Short of being an expert in the various legalese of the world such as commercial law, property law or public law, there is a good chance that you might be flying blind if you are renting or hosting through websites like Airbnb.
Here are going to look at some the things travellers need to know before they set off on their journeys and start booking.
Flights
When you’re booking a flight, it is quite likely that the farthest thing from your mind is anything going wrong or the legal ramifications of your booking. No, instead you are excited about going on vacation or starting a big trip and understandably so. However, as a consumer, you should know some of your rights so that in the eventuality you find your flight is problematic for any number of reasons you know where you stand.
For starters, one of the most common complaints for users of air travel is the issues surrounding compensation and delays. The difficulty is that most airlines don’t want to make it particularly clear what you can claim and can’t claim, for fairly obvious reasons. Another difficulty that lies in air travel is that the laws are different around the world, so it isn’t a case of one shoe fits all. In the UK, for example, if you are delayed by more than two hours you are entitled to compensation. But, that is subject to certain terms such as the airline being at fault. In the US compensation is only due if you are bumped from a flight that is overbooked – another aspect of flying that many customers won’t consider before parting with their cash.
Photo by JESHOOTScom from Pixabay
The best advice that you can follow is to look up the laws before you travel in your departing country and your final destination. If you have a flight that stops in a different country you should also check there for peace of mind. Remember, there are companies that specialise in advice on these topics and seeking their assistance before you travel could cause you a lot less stress if your plane is stuck on the tarmac for a period of time.
Accommodation
Similar to booking a flight, most people readying themselves for a trip won’t take into account the legal ramifications of booking accommodation. Somewhat fairly there will be an assumption that if you book through a respected website then you will be covered based on their reputation.
One of the spanners in this plan is the growth of companies like Airbnb. The industry wasn’t prepared for the rise of a website that allows the average Joe to rent their property to holidaymakers. However, in recent years many states around the world have started to consider what the legal aspects of peer-to-peer hosting mean. While the onus is usually on the owner of the property owner, you should make sure to check ahead of your arrival their legal obligations to you and their city. In addition, be wary of deposits that appear high due to possible fraudulent activity.
Photo by naobim from Pixabay
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