Know your EU passenger rights earlier than you journey

All packed, and able to go? For these of you heading off on a summer time break quickly, we hope your journey plans don’t go incorrect, but when they do, it’s best to know that EU journey guidelines shield you in lots of conditions. Whether your flight is cancelled, your prepare delayed or your baggage misplaced aboard your cruise ship, you may have the proper to make a declare below EU-wide passenger rights.

Whether you journey into, exterior or inside the EU, what chances are you’ll declare will depend upon the kind of transport you employ, for instance:

• ✈️lacking your connecting flight, your flight is overbooked, you might be denied boarding
• 🚆your prepare is cancelled or delayed
• 🚌your bus or coach service leaves earlier than the scheduled time
• 🚢your baggage is misplaced through the voyage, you might be injured at sea.

In most instances, nevertheless, there’s a normal process to observe if it’s good to make a declare over a delay, cancellation or issues with baggage:

• Contact the journey firm to procure your ticket from, utilizing the grievance kind they supply.
• If you do not obtain a reply inside 1 month for a rail firm, 2 months for an airline or ship provider, 3 months for bus or coach firm, or in case you are not glad with the reply, you may lodge a grievance with the related national authority within the nation the place the issue occurred.
• You can at all times contact your native European Consumer Centre for assist and recommendation on issues associated to passenger rights, too.

If you continue to encounter issues together with your declare, it’s also possible to attempt to resolve your dispute utilizing out-of-court procedures – or an Alternative Dispute Resolution entity. This type of dispute decision is simply obtainable to EU residents.  

If you may have a incapacity or decreased mobility, you may have the proper to entry air, prepare, bus, coach, or boat journey like anyone else and the proper to free help at terminals and on-board automobiles. If you are feeling your rights have been breached, observe the rules above for making a declare. More particulars in your passenger rights are given under. 

More protections are on the best way 

In July 2026, the EU adopted revised rules for air passenger rights – the primary main overhaul of those guidelines in additional than 20 years. 

The revised guidelines will make air journey easier and fairer for passengers. They embrace: 

• kids below 12 sitting subsequent to an accompanying grownup at no further value
• clearer details about baggage allowances and any charges earlier than you e-book
• faster and easier procedures for claiming compensation or reimbursement
• higher assist and rerouting when flights are cancelled or considerably delayed
• higher safety for connecting journeys
• stronger rights for passengers with disabilities or decreased mobility, together with higher protections for mobility gear

The new guidelines ought to enter into drive subsequent summer time. Until then, you may proceed to profit from the prevailing EU guidelines. 

For extra data 

Passenger rights 

Download the “Your Passenger Rights” app to your gadget ( Google Android, Apple iOS)

Rights for travellers with disabilities or reduced mobility 

National authorities

Out of court procedures for consumers 

Consumer Redress in the EU

European Consumer Centres Network