Passenger Rights

Passenger rights: what you can claim when your travel is disrupted — by train, by plane, or by ferry.

EU261 — flights in the EU: if your flight is delayed, cancelled, or you are denied boarding, EU Regulation 261/2004 may entitle you to care, re-routing or a refund, and compensation of €250–€600 depending on the distance — except where the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather or air-traffic restrictions.

EU rail passenger rights: if your train is delayed by 60 minutes or more, you can generally choose a refund or re-routing. Delays of 60–119 minutes usually mean 25% of the ticket price back, and delays of 120 minutes or more usually mean 50%.

US DOT rules: for US flights, airlines must refund you if they cancel or significantly change your flight and you choose not to travel. US rules on compensation differ from the EU, and the US Department of Transportation (DOT) sets the requirements airlines must follow.

Keep your evidence: boarding passes, tickets, your booking confirmation, the time you were told of the disruption, and receipts for meals, hotels and alternative transport.

How to claim: contact the airline or operator first, in writing, with your booking reference and the details above. If they refuse, your national enforcement body — or the US DOT for US flights — is the next step.

This page is general information, not legal advice.