Government scraps ‘rip-off’ extra charges for passengers in major law change

Good news for flyers!

These changes include stopping airlines from charging people extra to sit with their children as well as getting rid of payments to change the name on a booking.

This comes as part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's 'everday fixes' programme which attempts to tackle the cost of living by fixing smaller issues that add up.

The government said it was also "working with airlines and trade unions to create a new system for sharing information on persistently disruptive passengers."

What are the changes?

As per the government website, the noted changes are:

• Extra charges for parents sitting with their children scrapped across airlines to help people with the cost of living  
• Greater flexibility to amend simple name mistakes when booking flights so passengers avoid unnecessary charges  
• Airlines and government working together to crack down on disorderly and seriously disruptive passengers 

The changes are likely to be implemented by the next summer holidays as a form of new 'passengers' rights law', not dissimilar to one the EU has recently updated.

The Department for Transport said: "Passengers will also be given greater flexibility to correct simple name errors on bookings for free, ending unfair and irritating charges – sometimes as much as £40 – for minor mistakes or admin tweaks. "

Andy Burnham, the prime minister, said: "Charging parents just to sit with their children is a rip-off, plain and simple.

"And being hit with a hefty fee for a simple spelling mistake on a booking form isn't right either. People are fed up with these little charges that add up, so I'm putting a stop to them."