Travelers in Europe could soon enjoy stronger protections, faster refunds, and clearer rules—thanks to new legislation proposed by the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee.

The draft changes aim to close legal loopholes, clarify passenger entitlements, and hold intermediaries like online booking sites more accountable when travel goes wrong.

Quicker Refunds — Even Through Booking Platforms

The updated rules make ticket sellers and intermediaries (like online travel agencies) responsible for clearly stating:

Full ticket cost and service fees at the time of booking

Refund procedures and timelines

If a trip is canceled or delayed, intermediaries would have 14 days to process refunds. If they miss that deadline, the airline must issue the refund within seven days instead.

Standard Claim Forms Within 48 Hours

To simplify compensation and refund claims, the committee backs a common EU-wide form. Airlines would be required to send pre-filled forms or contact passengers via automatic channels within 48 hours of a disruption.

What Counts as ‘Extraordinary Circumstances’?

To avoid confusion, the new rules define what lets airlines legally deny compensation. This includes:

Natural disasters

War or armed conflict

Dangerous weather conditions

Unforeseen labor disputes (but not airline staff strikes)

This move tightens existing 2014 Parliament guidelines.

Free Hand Luggage & Extra Protection for Vulnerable Travelers

The draft rules aim to make flying fairer and more inclusive:

Free hand luggage rights:

One personal item (max 40x30x15 cm)

One small cabin bag (max 100 cm total dimensions, max 7 kg)

No fees for seating children under 12 next to a parent/guardian

Free tickets for carers accompanying passengers with reduced mobility

Compensation rights for lost/damaged mobility equipment or injured assistance animals

New Rules for Multimodal Travel (Plane + Train + Bus)

In a separate vote, MEPs supported new rights for multimodal travel—journeys involving more than one transport mode (e.g., plane + train or bus).

If you buy a single multimodal ticket from one provider, you’ll get:

Compensation for missed connections

Meals, hotel, or transport if your delay exceeds 60 minutes

Ticket sellers must inform you if you’re buying a single, combined, or separate multimodal ticket. If they don’t, they’ll owe you:

A full refund, and

75% compensation if you miss your connection

What’s Next?

The proposals still need to go through plenary approval and negotiations with EU member states. But if adopted, they’ll mark the biggest expansion of EU passenger rights in years—offering faster service, fairer treatment, and more transparency to millions of travelers.