From delays to refunds: how Australia’s air passenger charter could affect your travel rights

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The Albanese government has bowed to pressure from Qantas and other airlines to not pay cash compensation to passengers whose flights are delayed or cancelled.The omission of a compensation scheme in the government’s draft aviation customer rights charter follows claims from airlines such as Qantas that compensation rules – which exist in the European Union – would force them to preempt costs and increase air fares.The charter was released on Sunday.When the government announced it would introduce an airline passenger charter of rights – to fall under a forthcoming industry ombuds scheme – it left open the door for the interim ombudsperson, Pauline Sullivan, to determine if a compensation scheme should be in the charter she was tasked with drafting.However, such a scheme is not included in the draft charter, which is now open for public consultation until the end of February.

The omission means advocacy groups’ longtime hopes for an EU-style compensation scheme for Australian passengers lie in the Coalition’s “pay on delay” bill.There have been mounting calls to introduce a compensation scheme modelled on EU laws.It is understood Australia’s consumer watchdog closely studied the EU scheme in the leadup to the delivery of a landmark aviation white paper.Proponents of an Australian scheme say forcing airlines to pay cash to passengers delayed as a result of the airline’s operations – but not weather-related issues – could bring airlines with poor on-time performances into line.They argue it could also disincentivise airlines from deliberately scheduling and cancelling flights to retain takeoff and landing slots.

In Europe, passengers whose flights arrive at their final destination delayed more than three hours are entitled to between €250 (A$485) and €600 (A$1,165), depending on the distance of the trip.Longer delays mean passengers can opt to be fully refunded within seven days.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news emailIf a delay means a passenger misses a connecting flight on the same reservation, the airline must also pay compensation.Instead, the draft Australian charter of rights proposes a list of legal entitlements for passengers that airlines will adhere to or face penalties.The draft charter includes a provision that airline customers in Australia have a right to “prompt and fair remedies and support during and after cancellations, delays and disruptions”.

As part of this, if a flight is disrupted or delayed for more than three hours for reasons within the airline’s control, customers should – at no cost to themselves – receive assistance to rebook with the airline or an alternative carrier, or an option to cancel and receive a full refund for the ticket, as well as a refund on meals, accommodations and transfers incurred from the delay.Sign up to Breaking News AustraliaGet the most important news as it breaksafter newsletter promotionAlso included in the draft charter is a right for customers to “be treated with dignity and respect in an accessible and inclusive environment”, including airport and airline staff knowing how to help passengers with disabilities or medical issues, as well as not discriminating against any passengers – including if they do not speak English – throughout their journey.Under the draft charter, airlines will also be forced to provide “accurate, timely and accessible information and customer service” to passengers, including “easy-to-understand conditions” about refunds, charges and fees as well as “prompt updates” about delays and cancellations.Customer service representatives for airlines in call centres and at airport desks must offer a call-back option to prevent customers waiting long periods for help.Additionally, airlines and airports will be made to protect the personal information of passengers collected during booking and improve their complaints handling processes, with a target of 24 hours for acknowledgment and 30 days for resolution.

Qantas took an average of 97 days to solve customer complaints in 2023, the government noted.The draft charter also includes a right to safe and timely baggage handling remedies, including mandated reimbursements for temporarily lost luggage and “timely” processing of claims.Legislation will be introduced next year with the formal ombuds scheme and charter of rights expected to be established by 2026.The transport minister, Catherine King, said the government was “delivering the strongest-ever protections for Australian travellers to ensure passengers get what they pay for or get their money back”.
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Benjamina Ebuehi’s mincemeat frangipane turnovers | The sweet spot

A pack of puff pastry provides endless inspiration for quick, last-minute desserts, and I almost always have one in the freezer, ready to defrost. Here, I’m transforming it into turnovers filled with an easy almond frangipane and spoonfuls of mincemeat. If you’ve had your fill of mince pies, but still have some mincemeat to use up, these make for a great pudding, especially if served with custard or cream.Prep 10 min Cook 50 min Makes 61 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry (320g)1 egg, beaten, to egg washA handful of flaked almonds Icing sugar, for dustingCream or custard, to serveFor the filling90g softened unsalted butter80g golden caster sugar Zest of 1 orange 1 large egg 80g ground almonds ½ tbsp plain flourA pinch of salt3 tbsp mincemeatHeat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6, and line two large baking trays with greaseproof paper. Beat the butter, sugar and orange zest in a bowl until pale and creamy, then mix in the egg, followed by the ground almonds, flour and salt, to make a thick batter

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Dry them, fry them, turn them into sauce: what to cook with cheap, juicy summer tomatoes

Turn a bumper crop into a seasonal feast, with expert tips for baking, bottling or serving fresh in a saladAn abundance of truss tomatoes means now is the perfect time for Australian shoppers to take advantage of the lower prices – while also helping out overloaded growers. Stocking up on the summer staple will ensure your shelves are packed with tomato-based sunshine for the colder months ahead.Whether you’re serving tomatoes fresh in a panzanella salad or making a sauce for shakshuka, here are fresh ideas for making the most of affordable tomatoes.Oven-dried tomatoes are the least labour-intensive but most time-consuming way of preserving a bumper crop. Just three ingredients – tomatoes, salt and a little olive oil – will extend that intense summer flavour of any tomato-infused dish until well into autumn

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Drinks to take the strain out of entertaining

How do you feel about entertaining? I have a few friends who love it. For them, it’s an opportunity to tidy the house, light kitsch candles and remember to bleach their upper lip. Welcoming other people into their home gives them the warm fuzzies.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link

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Long Chim, London W1: ‘A startlingly brief menu of crowd pleasers’ – restaurant review | Grace Dent on restaurants

Long Chim in Soho is a new restaurant by the chef David Thompson, the man who changed the face of Thai food in the UK back in the early noughties. You’ll hear this repeated by chefs and food writers whenever Thompson’s name is mentioned, and his work genuinely warrants genuflection. Without him, it is said, there would be no Som Saa, no Kiln, no Smoking Goat, no Speedboat Bar, nor many of those other hip Thai eating spots run by earnest boys called Crispin who serve kipper curry to other earnest boys called Crispin.Thompson did not by any means invent the concept of Thai people eating – they’ve been managing perfectly well by themselves since the country was created in the 13th century – but he certainly dismantled the UK’s love of gelatinous yet sating pad Thais and of boiled chicken pieces swimming in tinned coconut milk and masquerading as green curry. When he opened Nahm in 2001, Thompson laughed in the face of the predictable, cosy and safe Thai food we’d been used to – comforting sweetness and nuttiness, with gentle, fragrant wafts of coriander and unthreatening heat – and instead favoured scallops, pigeon, Asian celery, white pepper and often alarmingly bold levels of both fresh and dried chillies

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From smoked salmon fritters to bircher muesli loaf: Ravinder Bhogal’s Christmas Day breakfast – recipes

Among the mad rush of Christmas, don’t neglect the most important meal of the day: breakfast. It’s vital fuel to get you through the day, particularly if you are hosting or nursing a sore head from the night before. Christmas Day breakfast should feel festive and special, but it shouldn’t overwhelm. These recipes are easy enough to put together for a crowd without a fuss, and can be made ahead of time, giving you plenty of time to concentrate on locating the crackers, chilling the champagne, basting the turkey or perhaps even just enjoying the festivities.Who wants to slave over a hot pan making several small latkes when you can make a colossal, showstopping one? If you want to get ahead, make this in advance and reheat in the oven for 10 minutes

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People in the US: how do you eat a climate-friendly diet on a budget?

Tackling the climate crisis will require us to think more carefully about what we eat, since our food system accounts for up to one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions.The best option, according to scientists who developed a climate-friendly food plan several years ago, is to eat more vegetables, legumes and whole grains, and cut back on meat and dairy. Despite the planetary – and health – benefits of this diet, it’s not always easy to eat this way, especially given soaring food prices and lack of accessibility in many parts of the US.So we want to hear from people in the US about how you’re eating a climate-friendly diet on a budget, and what other challenges you face in eating this way.You can tell us how you eat a climate-friendly diet on a budget by filling in the form below