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Over-booking
European Union regulations
state that the passenger must benefit from impartial treatment
and receive proper compensation if not allowed to board an aircraft
in a European Community airport :
UIf a passenger with a
valid ticket and a confirmed reservation turns up to check-in
at an airport within the European Union within the given time
limit and the airline prevents the passenger from boarding because
it has over-booked the flight, the following rules apply :
The airline must invite the passenger to
choose one of the following options :
reimbursement, without penalty, of the price of the ticket
corresponding to the part of the journey that has not been
undertaken, or
re-routing to the final destination in the shortest possible
time, or
re-routing at a later date at the passenger's convenience.
Furthermore, the airline will also award
cash compensation for a minimum amount of :
150 € for flights up to 3,500 km (75 € if the passenger
is delayed for less than two hours)
300 € for flights over 3,500 km (150 € if the passenger
is delayed for less than four hours)
The amount of compensation
can be limited to the price of the ticket. Compensation can
only be paid in the form of travel vouchers or other services,
rather than in cash, if the passenger agrees.
Furthermore, the airline will also offer
the passenger the following services at no charge :
a telephone call or telex or fax to their destination;
catering facilities in keeping with the delay;
accommodation for passengers who are blocked for one or more
nights.
transport between the arrival airport and the original destination
if the passenger accepts to take a replacement flight to another
airport.
If the passenger travels
in a lower class than that for which the ticket was purchased,
he has the right to be reimbursed for the difference in price.
If the passenger is on
a package holiday, the airline is obliged to compensate the
tour operator who must then filter the sums received back to
the passenger.
The passenger must not
need to solicit the airline for the above-mentioned compensation
and assistance; the airline must offer them spontaneously.
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