Dishing Out the Cash: When Airlines Must Fork Over Mediator Fees After Flight Cancellations
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So, you've got a beef with Dutch airline KLM. You've scored tickets for your trip of a lifetime through Opodo, and you're out a cool €2,053 after KLM cancels your flight, leaving €95.14 in Opodo's pocket as their commission. The Austrian consumer info association, fighting the good fight on your behalf, decides to throw down the gauntlet.
KLM tries to wriggle out of the situation by claiming they didn't have a deal with Opodo over the commission and didn't give it their stamp of approval. But don't fret, thanks to the straight-talking Advocate General Norkus, you've got a fighting chance.
According to Norkus, if KLM had been butting heads with Opodo for a decade (ew, drama!) and even shared some bonus love based on ticket sales, then it's safe to say they're aware of Opodo's commission-grabbing ways. And if they've given the green light, even implicitly, they owe you that €95.14. KLM can escape this financial hit only if they can prove they were completely in the dark about this sneaky little fee.
But that's not all. Recent developments in EU regulations are making it clear that airlines need to swallow hard and cough up the cash if intermediaries, like Opodo, don't do their jobs. Kill them with kindness, the EU Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee suggests, by requiring intermediaries to inform passengers about the full ticket cost, including intermediation fees, and outline the refund process. Intermediaries should also handle the refund within 14 days, with the airline stepping in if they don't.
So, keep the faith, bring the receipts, and don't settle for anything less than everything you paid. After all, a flight cancellation doesn't mean you should leave money on the tarmac.
Word on the street says that an upcoming common reimbursement form could make the process even smoother by standardizing the claims process—so there's light at the end of the tunnel.
So, you've been dealt a sour hand, but remember: airlines like KLM are on the hook for more than just the ticket price. They need to cough up any mediator fees if those sly intermediaries drag their feet on the refund process. Wish that Opodo commission was a goodbye drink on the house instead? Hey, no one said justice was cheap!
- In light of the EU regulations, it appears that community institutions like airlines are now required to cover the expenses incurred by intermediaries if those intermediaries fail to perform their duties correctly.
- Furthermore, the recent developments also suggest that lifestyle choices such as travel could potentially involve hidden costs from intermediaries, leaving individuals in a position where they have to claim these fees from the business involved, such as airlines.
