Airline passengers overestimate their right to compensation from airlines when flights are delayed or overbooked, UK consumer body Which? said on Thursday.
According to Suzy Valentine, a lawyer for Which? Legal Service, in the majority cases where the flight is delayed but passengers are not transferred between flights, passengers may be entitled to some refreshments or accommodation.
But rarely will airlines have to cover the cost of the missed flight in its entirety.
Ms Valentine said that given all the other costs faced by airlines, such as security and fuel prices, the cost of compensation for delayed or missed flights would be simply too high.
Under the Montreal Convention, a treaty signed by all EU countries, airlines are bound to cover some out-of-pocket expenses in the case of specified delays.
"It is dictated by the length of delay and the length of the flight. Up to 1,500 kilometres, for example, more than two hours delay is enough for the minimal assistance to kick in. And that's meals, refreshments, two telephone calls or emails. These are small things that people forget," said Ms Valentine.
Most passengers are not missing out on compensation and tend to overestimate their rights, she further added, although the 'unwieldy' EU legislation can make it difficult for passengers to understand their rights.
Cover all unforeseen circumstances with the right
travel insurance, call
InsureandGo or check online for great value deals.