Brits urged to be aware of air travel rights

Air passengers should be aware of what their exact rights are after experiencing problems on flights, according to one expert.

Suzy Valentine, a lawyer for Which? Legal Service, said that some travellers appear to believe that they are entitled to compensation when their flights are delayed with no option of transferring to another flight or airline.

However, she stated that these passengers are not entitled to much more than refreshments and accommodation for the inconvenience.

She confirmed that under European legislation, those travellers whose arrangements are changed to include a different flight or airline from the one originally booked may be eligible to apply for compensation.

"Under this regulation you get more [compensation and] your inconvenience is recognised," Ms Valentine commented.

"Where you aren't going on the intended airline [or] the intended flight, or the flight's cancelled completely, then you get additional compensation."

Other European legislation also dictates that passengers who are "bumped" off a flight due to overbooking may be entitled to compensation from the airline if they can prove they have a valid ticket, a confirmed reservation and that they completed check-in by the airline's deadline.

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