Air Travellers beware!

When booking a flight with any European airline to a destination outside Europe, travellers should be aware of their rights (or the lack of them). Recent cases experienced by Europeans in various destinations outside Europe make worrying reading.

There are rules governing air travel within Europe which most airlines adhere to although these rules are voluntary guidlines. In effect if you are bumped off a flight or a flight is cancelled, generally within Europe the airline will pay for you accomodation and food. In a recent case, a couple were stranded by KLM in South Africa. They were delayed until the next flight which was five days later. The airline refused to pay anything towards their accomodation during this period.

Under the Warsaw convention all the airline needs to do is to get you to and from your destination, that is all your ticket guarantees, not when or how. Most airlines will in fact compensate you, but in this case KLM were within their rights to refuse.

It is another case of buyer beware.