If your flight is delayed, then the airline must look after you whilst you are waiting.

The regulations state that you must be given assistance after a certain time. For short flights (under 1500km) this is 2 hours, between 1500 and 3500km it is 3 hours, and 4 hours for all other flights.

You must be offered the following assistance:

• appropriate meals and refreshments
• two telephone calls, faxes or emails

If an overnight wait is required, then you must be given hotel accommodation including transport to and from the hotel.

These benefits must be offered to you free of charge. The airline cannot ask you to purchase these yourself and then claim back the amounts later.

Delays Longer Than 5 Hours

If the delay is more than five hours, then you are entitled to a refund if you prefer. If you are already part way through your journey the airline must fly you back free of charge to your original departure point as well.

If you decide to abandon your travel plans then you will almost certainly not be able to recover any consequential losses, for example, hotel accommodation paid for at your destination. You may, however, be able to claim against a travel insurance policy if you have one.

When You Cannot Claim Assistance

You must check in on time for your flight. Your airline could well refuse you to fly at all if you do not present yourself on time at the airport.

Even if you know that the flight is delayed, you must check in on time.

Airlines may also refuse to provide assistance where it would cause a further delay to do so.