Understanding the Montreal Convention and EC261.
When you travel by air, few experiences are as annoying as a missing bag or a flight that’s cancelled at the last moment. Did you know there are international regulations to protect you in these situations? Two of the most significant ones are the Montreal Convention and EU261 (European Flight Compensation Regulation).
In this blog post, we’ll explain the main differences between these two so you can travel peacefully (and know what to do if things go wrong).
Key Differences Between the Montreal Convention and EC261
You should read the entire article to fully understand the rules, but here are the main differences:
- The Montreal Convention (MC99) applies globally.
- EC261 is only valid for flights leaving Europe (all airlines) and flights with European airlines.
- The Montreal Convention (MC99) covers the handling of baggage, cargo, and passenger injuries.
- EC261 helps you get compensation for flight delays, cancellations, and overbookings. It does not include baggage.
Continue reading to better understand your rights.
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Introduction to Air Travel Rights in Europe and When Flying With European Airlines Like Ryanair
What You Need to Know
When you’re hurrying to catch a flight or facing an unexpected delay, the last thing you think about is international aviation law. Knowing your rights can make a big difference in these stressful situations. The Montreal Convention and EC261 are meant to offer protections, but they serve different purposes and address various scenarios.
Why These Rules Matter
Knowing these rules can help you get compensation and the assistance you need. Whether it’s a matter of lost baggage or a delayed flight, being well-informed can save you time, money, and a great deal of frustration. Let’s look at what each set of rules covers and how they can benefit you.
A quick note before we start – we’ll focus on the most important points. This article is aimed at travellers who want to understand their rights when flying with Ryanair and other airlines in Europe (It’s not designed for legal experts who require detailed information about all the intricate legal details).
The Basics of the Montreal Convention
What Is the Montreal Convention?
The Montreal Convention is an international agreement established in 1999 to unify and correct several older agreements related to air travel. It mainly focuses on the responsibilities of airlines regarding passenger safety, baggage, and cargo.
Key Elements
The Montreal Convention covers:
- Baggage loss and damage. Airlines are responsible for baggage that is lost, damaged, or delayed. This law ensures you can receive compensation for lost baggage, damaged baggage, and delayed baggage.
- Passenger injury. It specifies the compensation airlines must provide if a passenger is injured or dies.
- Worldwide coverage. Compared to EC261, the Montreal Convention applies in most countries around the world and includes more airlines than the European regulation.
See the full document.
How Can You Get This Compensation?
When it comes to compensation for baggage compensation or claims related to injury or death, most flight compensation companies do not handle these types of claims.
You must contact the airline directly.
You need to submit the claim on your own.
Visit ryanair.com to find more detailed information on the specific guidelines.
Why It’s Important
This treaty is important because it unifies air passenger rights across different nations, simplifying travellers’ understanding of their entitlements no matter where they are flying. Whether you are flying to or from Europe, on a European airline or not, this law may still apply to you.
The Basics of EC261
What Is EC261?
EC261, established by the European Union, is a regulation to protect travellers’ rights to flight disruptions. It started in 2004 and covers all flights leaving from an EU country or landing in an EU country on an EU airline.
When departing from a European airport – it doesn’t matter what airline it was.
When departing from another location and flying to a European airport, it must be a European airline.
Flights from a non-European airport to another non-European airport (both the start and end are outside Europe) are not covered.
Key Elements
EC261 provides compensation and support for:
- Flight delays. You can get financial compensation if your flight is delayed by more than three hours.
- Flight cancellations. For flights cancelled less than 14 days before departure, you can get compensation from Ryanair and other airlines.
- Denied boarding. Were you not allowed to board because of overbooking? You are entitled to compensation from the airline if you are denied boarding.
In all these cases, it must be the airline’s fault for you to be eligible for payment.
In all these cases, you may also have a right to care.
How Can You Get This Compensation?
To get compensation from Ryanair, you have two main options: handle it yourself or use a flight compensation company. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to consider them carefully before deciding.
If you decide to handle the compensation process on your own, be aware that it can take a lot of time, sometimes months. This can be time-consuming and overwhelming if you’re not familiar with airline rules and legal terms. However, if you succeed, you get to keep the entire compensation.
You can work with a flight compensation company. They charge a fee, but they can significantly reduce the stress and hassle of seeking compensation on your own. These companies have experience dealing with airlines and can guide you through the complicated process of filing a claim for flight delays or cancellations.
Why It’s Important
EU261 is important because it focuses on passenger rights, requiring airlines to be accountable for disruptions and to provide fair compensation.
Featured photo by Pexels