Airline passengers to get gold-plated guarantee when booking flights

AIRLINE passengers will get a gold-plated guarantee when booking a flight in future — to protect them from travel chaos.

The offer of swift and fair compensation is in a flyers charter to be unveiled today.

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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has drawn up a system to spell out what services are included in the cost of an airline ticket.

His Aviation Passenger Charter has been developed in partnership with industry, consumer and disability groups.

Passengers will know their rights for an entire journey — from booking, travelling to and through the airport, during the flight and returning to the UK.

It includes advice on what to do if flights are cancelled or delayed or if baggage goes missing — and how to complain.

Mr Shapps said: “Passengers deserve reliable services and to be properly compensated if things don’t go to plan.

“The charter will help to give them peace of mind.

“It builds on our 22-point plan to support the industry and keep disruption to a minimum this summer.”

It will also ensure disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility have immediate access to information about their rights.

While it will not cut the number of cancelled or delayed flights this summer, it could ease passengers’ distress by providing clear, standardised information on redress.

Earlier this month, the Government announced mandatory aviation sector national security checks are being processed in record time to help fill vacancies.

And last month, a one-off amnesty on airport slot rules was brought in to help airlines to avoid last-minute cancellations.