EU to ban airlines from charging parents to sit with their children
The Straits Times • • world
Key Points:
- The EU has agreed to ban airlines from charging parents extra fees to seat children under 14 next to them, as part of a passenger rights reform finalized on June 12.
- Attempts to reduce compensation for flight cancellations and long delays were dropped after strong opposition from European lawmakers, preserving the current system that awards passengers €250 to €600 for delays over three hours.
- A proposed ban on fees for carry-on luggage was also abandoned, replaced by a requirement for ticket websites to include hand luggage costs in displayed prices.
- Additional measures include prohibiting airlines from charging fees for correcting spelling mistakes in bookings, with the reform expected to gain provisional approval on June 15 before formal adoption.
- The reform aims to strengthen passenger rights while addressing airline concerns, following over a decade of negotiations and compromise between EU countries and lawmakers.