Consumer advisor: money back for canceled concert even with second-hand ticket
Estonia's consumer protection authority says attendees can reclaim money for a canceled show even if they bought the ticket from someone else, and explains passenger rights for flights and package tours.
Kristina Tammaru, head of the consumer advisory bureau at the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA), says that a person can demand a refund for a canceled concert even when the ticket was purchased from another individual. The key is whether the ticket still serves as proof of a claim against the event organizer, the bureau says.
During the peak travel season, the authority receives most complaints about flight delays and cancellations as well as the quality of package holidays. Tammaru points out that air passenger rights are clearly defined in European Union law. For long delays, passengers are entitled to assistance from the airline and, in certain cases, financial compensation. If a flight is delayed by more than five hours, the passenger has the right to abandon the trip and claim a full refund of the ticket. Compensation is available when a passenger reaches the final destination at least three hours later than originally planned.
Before anything else, the claim should be submitted to the airline, which is the party obliged to help and fulfil its duties toward the passenger. Even if the ticket was bought through an intermediary, the airline remains responsible. Tammaru says there is currently no reason to worry about airBaltic's financial situation. Flights are operating as scheduled, with no major waves of cancellations or delays, and no consumer complaints about this have reached the authority. Still, she recommends checking travel insurance conditions before buying a ticket, since a standard policy normally does not cover airline bankruptcy.
For package tours, the tour operator is responsible for the entire service. If one component, such as an airline, goes bankrupt, passengers who bought a package are in a better position because the operator must answer for the full package. If the tour operator itself goes bankrupt, the law requires a financial guarantee that can be used to bring tourists back home and compensate their losses. Tammaru urges people not to postpone their claims. The general limitation period for travel-related claims is three years, but in bankruptcy proceedings specific court deadlines must not be missed. Additional guarantees offered at the time of ticket purchase are usually unnecessary to exercise legal rights; if a service is canceled and not delivered, the right to a refund is already protected by law.
Commenting on the recently canceled Pitbull concert in Latvia, Tammaru said that a ticket bought from someone else does not automatically mean the buyer loses the right to a refund. Everything depends on how the ticket refund process has been arranged. If the ticket proves the visitor has a claim against the organizer, that person can follow the given instructions with the ticket. No complaints have yet been filed with TTJA about this particular case.
