The European Parliament has voted through a major update to passenger rights rules, and it includes some changes travellers will actually feel in their wallets. The vote on 20 October passed almost unanimously (652 votes in favour, two against, eight abstentions), and the new rules are set to take effect from 23 October 2027, once the European Council formally signs off.
The headline change for anyone booking through a travel agent or platform is a firm 14-day refund deadline. When a flight is cancelled, the airline now has a maximum of seven days to pass the money back to the intermediary, which then has seven more days to get it to you — including any fees the agent charged. Intermediaries will also have to explain upfront how reimbursements work when you book. If you book directly with an airline, the existing seven-day refund rule still applies.
Claiming compensation is getting easier too. A standardised claim form will be available on the European Commission's website in every EU language and across all transport types, with carriers allowed to offer an equivalent. That should cut down on the runaround that currently comes with chasing a delayed or cancelled trip.
There's also a meaningful win for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility: if an accompanying person's presence is necessary, airlines must carry them free of charge. This right already existed on buses, trains and ships, but airlines were previously exempt — now they're not.
Enforcement is being beefed up as well. National authorities can launch audits, inspections and interviews with carriers proactively, rather than waiting for passenger complaints to pile up. Italian MEP Matteo Ricci, from the Transport and Tourism Committee, framed the vote as putting citizens' rights ahead of airline profits, noting that whether it's a flight home or a ferry holiday, everyone travels as a passenger.
Why it matters for your next trip: if you're booking a European holiday through an OTA or travel agency, you'll know exactly how long your money is tied up if things go wrong — two weeks, max. And travellers who need a companion can budget for one fewer seat. The rules cover air, rail, ship, bus and coach travel across the EU regardless of nationality, so they apply to British, American or Australian visitors just as much as EU citizens. Until the rules kick in at the end of October 2027, the existing framework — including compensation for long delays and cancellations — still applies, so it's worth knowing your current rights before you fly.
