HL Deb 29 March 1977 vol 381 cc759-61

2.50 p.m.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the inadequate publicity given by British airlines to the overbooking compensation scheme, they are in a position to add to their Statement of 13th July last.

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I understand that passengers denied carriage due to overbooking are given full details of the compensation scheme by the airlines, including advice as to their rights. In addition, the Airline Users' Committee has published a booklet referring to passengers' entitlement to compensation.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, that reply really will not do. Is the Minister aware that passengers are told of their rights when they have been off-loaded, when it has actually occurred? They do not know of them beforehand. Is he further aware that the Airline Users' Committee—seeing that he has mentioned the Committee—has been quite unable to obtain any information about the actual publicity given by the airlines? Lastly, does he recall that on 13th July last he told the House that the Civil Aviation Authority required the airlines to publicise these arrangements? Could he comment on what actually has been done?

Lord ORAM

Yes, my Lords; I agree with my noble friend that the information is given only after a passenger has been "bumped", as the expression goes; "denied carriage" is the more technical expression. I can understand my noble friend's view that this information should be given to passengers before they get into that situation, so that they know their rights earlier. I know that my noble friend has put forward her views in the Users' Committee (of which she is a member) and that these views have been conveyed to British Airways. I understand that a reply has now been received by the Committee, and no doubt my noble friend will be examining it at the next meeting. But if it will help her I will undertake to write to the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority putting forward the views that she has expressed and adding my own support to her.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, I am most grateful for the support of my noble friend. Is he aware how much we appreciate this? However, may I ask whether he would also convey the fact that we are sick and tired of making these requests from as long ago as last July? Now we are told that an answer is on the way. Would he agree that, whether or not it is satisfactory, that is far too long a period for people to wait?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I think that the answer that is on the way does not date from last July, but from more recent representations which have been made. But I certainly will study what my noble friend has said and will convey that as well.

Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, will the noble Lord bear in mind that on these occasions—and I have been a sufferer—very often one finds that quite a number of airline personnel are travelling on concessionary passages, probably free? In one instance, a group of us, having paid for our tickets many weeks previously, stood our ground and asked that all the concessionary passengers be turned off. Seven were turned off, and six of us went on ahead. Surely it is up to the airline to ensure that people who have paid for their tickets and have booked some time ahead should be given priority over others who are travelling on concessionary grounds?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I think that that is reasonable, and I am sure that airlines take that kind of position into account. There may be accidents otherwise from time to time, but in general I should think that that kind of consideration would be very much borne in mind. I referred to a reference about overbooking in a publication of the Airline Users' Committee. In that there is advice to passengers who are "bumped" that they should stand their ground in the way that the noble Lord suggests.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, I do not want to weary the House, but with respect to the noble Lord, Lord Orr-Ewing, I do not mind who is put off the plane because I think nobody should be. But would the Government, in the person of my noble friend, convey to the Civil Aviation Authority that they feel that it is the right of passengers when making their booking, whether it be at an agency, at British Airways, or anywhere else, to know of their rights, and could there not be a notice to this effect at all agencies?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I am aware that that is my noble friend's view, and it is that that I will convey to the chairman.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, I accept that this new scheme, for all its disadvantages, is a considerable step forward; but would the noble Lord not agree that the problem is really caused by those passengers who book one or more seats on one or more flights and then fail to show up?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, certainly that is an aspect of the problem which has been debated several times in this House, but I notice that my noble friend Lady Burton of Coventry has tabled a Question on the substantive business of overbooking for consideration on 5th May when, hopefully, I will be able to deal more fully with that matter.