Whether you are flying, taking the train, boarding a ferry or travelling by coach, EU-wide passenger rights protect you in a wide range of common travel mishaps, the European Commission has said. What exactly you can claim depends on the type of transport you used, and whether your journey was to, from or within the EU.
What is covered, by mode of transport
- Air travel: missed connections, denied boarding, and overbooked flights.
- Rail travel: cancelled or delayed trains.
- Bus and coach travel: departures that leave earlier than scheduled.
- Sea travel: lost luggage during a voyage, or injury at sea.
How to actually file a claim
If something goes wrong, there is a set process to follow:
- Contact the travel company first. Reach out to the company you bought your ticket from and use their official complaint form.
- Wait for a response. Companies have one month to respond if it's a rail company, two months for an airline or sea carrier, and three months for a bus or coach company.
- No response, or unhappy with it? Escalate. If you don't hear back within those windows, or you're not satisfied with the answer, you can file a complaint with the national authority responsible in the country where the problem occurred.
- Still stuck? Get help or go further. You can contact your local European Consumer Centre for advice, or pursue out-of-court settlement or an alternative dispute resolution body. Note that this last option is only available to EU residents.
Extra protections for passengers with disabilities
Passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility have the right to access air, rail, sea, bus and coach travel on the same basis as any other passenger, including free assistance at terminals and on board. If you believe your rights have been breached, the same claims process above applies.
What's changing next summer
In July 2026, the EU approved revised rules for air passenger rights, the first major overhaul of these rules in more than 20 years, aimed at making air travel simpler and fairer. Once in force, the new rules will include:
- Children under 12 seated next to an accompanying adult at no extra cost
- Clearer information on baggage allowances and fees before booking
- Faster, simpler processes for claiming compensation or refunds
- Better rebooking support when flights are cancelled or significantly delayed, including for connecting journeys
- Stronger protections for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, including better protection for mobility equipment
The new rules are expected to take effect next summer. Until then, the Commission says existing EU rules continue to apply in full.
Where to find more help
The Commission also points travellers to its "Your rights as a passenger" app, available on Google Android and Apple iOS, for guidance on the go.
