Airline passengers on domestic flights within the UK could be able to claim compensation if their trip is delayed by as little as one hour under sweeping new plans by the government.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the shake-up will "aim to bolster airline consumer protection and rights".
This is a change to the current system where you can claim only if you're three or more hours late reaching the final destination, with compensation based on both the delay and the distance travelled.
Go here for the very latest breaking news updates from across the North East
However, this European legislation only allows passengers on flights shorter than 1,500km (932 miles) to claim for delays of more than three hours.
As a result of having new powers due to Brexit, the government is considering replacing this system with a model similar to the one used by rail and ferry operators, which links compensation to the cost of travel.
Whether you would be better off under the old or new rules depends on how long your flight is delayed by.
Assuming a ticket price of less than £220, the existing rules are more generous IF you're delayed for more than three hours.
But these rules do not kick in until then, so if you're only delayed by 2 hours and 50 minutes, you will currently get nothing at all.
For instance, taking a British Airways flight from Newcastle to Heathrow at the end of this month, which currently costs £81.
If your flight was delayed by two hours under the current rules, you would be entitled to nothing, but under the new rules you would be entitled to 50% of your fare back, so £40.50.
If you flight was delayed by three hours though, under under the current rules, you would be entitled to £220, but under the new rules you would be entitled to the full price of your fare back, so £81.
It's difficult to get figures on domestic delays, but Civil Aviation Authority revealed Stansted to be the worst airport for delays in 2019, with departures at the U.K’s fourth busiest airport being 25 minutes late on average.
In joint second were Birmingham and London Luton where flights left 19 minutes late on average.
So anecdotally, most delays tend to be shorter than an hour anyway, although the likelihood of an hour's delay is probably higher then three hours.
But if you’re the type of person who only books budget flights, the compensation you will get may still not cover costs you’ll incur as a result of a delayed flight such as cancelled plans, travel or accommodation changes.
A government consultation on the proposals will now run until 27 March 2022, with a response expected to be published within three months. It isn't yet clear when the plans will take force should they be approved.
The full proposals are:
- For a delay of more than one hour but less than two hours - 25% of the ticket price
- For a delay of more than two hours but less than three hours - 50% of the ticket price
- For a delay of more than three hours - 100% of the ticket price
The current rules:
- Up to 1,500km - £220
- From 1.500km to 3,500km - £350
- 3,500km+ - compensation is paid at £260 for 3-4 hour delay and £520 for more than 4 hours.
The Department for Transport has proposed that the two schemes run alongside each other, with one covering UK flights and one covering international travel.
In addition to new rules on compensation, the DfT also plans to make it compulsory for ALL airlines to be signed up to an aviation Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme, which makes it easier for passengers to escalate complaints that cannot be settled between just them and the airline. Currently, airline membership to ADRs is voluntary.
It's also been proposed that aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has its powers strengthened.
Better protection for passengers on UK domestic flights whose wheelchairs or mobility scooters have been damaged during the flight will also be introduced.
At present, airlines are not oblieged to cover the cost of repairs, even if an item is damaged while in their care.
Mr Shapps said: "People deserve a service that puts passengers first when things go wrong.
"We're making the most of our Brexit dividend with our new freedoms outside of the EU, and this review will help build a trustworthy, reputable sector."
Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at consumer group Which?, said trust in travel firms "plummeted" when the coronavirus pandemic began as some airlines "ignored their legal obligations and refused to pay refunds for cancelled flights".
She went on: "This consultation is a welcome first step that must improve and strengthen consumer rights and protections so that complaints are dealt with fairly and promptly, and that passengers receive the money they are due quickly and without unnecessary hassle."
