Your rights as an air passenger, regulation by regulation
Which rule protects you depends on where the flight leaves from, where it lands and which airline operates it.
What you can ask for
Eight rights that come up again and again. The figures are those of the EU and UK rules; the other rules differ, as the table below shows.
- CompensationA fixed sum for a long delay, a cancellation at short notice or denied boarding: €250–600 in the EU, £220–520 in the UK.
- Care while you waitMeals, drinks, two calls and a hotel with transfers when you are kept overnight.
- RefundYour money back within 7 days when the flight is cancelled, or when you give up the trip after a 5-hour delay.
- A new flightRe-routing to your destination at the earliest opportunity, or later on a date that suits you.
- InformationA written notice of your rights whenever a flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked.
- Downgrade refund30%, 50% or 75% of the ticket price back when you are placed in a lower class.
- BaggageUp to 1,519 SDR for a bag that is lost, late or damaged on an international flight.
- A way to complainIf the airline refuses: a national enforcement body, a dispute resolution scheme or a small claims court.
The five sets of rules
- EUEU261Regulation 261/2004 explained: who is covered, the €250–€600 amounts, care, refunds and the 2026 reform.€250–600EU flights
- UKUK261The UK version of Regulation 261: pound amounts, which flights count, ADR and time limits.£220–520UK flights
- BRANAC 400 (Brazil)Brazil's rules on delays, cancellations, overbooking and baggage, plus the consumer code and small claims courts.AssistanceBrazil
- USUS DOT rulesNo federal delay compensation, but automatic refunds, bumping pay up to $2,150 and a $4,700 baggage floor.RefundsUS flights
- MCMontreal ConventionThe treaty behind baggage and delay damages on international flights: limits, deadlines and how it fits with EU261.1,519 SDRBaggage
Side by side
What each rule gives in the four most common situations.
| Rule | Delay | Cancellation | Denied boarding | Baggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU261 | €250–600 from 3 hours | €250–600 if told under 14 days before | €250–600, paid at the airport | Montreal Convention applies |
| UK261 | £220–520 from 3 hours | £220–520 if told under 14 days before | £220–520, paid at the airport | Montreal Convention applies |
| ANAC 400 (Brazil) | Food at 2 hours, hotel at 4 | New flight or full refund | 250 or 500 SDR at once | 7 or 21 days to return the bag |
| US DOT rules | Refund if you do not travel (3 or 6 hours) | Automatic refund | Up to $2,150 | Up to $4,700 on domestic flights |
| Montreal Convention | Proven loss up to 6,303 SDR | Not covered | Not covered | Up to 1,519 SDR |
Check your own flightEnter your route and what happened. The calculator applies these rules to your case.
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