All of the strict airline fees being SCRAPPED and it will save families hundreds
SEVERAL new passenger rights are set to come into force across the UK and Europe.
It’s good news for Brits as there are new passenger rights coming into force that could save families hundreds.
From parents being allowed to sit with their child for no extra cost to new luggage rules, travellers won’t have to fork out as much for hidden extra costs.
Here’s a rundown of all the new rules coming into force across the UK and Europe:
Sitting with children
Under the new rules, airlines can no longer charge for certain extras including parents wanting to sit with their child.
According to the Government, a parent and child are charged up to £104 on a return journey for sitting together.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Charging parents just to sit with their children is a rip-off, plain and simple.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Parents should not have to feel the pinch just to sit next to their child on a flight, or for amending a simple booking error.
“That’s why we’re scrapping these unnecessary charges for all airlines.
“Another everyday fix to help put money back in people’s pockets and give households more breathing room.”
Booking error corrections
Another rule being introduced means that passengers will have greater flexibility to correct name errors on bookings for free.
If you needed to correct something on your booking before, such as a spelling mistake in your name, then it could have cost you as much as £40 to change.
Andy Burnham added: “Being hit with a hefty fee for a simple spelling mistake on a booking form isn’t right.
“People are fed up with these little charges that add up, so I’m putting a stop to them.
“This is what our everyday fixes are all about.
“Giving people room to breathe by tackling the small irritations that catch people out, waste their time and cost them money.”
Luggage fees – Europe only
The EU is looking to make hand luggage free as part of a major overhaul of passenger rights.
Back in June, the European Parliament and EU member states agreed on new air passenger rules, which would include allowing passengers to have two pieces of hand luggage free of charge.
This would be one small personal item that usually fits under the seat in front of you and a larger cabin bag weighing up to 7kg.
The new rules are expected to come into force in October 2027 at the earliest.
However, for Brits, the rules won’t apply on outbound journeys – say from London to Majorca, in Spain.
It will apply to UK passengers on their return leg, though from an EU country, so theoretically if you wanted to do lots of shopping abroad you won’t have to pay for that extra case on the way back home.
Airlines, such as easyJet, are currently reviewing their luggage rules though and the UK Government could also make the same rule in the future.
With easyJet for example, if you want a cabin bag measuring up to 56 x 45 x 25cm, you’ll need to pay extra for it and the price varies depending on demand, the route, your flight date and the time of booking.
Though if you get to the gate and haven’t paid for a cabin bag but have one with you, you will be charged £60.
For Ryanair, if you want a cabin bag measuring up to 55 x 40 x 20cm, then it will cost you between £12 and £36 at the time of booking, or between £20 and £60 when at the airport.
For a family of four, this could cost as much as an additional £240 per way, so £480 per return flight.