Package travel: European Parliament approves new rules intended to protect holidaymakers
The European Parliament voted on March 12 to approve revised rules on package travel, intended to enhance protection for holidaymakers by drawing lessons from the pandemic and high-profile bankruptcies.
The directive was adopted with 537 votes in favour and two against, with 24 abstentions.
The updated directive, already provisionally agreed with the EU member states, clarifies which trips and services can be considered a travel package, introduces rules on the use of vouchers and sets out the conditions under which clients may cancel travel plans without cost.
New rules should make it easier to know which combinations of travel services constitute a package. This is determined by when and how the combination of services is booked.
For example, in an online purchase where linked booking processes enable the combinations of services offered by separate traders, they will be considered a package if the first trader transmits the traveller’s personal data to the other traders, and the contract for all the services is concluded within 24 hours.
If the travel organiser invites the client to book additional services, the client has to be informed if these would not form a package with previously booked services.
The updated directive introduces rules about the use of vouchers, which were widespread during the pandemic.
Consumers will have the right to refuse a voucher and request a refund instead within 14 days.
Vouchers may be valid for a maximum of 12 months and clients must be refunded for any fully or partly unused and expired vouchers. Companies may not limit the choice of travel services for voucher holders.
Under current rules, clients can cancel their travel plans without any cancellation fees or penalties if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances arise at the travel destination. This will now be extended to unavoidable and extraordinary events, both occurring at the point of departure or having the potential to significantly affect the journey.
Determining whether circumstances are severe enough to justify free cancellation would be done on a case-by-case basis. Official travel recommendations may serve as indications to this end.
When receiving a complaint about a service, tour organisers will have to acknowledge receipt within seven days and offer a reasoned reply within 60 days.
If the trip organiser goes bankrupt, clients will have to be refunded for cancelled services from the insolvency guarantee within six months (nine months for very complex bankruptcies). The standard 14-day deadline for refunds for trip cancellation will remain unchanged.
(Photo: Sofia Airport)
