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Know your Rights
85% of air passengers do not know their rights when it comes to air travel.
It’s no surprise, then, that when a travel disruption happens, many of us are confused about our options. The vast majority of air travel passengers don’t know that, under many statutory regimes, they are entitled to compensation for cancellations, delays, missed connections, overbooking or downgrades.
Here at JetJustice, our mission is to take the stress and confusion out of these situations. We handle the paperwork, airline communication, and legal processes involved with getting you the compensation that you deserve.
Many travellers don’t realise that in many jurisdictions, airlines are legally and financially responsible for getting you to your final destination, and caring for you in the meantime. If airlines fail to provide food and drinks, accommodation, transportation to the airport, or rerouting to your final destination, these costs are also recoverable.
This page outlines some of the different legislation that governs worldwide disruptions.
European Economic Area - EC261
EC261 compensation is a regulation in European law that holds airlines accountable for any delays, cancellations, missed connections, and denials of boarding. It is some of the strongest passenger protection legislation in place globally. This law applies to all flights (scheduled, charter, and low-cost) departing from a European Economic Area country, as well as flights arriving into the European Economic Area if operated by a local airline. Compensation amounts vary between €250 to €600, depending on the distance between your departure and arrival airports and the length of your overall delay.
Right to care: In the event of a significant delay, cancellation, or denied boarding, airlines must provide passengers with rerouting to their final destination, food and drinks, access to communication, and, if necessary, accommodation (including transportation to and from the airport).
Exemptions: Airlines are exempt from paying compensation if the disruption is found to be caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control, such as extreme weather or security concerns. Regardless of the reason, airlines are always obligated to offer care and assistance. Airlines often incorrectly claim that extraordinary circumstances cause flight disruptions – JetJustice exists to stop this. To check if you’re eligible to claim with us (regardless of whether you were previously rejected), start a compensation check below.
United Kingdom - UK261
During Britiain’s exit from the European Union, frequent fliers transiting the UK and industry insiders alike were concerned that the historically strong passenger protection regulations enjoyed as a member of the European Economic Area (EC261) would end. Thankfully, this scenario has not come to fruition; the virtually identical UK261 was introduced as part of the EU exit legislation of 2019, providing continuity and protection for passengers, however, there are a few key differences:
- UK261 only applies to flights departing from the UK, or flights that arrive in the UK and are operated by a UK or EU registered airline.
- Compensation under UK261 is denominated in Great British pounds (£).
- Airlines are now exclusively overseen by the United Kindom’s Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) as opposed to the EU aviation authorities.
Compensation amounts vary between £220 and £520, depending on the distance between your departure and arrival airports and the length of your overall delay.
Right to care: In the event of a significant delay, cancellation, or denied boarding, airlines must provide passengers with rerouting to their final destination, food and drinks, access to communication, and, if necessary, accommodation (including transportation to and from the airport).
Exemptions: Airlines are exempt from paying compensation if the disruption is found to be caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control, such as extreme weather or security concerns. Regardless of the reason, airlines are always obligated to offer care and assistance. Airlines often incorrectly claim that extraordinary circumstances cause flight disruptions – JetJustice exists to stop this. To check if you’re eligible to claim with us (regardless of whether you were previously rejected), start a compensation check below.
Not sure which legislation applies to your flight? Let us check for you!
Canada - Air Passenger Protection Regulations
In Canada, air passenger rights are governed by Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), a part of the Canada Transportation Act, which outlines compensation and assistance for delays, cancellations and denials of boarding.
Communication: Airlines are required to inform passengers promptly about delays, cancellations, and denied boarding, including the reasons and compensation they are entitled to.
The Air Passenger Protection Regulations impose the following rules:
Flight Delays & Cancellations: Up to CA$1,000 in compensation (for large airlines) or CA$500 (for small, regional airlines).
Denied Boarding: Up to CA$2,400 in compensation.
Tarmac Delays: You have the right to deplane after 3 hours waiting.
Lost or Delayed Baggage: Up to CA$2,300 in compensation per passenger.
While the Canadian rules appear to be similar to their European equivalents, there are some key differences when it comes to what is considered to be “within the airline’s control”.
Use our free tool now to check if you’re be owed compensation!
United States (US) - Department of Transportation
In the United States, passenger rights are governed by the Department of Transportation (USDOT). While the rules do aim to compensate passengers for more extreme issues, they are not as comprehensive or passenger-friendly as their European or Canadian equivalents. US law focuses on overbooking, tarmac delays, and lost luggage, and does not currently directly cover delays or cancellations in the same way as the EU, UK and Canada.
Here’s an overview of key protections under USDOT regulations:
Flight Delays & Cancellations: US law does not mandate compensation for delays or cancellations. Airlines are merely required to notify passengers of any flight disruptions as soon as possible. Compensation (if any) is at the discretion of airlines and their terms and conditions of carriage.
This said, many flights in and out of the US do still fall under other legislations, depending on your itinerary and operating carrier.
To confirm your eligibility for flights departing the US, you can use our free compensation checker tool.
Denied Boarding: Passengers who have been involuntarily bumped from their flight due to overbooking are entitled to up to $1,550 compensation depending on the length of your related delay.
Tarmac Delays: Airlines cannot keep passengers on the tarmac for more than 3 hours for domestic flights and 4 for international flights without allowing deplaning, and must provide food, water and access to restrooms.
Refunds: Passengers are entitled to full refunds for cancelled flights, even if booked on a non-refundable ticket.
Baggage: Airlines are held liable for lost and delayed baggage, subject to conditions and limitations to liability. The maximum liability amount allowed by the regulation is $3,800 per passenger (on domestic services) and approximately $1,700 per passenger (on international services). If your luggage is damaged and cannot be repaired, airlines will negotiate a compensation amount based upon the value of your bag and related depreciation. Although airlines are not required to cover fair wear and tear, airlines cannot exclude liability for damage to wheels, handles, straps and other components of checked baggage.
If you are confused about what you are entitled to under US law, Click Below, and let us do the hard part for you!