Mental health, Pension reform in Denmark, Flight compensation : LWID S3E18

Denmark is making bold moves that could reshape life for every generation. This week on Last Week In Denmark, co-hosts Fionn and Kalpita—both internationals navigating Danish life—share their personal reflections on these changes from an outsider’s perspective. From free mental health care for young adults to raising the retirement age and rethinking flight compensation, they unpack how these policies might land when you’re trying to make Denmark home.

Topics:

• free mental health care for 18–24-year-olds within 30 days (04:38)
• retirement age raised to 70 by 2040 (16:04)
• Denmark backs ending payouts for flight delays under five hours (25:03)

In this episode:

Cohosts: 

• Fionn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionn-o-toole/
• Kalpita - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalpitabhosale/

Podcast Manager:

• Stephanie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstephfuccio/

Audio Editor: 

• Cecilia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliagfoster/

https://discoverpods.com/2025-podcast-awards-voting/

https://www.the-intl.com/issue

👀 LWID Substack: English -Romanian - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Italian - German - Hungarian

🛍️ LWID merchandise: https://last-week-in-denmark.tpopsite.com/shop

❓ Email:lastweekdk@gmail.com

Follow:

https://www.instagram.com/last_week_in_denmark/

https://www.facebook.com/lastweekindenmark

https://www.linkedin.com/company/lastweekindenmark

website: https://lwid.dk/

🎵 Music,Jack Leatherbarrow @ Wizmedia: https://wiz-media.co.uk/

Chapters

• 5:11 Free mental health care for 18–24-year-olds within 30 days
• 17:44 Retirement age raised to 70 by 2040
• 26:40 Denmark backs ending payouts for flight delays under five hours

Transcript

FIONN:
Hello and welcome to Last Week in Denmark. This is Season 3, Episode 18 of our podcast. My name is Fionn O'Toole, and joining me this week is Kalpita Bhosale.
Kalpita, what is new with you?

KALPITA:
Hiya, well, nothing much other than the weather. I'm a bit confused if we are still in a drought… not in a drought. And I must admit, it's quite depressing to have a nice shinny, sorry, sunny week and then just clouds and rain and back to gray.

FIONN:
I have to admit, being from Ireland, Danes always complain about how bad their weather is [laughs]. And it is true—it gets so windy here because the country's so flat that in winter it can be a bit grimmer than what I'm used to.

But to me, this is like peak summer, like you’ll have a couple of sunny days, then some rainy days. I mean, yesterday there was a hailstorm around my house, and that could be a nice July day in Ireland. Not nice, but standard July day in Ireland.

So I wouldn’t say I’m not a little depressed by it, but I'm  guessing maybe because of our backgrounds, I feel it a little bit less than you do. Or what do you think, is it more of a weather culture shock  coming, compared to India?

KALPITA:
I think so, I mean, to be fair, I was in Edinburgh, Scotland the week before and it was sunny as hell, beautiful weather, but it was extremely dry. Quite shocking, weather-wise, as well.

But also, you're right, I come from India. I come from sunny, almost Equator weather. But I mean, talking of weather shocks, India is also been having rain showers and  they have a warning going on, right now, which is also supposed to be peak summer.
But then, I don’t know… I’m still confused. But my skincare routine is very happy with less sun [both laugh]: no tanning, no skin problems. So I suppose I have little to complain about.

FIONN:
Well, that’s something at least.
And speaking of, I dont know if you have been paying attention to sports news this week? I generally don’t, but this week Denmark pulled off a huge upset in the Ice Hockey World Championships.

On Thursday, they beat ice hockey giants Canada in the quarterfinals. And I think this is the first time Denmark will ever reach the semifinals. And, now I’m probably making this up, but probably the first time Canada ever doesn’t reach the quaterfinals.

And I’m very excited, so for the first time in my life, I'm going to get, you know, pretend to have opinions about ice hockey. And I feel like it’ll help me integrate with my Danish friends, who are probably all, also suddenly having opinions about ice hockey, that they never had before
So, if you need something to throw out in small talkings conversations,  you can just ask:“Is this going to be the next summer of ’92?” Is Denmark going to surprise everyone and win the ice hockey world championships?

KALPITA:
That’s an excellent tip. I didn’t know Denmark even had a team!
 But at the same time, I am quite surprised, just like in football a couple of, not that I follow football at all, but it was the talk of the time for I don't know how long, that Denmark made it to the semifinals or quarterfinals of the World Cup or something like that.
So, well… yay for Danish sports! I guess it’s more than badminton and handball. So that’s exciting.

FIONN:
There you go, absolutely.
Speaking of exciting—as always, we're going to spend the next half an hour or so diving into three big things that happened last week in Denmark. And this week we are gonna look at a first story which is the extension of free mental health care to 18 to 24-year-olds, specifically within 30 days, so within 30 days of them seeking treatment.

Our next story is that the retirement age—boo—is going to be raised to 70 by the year 2040.

Kalpita

Booooooo

FIONN:

I know, right? And just to continue your boos, so you can get them out of the way now, Denmark is backing a proposal that would end flight payouts for flight delays under five hours. So you could be sitting there with a four-and-a-half-hour delay with absolutely nothing except a complaint to show for it.

KALPITA:
Yeah, that’s some bullshit as well.

FIONN:
Absolutely. And on that happy note, we are going to dive into our first topic which is mental health.

And it is a positive story actually I think, maybe coming after many years of not-so-positive stories around psychiatry and mental health treatment in Denmark.

On Monday, the Health Ministry sent out a press release—i think also a press conference, where they announce that the government and opposition parties in the Danish Parliament have negotiated a fairly comprehensive 10-year plan for psychiatry. And psichiatry will receive an extra 4.6 billion kroner annually, primarily using those funds to hire more staff and establish more beds. 

This kinda of comes after, as I mentioned, many years of criticism about waiting times and the general state of psychiatric care, particularly for young people in Denmark. And I think that was also was recognized  even in their speech, in their statement— where they talked about historic underinvestment. So they are hoping really that people who are mentally ill or have serious mental illnesses will get the right help, at the right time, so as early and quickly as possible. They also want to make psychiatry a more attractive place to work for healthcare professionals.

And I don’t know about you, but to me this is really good news—and probably long overdue.

KALPITA:
Yeah, I’m here for it, for sure. I think It’s about time that Denmark did something about that.

It’s great they’re investing—especially in spaces where people can come in and get proper help which is beyond just popping pills and people coming home and looking after you.

I see the point in doing it with the younger people—because they want to raise more secure citizens for the future. But I also think that this would be great if it was extended to a larger audience as well. I suppose a small audience is also in terms of experimenting to see how it is working, what is needed, what is not needed.  Definitely a great start.

I think our youth do need that especially with the growth of technology, and the use of multiple screens, now we are going beyond two to three screens, we are adding more and more screens even at workplace, which is ridiculous I think, but that aside, I think that help is needed and to be fair I mean we are one of the happiest countries in the world and the most depressed countries in the world as well. We have the highest amount of suicides as well, also lets not forget with have problems with substance abuse, as well as alcol abuse, which is also on the rise, I mean we are the most drunk country across Europe, to be fair. And that is where the youth are also getting integrated into these lifestyles.

So I think it’s a great move. I’m here for that.

FIONN:
Yeah. And I think you, maybe uh, touched on something there— in terms of the widespread nature of depression in Denmark, but also actually talking about how, young people, not only young people, but I think particularly young people are more and more affected by the online world if we can call it that without sounding 100 years old And you know, one of the things that has very much been linked with screen use, particularly social media is the rise in anxiety as well. And that's kind of the headline of this package, this agreement um is that 18–24-year-olds with anxiety or depression will have this right to rapid treatment within 30 days— and it will be free of charge. And the young people will basically have the right to a private alternative if treatment cannot be afforded within the deadline in the public sector. And this was actually something that, you know when I first saw the headline, I thought: “Okay, sounds great, but if there is one thing I know about mental health services in Denmark is, everyone always says there is a huuuge huge waiting time. I know, I have had friends and colleagues who've maybe needed to get a diagnosis for ADHD or yknow maybe a mental health challenge and they are faced with waiting times of over a year right? 

KALPITA:
Wow.

FIONN:
Yeah—or more in some cases.

And one thing that really struck me recently, I had a very minor health issue and you know, nothing where I was dying or anything like that but something where I was referred to a specialist, and bascially I was told, “ Okay you’re entitled to get this within 30 days. So, If you don’t hear back from us, you know in a few weeks, just give us a call and we will check up on it. ” And in about two weeks, I still hadn't heard anything back from the public sector and then I got a message basically from a private hospital bascially saying, like "Hey your appointment is  gonna be here, because the public system did not think they could handle it"

And I was really really surprised by that. That it did not even get to the 30 days and then they say: "Ah okay, you know, we are going to refer you to somewhere else". Umm, it was just like quite clear, no fuss. You know, nothing out of pocket for me, and I, you know, got to meet a specialist, at a very fancy private hospital besides the lakes [laughs], instead of whereever I was going to go originally. Uhm, and I am sure I would have had just a fine standard of care there as well, but you know and this wasn't a mental health issue, even my own mental health knowing that "oh there is something up, I am probably fine, but I need to talk to somebody." And just getting that whole processing through so quickly, meant that I had no anxiety about it right? 

And now think about if that was something where somebody is deeply depressed or extremely anxious.

KALPITA:

Yeah.

FIONN:

Knowing that okay well its going to be nine months, its going to be twelve months, its going to be eighteen months to even get to talk to somebody about this? You can imagine the effect that would take on, on somebody. So I am reaally happy to see kind of right to rapid treatments within there. And there are some more in terms of uhm yeah being able to get more easily acces- accessibly treatments in the municipalities. And for certain things-- For example, children will have the right to have an assessment course started no later than 30 days after they get a referral, and they must be able to start treatment no later than 60 days right?

So it seems like there is a lot of focus on quite rapid treatment and assesment even, and starting that along maybe earlier, so that people are getting help earlier and maybe things aren't approaching a crisis more if that makes sense?

KALPITA:
Yeah. I mean I’ve had some experience as well, with getting help with something or the other and I know people who have also tried to get help and that's how-- that's what I like about Denmark is when they do something right, they get it right in the most precise way. And especially affliated to mental health I think its uhm, its really great that you catch the...its like you “nip it in the bud” kind of situation, you catch the young ones when they actually need the help while in time before they spiral into something that could or could not be managed.

I wish they extended it to older ones as well to be hones, because, especially from an international citizen point of view, it would be great if, if, this help was extended to them as well because, just living in a new country is so anxiety filling and stressful. Let's not forget the job market and surviving in a job, but also not having friends and just being on your own over here could also have a big toll. But maybe that's something hopefully we talk about, next year where they have extended it to, you know and making more investments. 

FIONN:
Yeah uhm, that could be the case though with some of the things in the package, and I have to admit now, I am not entirely sure if this still is just focused on people 18–24 or if it's broader but the wording does sound like it is a bit broader. So there are some things for example where, socially vulnerable people are like discharged from hospitals, psychiatry. There is going to be established some more, kind of social supports, to continue, almost like outside, of the hospital, so to give more of a uh, a transition phase. And also with people, if they are experiencing more acute mental health crises, but don't necessarily need to go down the hospital route,  emergency social services, the plan is to establish them, where people can actually see help to avoid unnecessary hospitalization. And uh continue, for example, in work or in education, if possible and —  This actually reminds me a little bit about a topic we touched on, quite a few podcasts ago, where they were extending some funding for greater mental health helplines, where people could call, if they were, you know, if they were in need.

KALPITA:

Mhm, yes.

FIONN:

And yeah — I mean, of course, there are times where the first thing you need to do is cure something and take of emergency action, but it seems, as a complete layman right [laughs], of policy, but I read this  —  There seems to be a lot of focuses on, yeah, preventing when possible, and that also I think make's sense when, financially —  Because I think, its probably very very expensive right to have somebody in a, an acute crisis, you know, in a hospital bed with maybe requiring supervision and everything there. And the more maybe you could do, at a community level, a kommune level or you know  — That people can access themselves and help, to help themselves or get them the help they need to get their, normal setup. I think its a great thing from a health point of view but I think it is also a very good thing from a  —  like long term financial point of view as well.  Not that that is necessarily the most important, in my view but —  I don't know, it sounds like money is being spent, pretty wisely if you ask me.    

KALPITA:
Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean  — Take my taxes! I'll pay my taxes —  take my money, if this is the kind of support and prevention we’re offering, I’m totally here for that for sure.

I think helplines are also super handy, when, you know you see a friend or a family member struggling and cannot help themselves, then you can  get the phone on them and go "Okay I will do it for you, I will talk on your behalf and get you help because you are just so completely incapable of helping yourself right now and I can be the support you need. 

FIONN:
Absolutely. Having a supportive set of people around you is crucial, I think, you know, in complements to the maybe the public system or private system or you know more official help system there. 

KALPITA:
Yeah, also with the young ones especially when they are under so much peer pressure you know, they can't be seen, to be fair that is enough taboo around this, even in the young ones. And I think, we are not doing enough to address that taboo, but at the same time it is great that, the young ones can face it at a time where, they are still very impressionable.  

FIONN:
Absolutely. So I think definitely a good news story.
And moving on—I have to tell you that we have good news and bad news. Which one would you like first?

KALPITA:
Bad news. Always.

FIONN:
Well, the bad news is that we’re going to have to work longer. But
The good news, it is because we’re living longer.

So I’m trying to be positive about the fact that the retirement age is going to be set up to 70.
That will apply to you if you were born after December 31, 1970—which unfortunately for me, it does.

Basically since 2006, which is when the Welfare Act was introduced, Denmark has tied the official retirement age to life expectancy. And they revise that every five years.
It’s currently 67, but its due to rise to 68 in 2030, and 69 in 2035.

And Now, we are basically set on having the highest retirement age in Europe after the parliement adopted the law this week raising it to 70 by the year 2040.
How do you feel about that?

KALPITA:
I have lots of feelings. 

Firstly I will most certanly not be a happy citizen.
I am not now, knowing that I have to work to the age of 68.

I know people who do hard labor—and this is completely and totally unfair to them. They’re the ones that are supporting our society at its foundational level. And if they have to work until the age of 70? That is some bullshit. I’m not here for it for sure. Whatever happened to getting most out of life? At that age, is completely binged just because I am doing good and looking after myself, and have a better life expectancy. It's just nonsense, I think. At the same time, I do understand they need tax paying citizens, because the population is reducing, maybe they should make investments in helping people have more babies and making it okay and improving life styles in ways that people can actually afford to have more children and bring them up and give them more time in hand to raise these children and make the job market better. I have been saying this over, over and over again, make the job market better! Make sure people can keep their jobs and get jobs, create jobs so you don't have to retire people at the age of 70. Which is totally nonsense. Whoever is making this, is not getting my vote for sure.  

FIONN:
[laughs] Yeah, well, I think you’re, you're absolutely right, when you mentioned, for example, people doing manual labor. Because while, I am not thrilled at the prospect of working until 70, especially when I compare it to my parents generation, where my dad just retired this year at 66. My mum was a teacher and she was able to retire at an early time, so she retired in her 50s. They've really been living their best lives. 

But I mean, you know, up until this law was passed this week, it would've been 69 for me. I don't think for me in an office job for example that would make such a huge difference, potentially, compared to, as you mentioned, someone maybe in a blue collar role, that involves more manual labor — physical labour, lets put it like that. Because that absolutely puts a toll on your body and it's one thing, you know if, I switch a few jobs in my career, but if my entire background was in a role that took a physical toll on my body then by the age of 40 or 50, you know, maybe I had to switch out of that, but still had another 20-30 years left in the work place. That would be...extremely tough, I think also to, to make that transition at that stage of time. And I think that, not to go off on a tangent, but a widening gap between blue collar and white collar workers and how society treats them. I think we saw that a lot, during like the COVID lockdowns — Like, I don't think that anybody absolutely loved it, but for some people it was a bit inconvenient. You know, you were kind of stuck, working from home and still do your job, uhm, maybe you actually prefered it right? Like you liked working from home and suddenly you had the freedom to do that. But there was thousands of people right, who jobs depended on them, actually being there, physically present, and working on things, that really really struggled during that time, and I think that we, often have a tendency to forget the upsized impact that something like the pandemic had on that section of society, versus, you know  — It wasn't all bells and whistles and fun games for me, I had a 6 month old baby, in a small apartment right and still trying to work, that was a bit tough — But not necessarily in compared to losing my job or you know suddenly having precarious labor status in that sense. So I think it is, I think it is a very tough change for, for a lot of people. I do think there is a devil’s advocate, if I can put it that way, argument to be made as to why. Do you want me to say it, or I'll just forever burn that bridge? And just be a shell for the government [laughs]. 

KALPITA:
No, well we live in Denmark so you have every right to your opinion, Fionn, go for it. 

FIONN:
That’s true. And I don't know necessarily if this is my opinion, I think, so, basically when many of the retirement ages were sort of set and they have been typically set in or around the mid kind of 60s as an age range, a lot of that happened during the mid-20th century. At the time, life exepectancy was siginificantly shorter. So in the UK, life expectancy was 66 for men and 71 years for women. And that means that the UK citizens, just to take it at that time, would maybe spend 10% of their life under pension, or 8% or 7%, and you know, not a huge proportion of it. Now our lives are getting longer and there is plenty of people, who, you know, because of more healthy life styles, advances in medicine as well, we have people maybe in their early 80s who are still quite fit and healthy, and are enjoying a very active life. And obviously that is a much greater widening of the uh time, maybe and the pension burden, that, I shouldn't say burden, but the burden, in terms of the cost burden, of providing a pension, a state pension, to that person.  So I think, I can see the logic, around that. But do I love it? No, absolutely not. And, yeah, I think, if we can have, as you say, some kind of shift in the job market or, how we approach careers. I mean, thinking, you know, about myself, I have been working for nearly 20 years, I’m 35 years old, so that's a significant portion of my life, but if I think about it, that is going to be, still the opening chapter of my career, if I am working til 70. And that's scary on the one hand-- it is also kind of reassuring, that I can think like "well I don't have it all figured out yet, but you know what I have plenty of time" [laughs]. 

KALPITA:
I mean imagine—you haven’t even worked half your life, that you have to work, what another, 40–50 more years, just to call yourself a retiree.
That’s depressing. Back to the mental health investments please, I mean come on. I, I, I get the economics part of it, I get the, uhm, the civics part of it as well, but come on. It does not make sense, in my mind that, and also long term that oh, for example, all the politicians who are making these rules, are retiring early and they get a nice, fat pension. They get almost six-figure pensions— and the person who is actually breaking, his or her, back is barely getting a 4-5 figure pension, that do after the age of 68 now, and then 70 later. That is just totally, totally unfair, and I completely agree with how the balance is still taking, with what you said earlier, that the gap is growing, bigger and bigger. And it is not in the interest of, of the egalitarian society like Denmark, or any where in Scandinavia, for that matter. Although, I must, I must admit, we seem to be sitting far better than the other, Scandi countries, like take a look at Finland or Sweden, for that matter. They, they don't seem to be doing that well, in that sense, but then, come on-- Denmark should get its, um, play together. If it really needs to become, or rather continue to be this power player in the global dynamic of these, especially economy wise. 

FIONN:
Yeah, well—you mentioned investing in mental health as a way as to deal with this news.
I have a different way of investing myself, which is just buying a lot of scratch cards, and hoping I win the lottery. [Kalpita laughs]
And you know, some people say it’s a solid strategy. 

KALPITA:

That's a good strategy

FIONN: 

And its definitely [Kalpita laughs] going to work out.

But speaking of taking money away from people who maybe uh don't want it taken away from, we have our final story for today and that is:

That according to a new proposal from the European Commission, your flight must be delayed by a full five hours before you’ll be able to recieve financial compensation.
Now this is a proposal, by the European Commission, supported by the the Danish government, and theee rules today, essentially are a little bit more  consumer-friendly, in the sense that, if your flight is delayed by three hours or more, you’re entitled to some money back. And it depends on a little bit on where and how far you have flown. So for example, if you have a flight that is up to 1,500 km you will get €250, if it is between that and 3,500 km you would get €400 if its still within the EU, and then €600 above that. 
Now this is, potentially going to change, it still is a proposal, but the Danish government supports it. And yeah, it could put this also in the list of things that I don't love about today's news stories, because this, to me, feels quite anti-consumer. They estimate or the Consumer Council of Denmark, is also quite opposed to this, but they have calculated that the proposal will mean, that Danish air passengers, so air passengers just in Denmark alone, not counting any other countries, will recieve 277 million DKK less in compensation annually with the new 5 hour rule, compared to today. And today, about 312 million DKK is paid out to passengers to and from Denmark, so that is by far, the bulk of it. And that money is essentially going from consumers who have, you know paid for a service and it hasn't been delivered properly and they are entitled to compensation and instead it is giving that over instead to the airlines themselves and uhm...I don’t love that.

KALPITA:
Me either. I mean I can tell you There’s no honor among thieves—especially in the tourism industry, especially when it comes to airports and flights.

Have you ever experienced a delayed flight and you were not paid compensation for it? 

FIONN:
Yes I have! So I used to travel a lot for work— this is probably seven or eight years ago, but there was a time where I would say, out of every 5 working days, I was probably abroad for 3 or 4 of them. I was travelling every single week, sometimes twice a week. And I had a period, of maybe, 9 months where, my friends used to joke that I clearly pissed off a wizard and gotten cursed. Because every single flight I got on was cancelled or delayed or you know there was something wrong with it. I had like the door fall off the airplane, while we were still on the ground, while we were still on the ground, thankfully. I just had all sorts of things, were stopping it. And you know whe you’re flying 2-3 times a week that's not that fun, you know, when the highlight of your ambition is I just want to get home and do my laundry, you know, before I have to fly again tomorrow. Yeah, that certainly, wasn't, wasn't fun. And so, I have had a lot of time spent waiting for planes, and I have had a lot of time where airlines have challenged their compensation or have tried you know, not to pay it out. It can already be like quite a procress, and that... I always feel that when something like that is happening, the airlines are very...uh, hesistant to let people know their rights, even if that's to a meal voucher or something like that, which they are meant to. It's often, you know, they put a little postage card sized stamp somewhere that tells you all about that, and you know, only engage with it, if somebody goes and makes a fuss. So yeah, I already see this as-- the 3 hours, like that is already a huge delay, and um, I think putting it to 5 hours is really anti-consumer. 

And the logic that-- this is from Thomas Danielsen, who is Venstre minister, he basically said that its going to reduce down the burden of the airlines. And he believes that it can give airlines actually a motivation to take flight even when they have a delay of over 3 hours. So if your flight has been delayed, for more than 3 hours, instead of just cancelling the flight, he thinks well, the important thing is that you just get to wherever you are going, nevermind how delayed it is. And so, more people will get to where they are going, because the airline will just cancel a flight. But to be honest, I think that is a pretty weak argument.   

KALPITA:
In principle, I like it, I mean I for sure want to go on my holiday. I had this experience, two years ago, where I was supposed to go on a holiday with my family. Some were travelling from Jylland or Jutland, and we were travelling from Copenhagen, and the idea was to meet at a place that, where then we could fly together, on the next leg of the trip. And one reached late, one reached on time, we were the ones who were late, and our flights kept getting cancelled to the next day and we almost spent 30, 36 hours at the airport. Which is absolute nonsense, especially for a holiday for 4-5 days with family and all of you want to get the most out of it. Like, definitely, in that situation I do want to go on my holiday and I do want to spend even that one night with my family and try and get some holiday feeling. 

But at the same time, giving the power to an airline, also makes sense in terms of keeping the airline alive. Now you know, Ryanair has left Billund, there are other airlines that are cutting short their options for passengers and stuff like that. 

In the right world where I live, I want to go back to the time where if you had a four-hour layover, for example, the airline would pay you, like a voucher to get a meal and a drink. And it could be just shitty McDonald's, thats fine, but you get a meal because you are waiting 4 hours and that is because the airline cannot get its shit together and fly you earlier. Which is great, I want to go back to that time. Where the airline takes responsibility for good service. And you pay for that good service to get something good in return. Unlike, Ryanair where you pay for check in baggage, and then they cheat you at the airport saying "oh no but this is, you know, less than ten kilos you can't take it in, you just have to take it in as a carrage baggage" at the airport when you are checked in. That is some nonsense, for making something easier for a traveller. So I do like the European Union for a lot of good things that they do, and I see the point of doing this, but as  a consumer who is in majority, mind you, definitely do not support this. They need to find a way of overhauling their buisness. I do not know how they are going to do it, but I do know that, if they did that, they would get more value out of the customer. In terms of economy, to stay alive, than doing something where the consumer is statically effected.  

FIONN:
Yeah and I also think, you know, you mentioned the EU there, and it is often very easy for us to blame the EU about things right [laughs]. Like here's is something coming from the EU Comission, you know they are just imposing this on us, but actually, funnily enough, the last time the EU, like regulations, were like negotiated, was more than 10 years ago, and guess what the Danish government wanted the limit to be then? Also 5 hours. So, I think it is as much as a home grown thing coming from the EU in this case, and I just think you are absolutely right in that, like-- Of course, industries evolve and I am absolutely not an expert in the aviation industry. But having been a consumer of it for most of my life.  And there just seems to have been a, you know, the term —“inshittification”— is mostly used about the internet, right you know  — a company puts out a product, it works, people really like it and then they steadily make it worse by adding ads or making free features suddenly you have to pay for it, and just making it generally worse to gauge more and more money out of it. And I feel like airlines have been one of the OGs in that. The key being that "oh we are going to offer you more flexibility, so that you can get a cheaper flight if you fly without checked luggage." Whereas, you know, it was always, at least somewhat, included.  — But flights don't feel like they have gotten that much cheaper [laughs], over the last ten years, even thinking about inflation and everything like that. Like since, this kind of, you know, great ideas, to be more consumer friendly from the airlines came out, it just feels like, well now I am just paying the same price I am used to, adjusted for inflation, but I also have to pay for all the basic ammunities that I used to get on this. 

That said, the proposal, it is not just the 3 hour rule that is  —  could end up being changed. There are a couple of things that perhaps are a bit more consumer friendly. The right to like a meal, for example, today that depends on the length of the journey, and it could be triggered after 2 hours or 3 hours or 4 hours  —  This would simple it down to just being at 2 hours regardless of the flight's distance. And I think maybe, the one that, most people, might've been burnt by before is that you know, if you book a  return flight, so a flight with two legs, and for whatever reason you don't get on the first one, but you want to get on the second one, well an airline today would just cancel it.  — Because you didn't show up, we will cancel the whole ticket. But part of this proposal would mean that you are partially prohibited. So, even if you didn't show up on the first leg of the flight, you wouldn't necessarily have your ticket cancelled and might be able to show up for the second leg of it, if you know, you had to make other arrangements...um, going that way.   

So, I think it is about time that we wrap up, but I think overall, to me this seems pretty anti-consumer friendly, maybe with a little sprinkle of somethings that are a bit more,I think, in this proposal  —  It is still just a proposal, but let's see how it goes.    

KALPITA:
Yeah, I just lastly wanted to add that it does sound like  — Because I have been recently at the airport, I've seen that is has become huge. And I see that the Copenhagen Airport has also been becoming, like a layover airport, it looks like that is their future plans as well. So it makes sense that  they are supporting the aviation industry, all these delays instead of cancellations is always something that is benefiting the businesses inside the airport. All the food, magazines, all of the entertainment that you can get inside the airport  —  It's a bit like going to the theatre, you know like, you have to buy a popcorn, and sit through an intermission. Definitely do not support it, I think they need to get creative in different ways that do not affect the consumer.

But this has been an excellent chat, a lot I got off my chest —  Also I travelled with a  — funny thing, I traveled with a guy who decided to pull the emergency door open. So I would suggest if you are travelling — 

FIONN:

WOW!

KALPITA:

 — Yeah — that if you are traveling during the summer, be aware of these people. It's fine not to get the cancellations, but don't travel with a dude who decides to open the emergency door. 

FIONN:
I’ll try my best. I’m, you know, will be taking my next flight with a six-year-old and a two-year-old, so there is a good chance it might be one of them.

KALPITA:
Good luck.

FIONN:
[laughs] Thank you.

But, on that then, I will just say—thank you so much, Kalpita, for joining me today.
And thank you to Cecilia as well, our fabulous editor, for this week's episode and thank you to our audience for listening.

We couldn’t do it without you.
Tune in next week again for another episode of Last Week in Denmark—
and follow us on social media, follow us on Substack, and read the newsletter. Have a great weekend everybody!

KALPITA:
Have a great weekend. Bye!

FIONN:
 Bye-bye.