep passengers informed of their rights.
How Much Compensation for Flight Cancellation?
Despite the above legislation’s introduction, some passengers remain unaware of how much compensation they’re entitled if a flight is cancelled. According to EU flight cancellation rights, the maximum amount is £542, which only applies to long-distance travel. Medium length journeys can return £361, and £225 is claimable for cancellations of shorter flights.
How to Find out the Reason for Flight Cancellation?
It’s worth remembering that, under EU Regulation, such claims are only valid when travelling between European airports. For those wondering how to find out the reasoning for the cancelling of their flight, airlines are required to inform passengers of cancellations in a timely manner. Following this, alternate flights should be offered.
Are Prices Really on the Rise?
In light of the above, it’s clear that legislative breakthroughs have enhanced travel’s passenger friendly nature. In many ways, this is something of a necessity given the apparent increase to airfares since 2010. According to Statista, air travel cost recorded a year-on-year average increase of 12.2 percent in 2010. Since then, forecasts predicted that a 3.5 percent increase would occur in 2018.
However, relative to comparable prices from the 1950s, air transport is cheaper than ever before. Despite year-on-year increases, Business Insider reports that a trip in 1958 now equates to around £1,100 in modern money. Fundamentally, increased competition is central to declining prices, with passengers now able to select from various airlines, deals, and packages. Fundamentally, this airline rivalry has played into the hands of consumers.
Contrary to Common Belief, Air Travel Is Passenger Friendly
Ultimately, the above examples show that airlines and lawmakers are putting consumers at the forefront of their operations. Although travellers may need to, at some point, enforce their EU flight cancellation rights, the very ability to do so indicates how air travel is adopting a passenger-first approach. Now, passengers can enjoy the efficiency and security that flying has to offer.
