# Your guide to air passenger rights and compensation Check how much the airline owes you. It's free and takes 2 minutes. We help you enforce your passenger rights ### Airlines don't advertise this, but international flights often have better passenger protections than domestic ones. Depending on your route, you might be covered by laws that require airlines to pay hundreds or even thousands in compensation. Not sure which rules apply? We work it out for you. --- ## What Are Air Passenger Rights? Millions of air passengers travel each year, but a large number do not realize that there are airline passenger rights to protect them when they fly. **Airline passenger rights protect travelers when flights are delayed, canceled, or overbooked. Under these laws you may be entitled to compensation, rebooking, or reimbursement. It all depends on the situation and your flight's origin and destination.** AirHelp is here to support all passengers — we’ll help you understand **your rights**, and receive the **compensation** you’re entitled to. ### Key takeaways #### Airline passenger rights at a glance - **Compensation for [overbooked flights](https://www.airhelp.com/en/overbooking-compensation/)** - Airline customer rights laws protect you and ensure you get compensated when you're involuntarily bumped from your flight. - **Get paid for delays and cancellations** - If your flight is [delayed](https://www.airhelp.com/en/flight-delay-compensation/) or [canceled](https://www.airhelp.com/en/flight-cancellation-compensation/) (and it's the airline's fault), some laws grant you hundreds in cash compensation. - **Free rebooking or full refunds** - When flights are canceled or overbooked, laws say whether airlines must get you to your destination or give you all your money back. - **Free meals and drinks** - Stuck at the airport for hours? According to many regulations the airline should be buying your food, not you. - **Free hotel stays** - Flight delayed overnight? Some laws say airlines must cover your hotel room. - **Luggage compensation** - [Lost, damaged or delayed bags?](https://www.airhelp.com/en/lost-or-delayed-luggage/) You can get money for that hassle too under many laws. ### We know your rights when it comes to flying. Do you? ## Countries with air passenger rights Not every country protects air passengers equally. The reality is, the US has some of the weakest domestic protections among developed nations. Here's the key regulations American travelers should know about: #### 79% of passengers don't know their rights Don't miss out on compensation you're owed, or settle for less. --- ## Flight compensation you could be missing out on While the US has limited domestic airline customer rights protections, international flights often fall under much stronger regulations that can get you serious compensation for delays, cancellations, and overbookings. ### International flight compensation amounts - **Up to $650 under European and UK regulations** - **Up to $1,900 under Brazilian regulations** - **Up to $650 in Lira under Turkish regulations** - **200% of the ticket price under Saudi regulations** These aren't airline goodwill gestures - they're legal requirements with real money attached. ### Your 3 steps to winning compensation - **Step 1** - Quick and easy Making a claim is quick, secure and easy. - **Step 2** - We handle everything We build a strong case and negotiate with the airline. - **Step 3** - You win $$$ You get compensation. No win? No fee. **Should I claim compensation for a flight disruption?** We think it's important to claim the air passenger rights compensation you are legally entitled to. **For you:** You get real money that recognizes the hassle of a disruption and helps cover your costs. **For everyone:** Compensation holds airlines accountable and gives them a financial incentive to avoid unnecessary disruptions. --- ## Compensation vs. refunds - know the difference ### Compensation - Cash money for your inconvenience (on top of everything else) ### Refunds - Getting your ticket money back when flights are canceled or overbooked --- ## Beyond money: Your other rights Even when you're not entitled to cash compensation, passenger regulations often set out **minimum standards of care** for passengers during a disruption. These ensure you are treated with dignity and your basic needs are met when you're waiting for your journey to get back on track. - 🏨 Hotel coverage Stuck overnight? Many international regulations require airlines to cover your hotel, meals, and transportation. - 🍽 **Food and drinks** Many air passenger rights include rules about providing food and drink during a long delay (roughly 2 - 3 hours). - 🛫 **Rebooking or refunds** Strong user rights with airlines give you the choice: get rerouted on the next available flight or take a full refund and make other plans. - 🧳 Baggage protection If your checked-in bags are lost, damaged, or delayed, check your rights for what you're owed. Even in the USA passenger regulations protect your luggage. - 📢 **Information rights** Most regulations include clauses to ensure airlines keep you informed about delays, cancellations, and your options. - ♿ **Additional support** Air travel should be accessible to all, and almost all countries have laws which ensure passengers with disabilities, families, older passengers, and others can get support if they require it. - 💺 **Tarmac delay rules** Some countries have stricter limits on how long you can be stuck on a plane when there's a disruption. - 💰 **Protection from unfair fees** Some air passenger rights even put limits on unfair charges and surprise fees. --- ## Commonly asked questions **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. Airline passenger rights for delayed flights ensure that carriers 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](https://www.airhelp.com/en/codeshare-flight/), the airline who is operating your flight at the time of cancellation or delay is the one responsible for paying compensation. **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. **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** --- ## More passenger rights to discover: - [Air Passenger Rights](https://www.airhelp.com/en/air-passenger-rights/) - [Flight Delay Compensation](https://www.airhelp.com/en/flight-delay-compensation/) - [Flight Cancellation Compensation](https://www.airhelp.com/en/flight-cancellation-compensation/) - [Overbooking Compensation](https://www.airhelp.com/en/overbooking-compensation/) - [Flight Refund](https://www.airhelp.com/en/flight-refund/)