The European Consumer Centre for the Czech Republic has said that passengers can get informed more about their rights in emergency situations through the free mobile application “ECC-Net: Travel”, advising everyone to use it when abroad.
According to the Consumer Centre, the app contains detailed information on consumer rights in common situations, such as ferry and flight cancellations or delays, as well as problems with accommodation.
In addition, the app also contains phrases in 25 languages that passengers can use to apply for their rights in the native language of the merchant.
Explaining the advantages of using the app, the director of the European Consumer Center Czech Republic, Ondřej Tichota, said that passengers have the right to free food and refreshments in all types of transport when their journey is cancelled.
Moreover, Tichota stressed that everyone whose connection has been cancelled has the right to be redirected and the right to a refund.
In contrast, he stressed that not in all cases passengers are entitled to free hotel accommodation.
“If a ferry is cancelled and the ferry is expected to depart after the storms pass, which could be on the second or third day, people cannot claim free hotel accommodation in bad weather, as they do in emergency situations for air, rail or long-distance bus transport,” the statement of Tichota reads.
As the Consumer Centre explains, for flights that have been cancelled and significantly delayed, passengers do not have the right to compensation in the amount between €250 and €600.
Regarding the navigation in the app, the Consumer Centre notes that after starting the app, the users are able to select the language in which they will use the application as well as the country in which they are currently located.
By providing their location, passengers will be able to get the most up-to-date information and see specific sentences for requesting to know their rights.
“In the application, the user can read in Czech what they can request in a given situation, i.e. free care in the event of flight delays and cancellations. And in the application, he can also quickly find the contact of the Czech embassy in the EU country where he is located,” Tichota added.
Moreover, the Consumer Centre emphasised that all those who are unable to find information on the app about a situation can easily find the contact of the European Consumer Centre and contact them on the matter. The Centre said that it would assist in such cases free of charge.
