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Budapest, Hungary EU Passenger Rights

What Happens If Your Flight or Train is Cancelled?

EU law protects passengers when flights or trains are delayed, cancelled, or overbooked. If this happens, airlines or train operators must offer compensation (payment) or assistance such as food, accommodation, or refunds (money back).

Table of Contents

  1. 01 Key Information
  2. 02 Everyday Example
  3. 03 Can I get compensation?
  4. 04 FAQ
  5. 05 Quiz
  6. 06 Summary
  7. 07 Links

The EU regulation ensures that passengers do not end up without support in an airport or railway station. There are two main regulations, one for trains and one for airplanes.

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All regulations protect passengers in all EU in case something goes wrong on the trip. The support can be different: You can get food, an accommodation, or money. The goal is that you are fully supported till you reach your final destination. Citizens can benefit from this regulation whenever they take a flight from or to an EU country or a train inside EU. Without this regulation, every country would have different rules or do not have even anything that helps passengers if they are stranded.

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Everyone who has a valid airplane ticket (boarding pass) or train ticket can benefit from this regulation. Cases are for example are denied boarding (the airline overbooked and they cannot provide you with a seat), flight delay or cancellation or they did not inform you about your rights. In case of trains, you get compensation if your train is delayed or cancelled or if you lose your connection. This can happen for example because another train is delayed. You also can get compensation if you got downgraded in night train services.

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Everyone who has a valid ticket has the right to compensation – this means this helps everyone who travels inside EU in a train or plane. If you visit your friends in another city, if you go on vacation or if you travel for work or study – in case of delays, cancellations or overbooking you are protected on your journey!

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Everyday Example

📌 You arrive at the airport in Budapest to take your flight home, but your plane is cancelled. The airline must either book you on another flight today or give you back your money. If you have to wait overnight, they must pay you a hotel and meals. Additionally, for a flight up to 1,500 km you get 250 EUR, between 1,500 and 3,000 km 400 EUR and 600 EUR if it is a long flight – also outside of EU! The airline staff needs to take care of you, provide you with a hotel room, food and make sure that you get the money.

Good to Know

Every case is different and it might not be easy to find out if you have the right to get your money back. The EU has created a page where you can check your individual case (e.g. delay, cancellation) and some cases that happen quite often. Check the page for flights and for trains .

In every country there is also an agency that can help you.



FAQ

Do I always get money if my flight or train is delayed?
No, compensation depends on the length of the delay and the reason. You do not get it for trains if the delay is less than 60 minutes.
What if my plane or train is cancelled due to bad weather?
If the Cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances (a rare and unexpected event), you may not get any payment, but you still have the right to assistance to reach your final destination. This can be extreme weather situations (storms) or natural catastrophes.
What is the difference between travelling inside EU and outside EU?
If you travel inside EU, every airline must provide you with support. If you depart from the EU to a non-EU country also every airline must help you – but if you come back from outside EU then only an EU airline must help you.
How much money I can get the most?
For trains you get maximum 50% of the train ticket price if the delay is bigger than 2 hours. Between 1 and 2 hours you get 25%. For airlines you get between 250 and 600 EUR depending on the distance.
Where can I go in case the airline is denying support?
In every EU member state there are customer protection offices. They provide you with feedback to your individual case. If needed, they also get in contact with the Airline or train operator.

Quiz

Why there is a passenger right regulation EU level?

  1. The EU passenger right regulation protects citizens if they travel inside EU and guarantees that all citizens have the same rights.

If I take a flight from outside EU, do I always get compensation?

  1. It always depends where the airline is registered – and where your flight goes. If your flight is inside EU (for example from Budapest to Berlin) all airlines might give you support, if you come from outside (for example from Istanbul) only if you take an EU airline.

Where can I get more information?

Summary

  • If your flight or train is cancelled or severely delayed, you may get a refund or compensation.

  • Airlines and train operators must provide meals and accommodation if needed.

  • The law applies to flights from or within the EU and EU-based airlines.