Several thousand danes have right now money out to swim, because their flights have been cancelled as a result of the corona epidemic.
Many airlines now offer their customers a voucher instead of giving them the opportunity to get their money back.
But what is really the customers ‘ rights in relation to get a refund from the airlines?
It has B. T. asked the deputy director of the Consumer council Think, Vagn Jelsøe, on.
And the answer is clear:
“the EU rules say that passengers must have the ability to get a refund, so if an airline says that they should offer vouchers, it is in violation of the rules. You are entitled to a refund,” says Vagn Jelsøe.
the Companies must refund the tickets for the flights they have cancelled. And it can also be done through a receivable in the form of a voucher. However, it must be done with customer acceptance.
“The advice I can give to consumers is to make the airlines aware that you have the right, and see if they can offer a voucher, which is better than just money back,” he says, and continues:
“It requires, of course, to predict that you will later travel with the same airline. And it is possible to negotiate a voucher that is greater than the amount.”
the Deputy underlines, that he is aware that the airlines are in a very difficult situation:
“But you just remember that it is also quite a lot of consumers, who do – you had booked the holiday, while our economy is so good, and now, of course many that are in a completely different economic situation and have lost their jobs. It should not be a battle about who has it worst, but the EU-the rules are clear on this point,” he says.
the Rules also say that you must either have its voucher or a refund quite promptly.
“I will say to you as a consumer should be flexible and be aware, there is talk about the many expeditions to the airlines, but it must not drag on for months,” says Vagn Jelsøe.
But the more the practice goes so directly against the law of the european UNION.
for Example, has neither Air France-KLM or their subsidiary Transavia given customers the opportunity to select the money back instead of a voucher.
And it is a problem.
For, though you may get negotiated to a voucher with a higher amount than you had originally paid, so you run a risk.
It is not an unlikely scenario, to an airline after this crisis goes bankrupt.
And if it happens, is thus left without anything.
It is only purchased tickets, you can get covered by the Danish konkurssikring – not vouchers.
