The crisis in the Middle East has generated enormous uncertainty on the travel front. For this reason, Codacons has released a guide on rights, reimbursements, compensation and insurance, also in light of the new guidelines launched by the EU.
Do-it-yourself holidays
Anyone who has independently purchased a holiday, in the event of flight cancellation, has the right to a refund of the ticket price or to board an alternative flight as soon as possible. If the cancellation occurs close to departure, when the passenger is already at the airport, you are also entitled to assistance in the form of meals, hotel accommodation, transfers, etc. The right to compensation of up to 600 euros per passenger – which is different from a refund – is provided if the cancellation does not fall within “exceptional circumstances”: fuel shortages do, while the airline’s decision to cut flights due to high jet fuel prices does not fall within exceptional circumstances, as specified in recent days by the EU. Fuel surcharges requested by air carriers at a stage following the purchase of the ticket are also illegitimate, unless the consumer has expressly accepted this clause on a voluntary basis at the time of booking. Those who have booked accommodation facilities and paid for other tourist services, in the event that they are unable to reach the destination due to flight cancellation, could lose the amount paid, unless they have taken out specific travel insurance.
Travel insurance
Codacons first of all points out that the policies have a cost (on average between 3% and 8% of the entire trip) but do not cover all the risks and provide deductibles, limits and exclusions. The insurance reimburses expenses incurred for the purchase of flights, accommodation facilities, penalties from travel agencies or tour operators, and already paid tourist services, but with a series of exclusions and limitations: the fear of travel, the fear of unforeseen events due to new geopolitical conditions are not conditions that justify the reimbursement of expenses. The reasons for canceling the trip must be valid and documented. Generally, policies expressly exclude refunds in the event of trip cancellation for reasons related to conflict, disorder or terrorism.
Holiday packages
Those who have purchased may be asked to increase the price of the package up to a maximum of 8% before the trip, as required by the Tourism Code. In the event of flight cancellation, the consumer has the right to take advantage of another package of equivalent or higher quality without price supplements, or to another tourist package of lower quality, subject to reimbursement of the price difference. If you decide to withdraw from the contract, you are entitled to a full refund. If the cancellation of a flight occurs after the holiday has already begun, the organizer offers, at no extra charge, adequate quality alternative solutions, so that the execution of the package can continue. If the alternative solutions are of lower quality, the organizer grants the traveler an adequate price reduction. It is also possible that, as a consequence of the increases in jet fuel prices, those who have purchased a holiday package will be asked for price supplements, a circumstance expressly provided for based on the cost of fuel or other energy sources. A price increase, regardless of its size, is only possible if provided for in the contract and subject to clear and precise communication at least twenty days before the start of the package. If the price increase exceeds 8% of the total price, the traveler can withdraw from the contract without paying withdrawal costs.