How to use your air passenger rights

Air passenger regulations and rights vary from country to country, so start by selecting where you were flying.

Passenger rights vary from country to country, but at their core they are simply regulations that protect air travelers.

They ensure you are properly cared for and compensated in the event of flight delays and cancellations, or if your luggage is lost or damaged.

As an air passenger, you have rights — no matter where you call home.

Unfortunately, our research shows that as many as 79% of all air passengers are not aware of their flying rights — which means that many travelers miss out on the compensation owed to them, or settle for less.

Strong air passenger rights mean travelers can claim compensation for the inconvenience and stress of flight delays, cancellations, and overbookings.

Compensation for flight disruptions serves multiple purposes.

For you, it recognises the inconvenience of a flight disruption, and helps to make amends.

But compensation also holds airlines to account, and incentivises them to avoid unnecessary disruptions.

Even if you're not entitled to compensation, it's important to know your rights so you know what to expect if your flight doesn't go to plan.

Because of air passenger regulations, you may be provided with a hotel when you're delayed overnight, given free food and drink, and get to choose between a replacement flight or refund.

Exactly what you are entitled to depends on which regulations apply to your flight. But here's a guide to what the best passenger rights cover.

Unfortunately not all countries have air passenger rights. Here's the most useful to know about.

Air passenger rights and regulations you should know

There are several regional or international laws that serve as powerful tools to air passengers. These include, but are not limited to, EU legislation EC 261, various US laws, Brazil’s ANAC 400, and the Montreal Convention.

Certain regulations have a wider reach or prove more advantageous than others. However, it’s best to remember that disrupted flight circumstances can differ significantly, and it’s helpful to know which strengths you can rely on for your journey.

AirHelp’s mission is to help air passengers.

Since 2013 we have been committed to serving the travel community and air passengers at large by providing crucial, up-to-date information regarding travelers’ rights.

Regardless of whether you’re a novice flyer or an expert traveler we can help simplify the laws that are on your side.

So that you always know what your rights are, we publish an easy-to-understand guide to passenger rights, which you can download and refer to whenever and wherever you need.

There's more comprehensive information in these pages, and our air passenger rights experts frequently provide their commentary and advice in our blog or in the media.

We've made it easier to get compensation

We help passengers obtain the compensation they are entitled to for flight delays, flight cancellations, denied boarding, baggage problems, and missed connections.

So far, we’ve won compensation for 2.7 million passengers. And it's always risk free to use AirHelp, as we'll only ever charge our fee when we win you money.

Don't want our full compensation service? You can still use our free tools to help you claim by yourself. For example, if you’ve suffered a flight delay, why not use our free flight delay compensation calculator to check how much the airline owes you for your inconvenience?

Since we started in 2013, AirHelp has fundamentally changed the legal industry, holding airlines accountable and by offering ‘Justice-as-a-Service’ to consumers.

Legal achievements

Since 2013, AirHelp’s legal team has successfully challenged airlines and represented passengers' interests.

Thanks to cases we have won, the law is more clear. For example, passengers get compensation for airline staff strikes because of a case we took before the European Courts of Justice.

Here's some of the many ways we've defended passengers' rights:

Can I claim if the airline that I flew with has gone bust?

If the airline that you flew with has gone bankrupt or otherwise no longer exists, you are not likely to receive your compensation even if you do submit a claim. Passengers usually are last in a long list of creditors that airlines will have to pay after going under. However, if your flight was operated by another airline, it is possible to claim compensation with them instead.

The airline is offering to reschedule my flight. What does this mean?

Airlines will offer to reschedule your flight if there has been a delay or disruption of some sort, for example, due to changing travel restrictions. They will usually offer you a new flight schedule, or in some cases, offer an entirely new replacement flight.

Can I get compensation for a codeshare flight?

If your disrupted flight meets the necessary criteria — then yes. For codeshare flights, the airline who is operating your flight at the time of cancellation or delay is the one responsible for paying compensation. It’s possible to claim compensation if the connecting flights are part of a single reservation departing from the EU, or is an EU airline, and only if the disruption qualifies.

How long do I have to file a claim?

The right to claim compensation does eventually expire under most laws, but the time limit varies. Some countries and laws only give you a few months to file a claim, others up to 10 years. We detail the limits in the information on each law above.

Can I get compensation if my flight was part of a package holiday?

Yes. If your flight is delayed or canceled and meets the necessary criteria, you can claim for compensation from the airline. It is the airline’s responsibility to compensate their passengers, so the laws apply even if the flight ticket was part of a package holiday. The easiest way to check if your flight is eligible is to use our Compensation Check. You can also contact the airline.

Can I claim compensation if I booked my flight ticket via an online travel agent (OTA)?

Yes, if it meets the necessary criteria. You can claim compensation for any flight delayed by 3 hours or more, or if your flight was canceled less than 14 days before departure, and if your airline was considered at fault.

When am I allowed to claim extra costs due to a flight disruption, and for what can I claim for?

You can claim unexpected expenses up to 2 years after a flight delay or cancellation if the costs incurred were a direct result of the disruption. This covers the costs of essentials that became necessary due to the disruption, as well as missed costs. For example:

• Food and drinks

• Hotel bookings

• Transport tickets

If you are an AirHelp+ member, we offer assistance in reimbursing unexpected expenses.

Who pays for my food and lodging if I have to wait several days to travel because of a canceled or delayed flight?

The airline is always responsible for providing with you care in case of lengthy delay or cancellation. They must provide you with food and lodging, transport to and from the airport, and access to communication.

What happens to any hotels or apartments that I’ve booked if my flight was canceled or delayed?

If you were flying in the EU, under flight regulation EC 261, you can get up to €600 (€600) in compensation for a delayed or canceled flight where the airline is at fault.

If you had to book a hotel due to a flight delay, you can also reclaim these costs from the airline, so long as you have your receipt. For AirHelp+ members, we also offer assistance with reimbursing these necessary expenses.

What do I do if my replacement flight was downgraded?

Under EC 261, if your flight was canceled and the replacement flight downgrades your seats (e.g. business class to economy class), you can get reimbursed between 30% – 75% of the ticket price you originally paid. On the other hand, if you were upgraded, the airline cannot charge you any additional costs. Read more here.

How can I protect my future flights against delays and cancellations?

You can protect any future flights by purchasing travel insurance.

In addition to travel insurance, if you are worried about compensation, lost luggage, and refunds for unexpected expenses, you can also become an AirHelp+ member. AirHelp+ provides support on a range of flight issues, with access to a dedicated live chat that can give you real-time advice before, during, and after a flight disruption.

How can I find out the distance between airports to check how much compensation I'm owed?

Flight distance is just one of the factors that can affect compensation. We'd suggest using our Compensation Check tool, which can calculate the compensation you're entitled to under various air passenger rights including Europe's EC 261 and Brazilian laws.

What do I do in case of disputes with the airline?

It depends on your dispute. If you are having dispute regarding compensation, you can always try to pursue your case yourself, or start a claim with AirHelp. When an airline wrongfully rejects your claim for compensation, we can check with our independent data systems to confirm if your flight is eligible. In some cases, we may hand over the claim to our legal experts, who will look at what actions can be taken to get the airline to pay.

For US domestic flights you can also file a consumer complaint with the DOT - Department of Transportation.

Can I claim extra costs or expenses with my flight compensation following a delay or cancellation?

If the airline is at fault for the flight delay or cancellation, you can receive up to €600 (€600) in compensation from the airline. The airline must also provide you with accommodation and transportation to and from the airport if necessary. If you’ve had to book a hotel yourself due to the disruption, then you can also ask the airline to reimburse you for reasonable costs — so save your receipts.

For AirHelp+ members, we also offer assistance in reimbursing these reasonable lost expenses.

How long do I have to file a claim?

Your right to claim compensation under EC 261 does eventually expire, so it’s important to know the Statute of Limitations. This varies from one country to the next, some only give you a few months to file a claim, others up to 10 years. Which time limit applies is determined by where the headquarters of the airline is and where the flight was travelling. You can read the full list here.

Who can help me if the airline doesn't pay my compensation?

If an airline refuses to pay your compensation, the next step is to take them to court. Thankfully, if you claim with AirHelp, we handle all the legal procedures for you. We operate on a no win, no fee policy, which means that you only pay if we manage to successfully get you your compensation.