Newsroom

Plane Facts – Don’t Leave Home Without It!

Wednesday 6 July 2005

As thousands of Northern Ireland holidaymakers take to the skies and head for sunnier climes, the Consumer Council has launched Plane Facts – the essential guide to air travel to and from Northern Ireland.

Plane Facts is a handy, user-friendly guide designed to sit along with passports, tickets and the other essentials you cannot afford to leave home without.  It contains everything you need to know about your rights and responsibilities when you fly.

Among the areas covered by Plane Facts are:

Alan Walker, Head of Consumer Affairs at the Consumer Council said: “Plane Facts takes you through every step of your air journey, from leaving home to arriving at your destination. It outlines your rights and responsibilities, looks at what to consider when you book a flight and gives advice on checking in. There are lots of tips to help make your journey as enjoyable as possible. There's also a handy checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your journey.  If things do go wrong, the guide tells you what to do and how the Consumer Council can help. 

“Most people enjoy trouble-free air travel, but others experience the frustration of cancellations without warning, delays that leave them stranded, or being 'bumped off' a flight because the airline has overbooked it. Often, it's only when things go wrong that passengers realise that they don't know enough about their rights.”

Plane Facts comes shortly after the European Union introduced new regulations called Air Passenger Rights Action. The regulations mean changes to what you can expect if you face denied boarding, cancellation or a long delay.  As Northern Ireland enjoys more international flights than ever before, Plane Facts could not come at a better time.

You can pick up your free copy of Plane Facts from the information desk at Belfast International, Belfast City and City of Derry Airports or from ABTA approved travel agents throughout Northern Ireland.  You can also download a copy from www.gccni.org.uk . Check the website for updates to the guide.   Consumers who want to receive Plane Facts in alternative formats should contact the Consumer Council on 9067 2488.

If you would like more information on Plane Facts or have an enquiry or complaint about air travel, contact the Consumer Council complaints team on 0845 601 6022.

  1. Consumer Council media contact: Susie Brown, telephone, 028 9067 4807 or e-mail, susie.brown@gccni.org.uk
  2. The Consumer Council is an independent consumer organisation, working to bring about change to benefit Northern Ireland's consumers. The Council campaigns for high standards of service and protection and a fair deal for all. It also carries out research, gives advice and publishes reports and other publications. It deals with individual complaints about electricity, natural gas, coal and passenger transport.
  3. For more information, visit our website at www.gccni.org.uk

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