Hotel & Transport for Flight Delays

Your rights to hotel and transport

When your flight is severely delayed or cancelled and you are forced to stay overnight, the airline's obligations are very clear according to EU Regulation 261/2004. Unlike financial compensation, these rights apply regardless of the cause of the delay - even during extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather, strikes, or security risks.

When do you have the right to a hotel?

You have the right to hotel accommodation when:

• Your flight is delayed until the next day
• Your flight is cancelled and the next available departure is the day after
• You miss a connecting flight due to delay and must stay overnight (if the entire trip was booked as a single booking)

What is included in the right to a hotel?

The airline is obliged to:

• Offer and pay for a reasonable hotel room for the night
• Arrange transport between the airport and hotel (round trip)
• Provide meals and refreshments in proportion to the waiting time
• Offer two free phone calls, emails, or faxes

If the airline doesn't offer a hotel

If the airline doesn't fulfill its obligations when you're stuck at the airport:

1. Contact the airline staff at the gate or information desk and remind them of your rights
2. Document everything - take screenshots of delay information, save messages, and take photos as evidence
3. Book a reasonable hotel yourself if the airline refuses to help you (choose a mid-range hotel, not luxury)
4. Save all receipts for hotel, transport, food, and drinks
5. Demand compensation from the airline afterwards with all your receipts as support

Transport between airport and hotel

The airline must arrange transport between the airport and hotel. This can be done through:

• The airline's own transport services
• Vouchers for taxi or other transport
• Information about public transport (if available) with reimbursement for ticket costs

If the airline doesn't arrange transport, you can:

• Take a taxi and save the receipt
• Use public transport and save the tickets
• Demand compensation for these costs afterwards

Practical tips when you're stuck

Act quickly: When delays are announced, contact the airline staff immediately. Hotel rooms can run out quickly when many passengers are affected simultaneously.

Be clear about your rights: Mention specifically EU Regulation 261/2004 and your right to hotel and transport when speaking with airline staff.

Be reasonable with expenses: Choose a mid-range hotel and reasonable meals. Luxury hotels and alcohol are usually not reimbursed.

Save all documentation: In addition to receipts, save boarding passes, booking confirmations, and all communication with the airline.

Frequently asked questions about hotel and transport