Package Travel: more transparency for consumers

Package holidays booked online will become more transparent and consumers will enjoy better rights. The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee of the European Parliament today voted for an updated and improved EU Directive. "There has been a lot of innovation in the online world. The current Directive dates back to 1990 and it is vital that we ensure adequate consumer rights and keep market opportunities for service providers", said European Parliament Rapporteur Hans-Peter Mayer MEP.

The Directive concerns all holidaymakers who book a pre-arranged package involving a combination of flights, hotels, or car rentals, for example. "The most important thing is that consumers receive all the necessary information before signing the contract, making sure that a party is liable for the performance of all services in the package", said Mayer. MEPs want to improve the Commission proposal in a number of areas. In the case of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, consumers will be offered accommodation for a maximum stay of five nights and a maximum of €125 per night. "The organiser ought to have the right to arrange the accommodation first. They have to take into account the category of the original booking ", he continued.

MEPs do not want to accept automatic surcharges. "If the organiser of a package holiday intends to increase the price after the booking due to increased fuel costs by the flight operator, for example, the consumer ought to be able to cancel the booking without any sanctions and be reimbursed the amount of the original booking", the EPP Group MEP said.

Negotiations between Parliament and Council are expected to start after the plenary vote in March. "Member States must get their act together. It is a shame they are not able to come to an agreement before the European elections. I expect a final deal in the Spring of next year", concluded Mayer. The new Directive will apply by early 2017.