July 2012

Michael Wukoschitz's picture

USA: Airlines lose appeal against DOT fare rules

Submitted by Michael Wukoschitz on 27 July, 2012 - 19:41

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington has upheld the Transportation Department’s full-fare advertising and fare refund rules that had been challenged by Allegiant, Spirit and Southwest. The rules that require airlines and travel sellers to quote full prices with all taxes and mandatory fees includedwent into effect last year. The airlines had challenged that provision on the grounds that there is nothing “inherently” deceptive about showing taxes separately, as is commonly done in most other industries.

Michael Wukoschitz's picture

EU Commission publishes consumer tips for visitors to the 2012 Olympic Games

Submitted by Michael Wukoschitz on 27 July, 2012 - 19:32

The European Commission has put together a webpage with key consumer tips on how to plan a successful, stress-free trip to the Olympics – and avoid consumer hassle with travel, accommodation or shopping. This page offers essential, hands-on information and links to services that can help visitors in case of a problem.

Find the webpage here>>.

Michael Wukoschitz's picture

UK and Unfair Contract Terms Reforms

Submitted by Michael Wukoschitz on 27 July, 2012 - 19:25

The Scottish Law Commission and the Law Commission for England and Wales have opened a consultation on proposals to protect consumers from unfair terms hidden in small print.

Michael Wukoschitz's picture

CJEU: inclusion of flight cancellation insurance as a default setting unlawful when selling air tickets over the internet

Submitted by Michael Wukoschitz on 19 July, 2012 - 16:05

A German consumer-protection association has taken proceedings against ebookers.com before the German courts with a view to requiring that company to refrain from automatically including cancellation insurance with the air fare:

Michael Wukoschitz's picture

UK: British Airways to check passengers on Google?

Submitted by Michael Wukoschitz on 19 July, 2012 - 07:39

According to an article by Margaret Tofalides from Manches LLP, published on lexology.com, British Airways is planning to use information from the internet to create dossiers on passengers. The programme would search Google images in order to find pictures of passengers so that they can be identified by the BA staff. It would would also search data held by BA, including records of previous flights and complaints. The programme, of course, raises data protection and privacy concerns.

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Austria: regulation on proper rail passenger behaviour

Submitted by Michael Wukoschitz on 16 July, 2012 - 18:21

A new regulation by the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology provides detailed rules on the behaviour of railway passengers and other users of railway premises. It inter alia interdicts to carry along dangerous animals or items (like weapons), to throw things from the train and to enter restricted areas.

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USA: new law to require airlines to seat families together?

Submitted by Michael Wukoschitz on 16 July, 2012 - 18:08

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) is introducing legislation that would prevent families from being separated because of airline fees for priority seats like aisles and windows. The bill, which has been dubbed the Families Flying Together Act of 2012, would direct the Department of Transportation to enforce the family seating requirement.

Source: The Hill; find article here>>.

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Austria: Appelate court decides on "fly all or pay up" clauses

Submitted by Michael Wukoschitz on 2 July, 2012 - 12:04

In their General Conditions of Carriage, Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines had incorporated clauses which provided that a passenger who doesn't use all the flight coupons of his ticket or doesn't use them in the original order can be required to pay up to the tariff applicable at the time of booking for the actual routing otherwise the airline would be entitled to deny boarding. Thus, a passenger who had purchased a low fare return ticket and then only used the outward flight could be required to pay up to the more expensive one way fare.

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