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New EU law over air misery

03/07/2003 13:51
Passengers sick of being bumped off flights because of over-booking or cancellation will be given greatly enhanced rights to cash compensation.

The European Parliament will back the tougher rights for air travellers in a formal vote later on Thursday.

For the first time, passengers hit by delays will also be able to get their air fares refunded.

Passengers who are denied boarding because of over-booking already have the right to choose between an alternative flight and a full refund in addition to compensation.

The new rules will roughly double the level of compensation.

For short-haul flights, the figure will be 250 euros ($286;£172), rising in stages to 600 euros ($686;£413) for long-haul flights.

Passengers whose trips are cancelled will have the same entitlement and, for the first time, even delays will be covered.

Compensation levels

Those having to wait longer than two hours for a short-haul flight and four hours for a long-haul one will be able to get their money back.

The new compensation levels have been bitterly criticized by low-cost airlines, who complain the payouts could be many times the value of a ticket.

Ryanair and EasyJet are among those who have been regularly criticised for poor responses to customer complaints over delays and cancellations.

But their objections - that they will be forced to increase fares - have not been heeded.

The new measures will come into force in little over a year's time.