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I am still not convinced VRP is a better alternative than SDD. SDD is a very widely used payment instrument (and can cover variable amounts as well) in The Netherlands to pay a.o. utility and telecom bills. Consumers always have the option to have the debit refunded within 56 days. Of course when services are delivered the consumer has to pay, but at least he is in control. Using VRP the payment is a real irreversible payment. It canot be undone and thus has the user less control.

From a receiver point of view I can see the advantage of the VRP. The payment is irrebversible, so the receiver is certain the money is in the bank. 

No, there is no money-back guarantee with the PSD2 payment scheme. It will be a real credit transfer, so money taken from the account is money gone. There is an advantage of speed of settlement (bank transaction) and cost (standard credit transfer as opposed to credit card payment) but in my opinion each traveller should be able to select the payment method desired.

@James, thanks for nuancing my answer. Much appreciated. 

@Jan-Olof, I am not very familiar with the impact of PSD2 on cards, so this is interesting info. Currently a lot webshops in NL do have a surcharge for credit card payments and "push" customers to the certain credit transfer through iDEAL. According to what you say this will change. Interesting...

@Ketharaman. I agree with your findings. I also use credit cards due to the reasons you have summed up above. However, the playing field will change drastically if merchants are going to charge the consumer (more) for using the card and thus making the credit transfers cheaper. I see the same change in NL where iDEAL payments are much more preferred over credit cards due to advantages that come with the iDEAL payment. Free delivery, no additional %, etc. 

Real-time payments are not part of the PSD2 regulation. Real-time payments are also not mandated from the EBA, but are as far as I know currently optional. PSD2 changes the access to the account where banks have to open up their systems to 3rd party providers. These can then - with the proper consent of the owner of the account - provide additional services. The bank has to open up a standard set of services for free and can charge additional fees for value add they might provide. The conditions of the bank will have to explain - hopefully in clear text - how this works.