Traveling is always full of good and bad surprises and that is the reason why everyone needs to be informed of their rights as tourists and travelers. The Greek non-profit organization for the “Quality of Life” (EKPIZO) has published some guidelines on the rights of travelers who are visiting Greece.
Air Travel
If the passenger has a ticket, he must arrive at the specified time and proceed to check-in for the flight. If an EU country airline won’t allow certain passengers to board the plane due to an overbooked flight, passenger safety or because the plane was replaced with a smaller one, then the passengers are entitled to:
– A 250 to 600 euro compensation, depending on the mileage of the flight or they can choose between being reimbursed for the ticket price and booking an alternative flight.
– Hotel accommodation, meals and refreshments.
If a flight is canceled under the responsibility of the airline then the passenger is entitled to:
– Be compensated in accordance with the above-mentioned amounts, unless he had been informed two weeks prior to the flight or if after being informed 1-2 weeks before the flight he was then given the possibility of alternative transport with less than 2 hours difference from the scheduled flight, or if he had been updated less than one week ago, but the proposed flight departs at most one hour after the scheduled one.
– Hotel accommodation in case of over-night stay, meals and refreshments.
If a flight is delayed more than 2 hours for all flights up to 1,500 km, 3 hours for flights within the EU from 1,500 km to 3,500 km and 4 hours for all other destinations, then the passenger is entitled to:
– Overnight hotel accommodation and transportation to and from the airport.
– Free meals and refreshments.
In case the airline loses a passenger’s luggage, or if they are damaged during the flight, the passenger is entitled to:
– Compensation of 36.38 euros per kilo for a trip abroad and 11.73 euros per kilo for a trip within the country, depending on the weight of his luggage, which is marked on the ticket.
If the content of the luggage is valuable, it is preferable and safer for passengers to declare it before the flight, so that in case of loss or damage they can be compensated for what has been declared.
If during a flight the passenger suffers an accident, he is entitled to:
– Full compensation from the airline, no matter where the accident occurred.
– An advance must be deposited (within 15 days and no less than 20,000 euros per passenger in case of death) in order to cover any expenses that may arise.
– If the damage was caused wholly or partly by the negligence of the passenger, then the airline’s liability may be limited or even not acknowledged.
Online Reservations
When buying a ticket online, the buyer must be notified from the beginning in regards to the total price, including taxes and the mandatory additional charges, so that he can compare the prices of different airlines and make the right choice.
Apart from the final price, the site must also clearly state the following information: air fare, taxes, airport fees and other charges, surcharges or extra fees (for example security or fuel).
Any optional additional amounts must be clearly marked and their optional character must be made clear.
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