For travelers who have chosen the road, getting around in the coming days may be complicated.
The anger of farmers is causing blockages of roads and motorways throughout France (but also in Belgium and Germany), particularly around Paris.
Air travelers also risk being impacted if access to their airport is blocked, as was the case in Toulouse-Blagnac this Tuesday, January 30.
But one mode of public transport is particularly impacted: long-distance coaches.
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The multimodal reservation platform Kombo notes that 15% of Flixbus and Blablacar Buses have been canceled in recent days at the initiative of the companies.
“
The cancellation rates are approximately identical for the two carriers and mainly affect lines departing from and going to Paris
,” underlines Matthieu Marquenet, co-founder of Kombo, a site which sells train, bus and airport tickets. aircraft with nearly 400 operators.
Passengers whose bus is canceled or delayed are normally informed by SMS and/or email.
Otherwise, the Flixbus site and application allow you to locate your bus, know its status and the duration of any delay.
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The injured passengers then have the choice between several solutions.
“
The companies offer either a refund or a place on another bus
,” explains Matthieu Marquenet.
And to add that, in certain cases, passengers receive an email inviting them to find an alternative by train or with another coach company.
They must then keep their proof of payment in order to obtain a reimbursement of additional costs from customer service.
Free rerouting or refund of train ticket
Like air and rail passengers, customers of coach companies are protected by European law, provided that the journey is greater than or equal to 250 km and takes place within the European Union.
“
If your bus trip is canceled or delayed at departure for
more than two hours
, you have the choice between rerouting to your destination at no additional cost and under comparable conditions and reimbursement of the ticket (and if applicable, a free return to the initial point of departure)
”, explains the European Consumer Center (CEC), citing EU Regulation No. 181/2011.
If the passenger does not receive either of these two proposals, he “
is entitled to compensation equivalent to 50% of the price of the ticket, in addition to the reimbursement
”, stipulates this regulation.
If the cancellation or delay (more than 1.5 hours) concerns a journey initially planned to last
more than three hours
, other conditions apply.
The carrier is required to offer snacks, meals or refreshments taking into account the waiting time, as well as a hotel room or other form of accommodation in the amount of €80 per night for two nights to the maximum.
Accommodation “
is not due in the event of exceptional weather conditions or natural disasters
”, recalls the CEC.
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