EU unveils new air passenger rights

[PAXboy]

New rights for airline passengers have been unveiled by the European Commission.

They include rerouting travellers with rival carriers if a flight is delayed for more than 12 hours. The rules also clarify what are considered exceptional circumstances for compensation. For example, mechanical failures on board the aircraft do not count, but natural disasters and traffic control strikes do.

The Commission says the new rules, which are not likely to become law until 2014, will give a lot more certainty to airlines and passengers.

Longish article ...
BBC News - EU unveils new air passenger rights (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21767040)

[Mark in CA]

This assumes there will still be an EU in 2014. :E

[Hartington]

Why single out musical instruements for special treatment?

The one item that surprised me, however was this:

No Show policy (partial use of ticket /return flights)

Following complaints from passengers, the proposal establishes that a passenger may not be denied boarding on the return flight of his ticket on the grounds that he did not take the outbound part of the return ticket.

found here EUROPA - PRESS RELEASES - Press Release - Air Passenger Rights Revision - Frequently Asked Questions Air passenger rights (http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-203_en.htm)