Your letters


Rethink gold-plated compensation laws


AS THE European Commission re-examines its passenger rights’ legislation, I call upon it to consider whether the high costs imposed on Europe’s airlines are truly in the interests of passengers. Transport ministers have already rejected these gold-plated standards for train, coach and ferry customers. Without even a basic evaluation of the costs and benefits, how can Europe’s regulators arrive at such different conclusions from their counterparts in the US, who are obliged to publish the full financial impacts of their proposals? The difference between EU and US rules on compensation is remarkable. In Europe it must be paid to the small number of passen- gers who are involuntarily denied boarding, or “bumped” from their flight. But it is also sometimes paid to all passengers on a flight


The early birds are back: summer 2011 is shaping up


Small tour operators are also seeing an increase in early bookings (“Operators return to early summer starts”, ttglive.com). Already we have interest and sales for summer 2011 (as well as our 2010 winter


cancelled for safety reasons, set at fixed amounts about four times the average fare paid.


In the US, compensation is limited to twice the fare paid and is only


available to passengers who have been “bumped”. Consequently, it is paid to less than one passenger in ten thousand, whereas in Europe one in a hundred passengers may be entitled.


It is therefore quite common for Europe’s airlines to face bills that are 200 times the levels of their US counterparts. In Europe we have developed a culture of gross over- protection that unnecessarily increases fares for all air passengers.


Mike Ambrose. director general, European Regions Airline Association


programmes). We’ve found that customers really want to save hard for their holiday next year, and want something to look forward to as soon as their holiday this year ends.


Laura Greenman managing director, Magnetic North Travel travel trade gazette


uk & ireland edition Issue 2916


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28 11.06.2010


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Accessible travel training is good for clients and business


Re: “New training on accessible travel goes live” (ttglive.com) – congratulations! This is an important piece of professional development for travel agents and for capturing more of us in the disability community as customers.


Scott Rains,owner, Rolling Rains Report


Let’s hope new campaign gets Thailand going again


PATA says it wants the travel industry to throw its support behind TAT’s “welcome back” campaign, which is based on constructive “all for one, one for all” principles, but notes that cheap deals aren’t a quick fix. Thailand’s tourism needs as much help as it can get.


Sam Wood, via email


We fly to Guernsey daily from five English airports


I thought your Guernsey feature (TTGJune 4) was interesting and informative – but there was no mention of getting there with Aurigny. We fly daily to the island from Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, East Midlands and Manchester.


John Hepworth,Aurigny Air Services


WHAT DO YOU THINK? The deadline for letters is 10am on Tuesday. We need your name, job title and company address. Please limit letters to 250 words maximum. We reserve the right to edit. Email: ttgletters@ttglive.com


LETTER OF THE WEEK


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