When it comes to traveling, the fastest way to go from one place to another is generally by airplane. However, many people are wary of going by plane, fearing their luggage will get lost or their flights will be delayed. Considering that the delay rate increased in 2023 (delays in Europe have eased since, but in 2025 the average flight still left 14.6 minutes late) and that an earlier report found around 7% of people had lost their bags, this could be a legitimate fear.
At this point, it might seem like there is nothing much that you can do, especially since you can’t make the plane go faster. However, as a passenger, you are seen as a consumer, meaning you have rights. In fact, you may have more rights than you know. In this article, you will learn more about EU air passenger rights so that you can receive your compensation.
01An Overview of EU Air Passenger Rights
Air passenger rights depend on where you fly from and which airline you fly with. If you depart from the EU (with any airline), or land in the EU with an EU airline, you are protected under European Regulation EC261/2004, and the Montreal Convention covers most international flights as well (other countries have their own rules, such as Brazil's ANAC Resolution 400). In those cases, the airlines can be held responsible for flights that are disrupted.
Should the airline be in control of a specific situation without any extraordinary circumstances, you are entitled to compensation for most inconveniences. The bill was passed so that the airlines stay respectful to their passengers, not allowing them to get away with it if they cause problems. Depending on the issue at hand and the length of the flight, you could claim up to €600. The EU adopted an update to these rules in 2026 (Regulation (EU) 2026/2202), but it only applies from October 2027, so the current rules described here still apply until then.
02Flight Compensation Rights to Remember
The European Regulation EC261/2004 protects against flight cancellations, denied boarding, or delays on flights from the EU, and on flights into the EU operated by EU carriers. Under the law, passengers have the right to compensation in the following situations:
Cancelled Flight
Not every cancelled flight might lead to compensation. Should your flight be cancelled, then you have the right to choose between re-routing, reimbursement, and return. That said, if your flight was cancelled and you were informed of the matter less than 14 days before it, then you are entitled to compensation.
Cancelled flights are not only schedules that are abandoned, forcing you to transfer to another one. You can receive cancelled flight compensation EU even if the plane takes off but does not reach its destination. For instance, if the flight is forced to return to its departure point or its destination is not what’s on your ticket, you have the right to compensation.
Overbooked Flights
Overbooking can happen due to operational issues or simple miscalculations from the airline. If you bought a seat on the plane and were denied boarding despite not voluntarily giving your seat up, you have the right to compensation straight away, plus a choice between reimbursement and rebooking, and assistance while you wait.
Delayed Flight
Delays can happen during a flight, especially on long-distance ones. Depending on how late the aircraft was, how great the distance you had to go, and the inconveniences that it caused, you can receive assistance. For the most part, if you arrived at your final destination 3 hours or more later than you should, you are entitled to the EU regulation flight delay compensation.
Missed Connecting Flights
If a flight arrives with a 3-hour delay, causing you to miss a connection, you are usually able to receive compensation for it. The condition is that your entire journey needs to be booked through one reservation.
Upgrades and Downgrades
Different circumstances might lead to upgrades or downgrades so that you can keep your spot on the plane. If you are upgraded, then the airline has no right to ask for additional payment. It’s also in your right to make a claim if they try to make you pay anyway.
That said, if you are downgraded, you are entitled to a percentage of the total ticket price. The final amount will depend on the distance you cover during your flight:
- 30% for distances smaller than 1500 km
- 50% for distances greater than 1500 within the EU (except between the French overseas department and EU), and any other flights that reach 3500 km
- 75% for flights that do not fit in the first two categories
Keep in mind that the EU air passenger rights only apply to that specific flight. If you have connecting flights and are downgraded only from one, then it will be the only one reimbursed. You won’t get compensation based on the whole trip.
Mishandled Luggage
Should your checked-in luggage become delayed, damaged, or lost during the flight, then the airline is held responsible for it. The same thing applies if your hand luggage gets damaged at the check-in or on board the plane. If that happens, then you could get compensation of up to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger under the Montreal Convention (about €1,800 at October 2026 exchange rates).
03When Might You Not Receive Compensation
While most air passengers have a right to cancelled flight compensation EU and more if an incident occurs, it’s not always the case. For example, if a flight doesn’t happen due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g., a strike by essential personnel), then you might not get compensation. Extreme weather circumstances could also be part of this category.
Flights from outside the EU with the destination also outside the EU are not covered unless you land on EU ground. This remains the case even if you are using an EU carrier. Flights that land in the EU with carriers of non-EU origins are also not protected by the bill.
04The Bottom Line
Most air passengers are entitled to receive compensation for their inconveniences, based on the EU regulation flight delay bill. By familiarizing yourself with your rights, then you can prevent the airline from taking advantage of you. You can use StopDelay to check the amount you are entitled to should you encounter such an inconvenience.
