Problems with cancelled or delayed flights cost consumers two billion kronor annually. This is according to a study from the Swedish Consumer Agency. The same study also shows that few people know their rights and that they therefore risk missing out on thousands of kronor in compensation.
It is in the report Consumer Damage in Sweden, which was published in April, that it is clear that flight problems cause costs of two billion kronor per year, equivalent to approximately three thousand kronor per consumer per year.
The study also shows that one in three consumers has little knowledge of their rights and that many, one in four, choose not to do anything about the problem.
Henric Jonsson is legal advisor at Consumer Europe, which is part of the Swedish Consumer Agency. He is familiar with the picture painted in the report.
– Consumer problems related to air travel are one of the most common questions we receive for the guidance, especially during the summer months when many people are traveling. I also notice that many people have very little idea of what rights they have when their flight is canceled or delayed.
Right to compensation
Consumers have strong protection under the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation. The regulation states, among other things, that if your flight is cancelled and it falls under EU rules, you have the right to rebook or get a refund. But in many cases, you may also be entitled to compensation.
“An easy way to find out if you are entitled to compensation and how much you can claim from the airline is to use our free tool, the Flight Calculator,” says Henric Jonsson. In some cases, it can be several thousand kronor that you may be entitled to. This is where it really pays to be an aware and active consumer.
