Strasbourg, 04/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Commission plans to make life easier for travellers this summer: it announced on Wednesday 4 July that it had developed a smartphone app giving access to all useful information on passengers' rights.
When travelling, any unexpected event is often a source of stress. However, it is often much easier to face certain situations (cancelled flight, hotel services different from those announced, changes to train timetables, etc) when you are aware of your rights. The app explains the rights which protect passengers in these situations, with the availability of compensation (between €125 and €600) or damages in certain cases. The app also explains to whom passengers can complain in extreme cases. “How many of us have stood in an airport and felt the frustration of people telling you that you have no rights when you know you have”, commented Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas. This application concerns air and rail transport. It works on four mobile platforms (iPhone and iPad by Apple, Google Android, RIM's Blackberry and Windows Phone 7 from Microsoft) and is available in 22 EU languages. The app will be extended to bus, coach and sea travel in 2013, when the rights applicable to these areas enter into force. (MD/transl.fl)