Holiday hell: Your rights

It you're heading off on an Easter break or planning a holiday, it pays to know your rights. Money Mail explains what you should do and the service you can demand when your holiday plans fall flat.

YOUR FLIGHT IS CANCELLED AND YOU ARE STRANDED AT THE AIRPORT

You are entitled to claim meals and refreshments at the airport from the airline as well as two free phonecalls or emails and a hotel room if you have to wait overnight for another flight.

But the airline does not have to pay for other lost parts of your holiday such as hotel or car hire.

If you decide not to fly, under EU regulations, you are entitled to a full refund from the airline within seven days.

However, these regulations only cover flights to or from an airport in the EU or with an EU airline.

MISSED CONNECTIONS

If your flight is late or cancelled, resulting in you missing a connecting flight, the airline responsible must make sure you get on the next available connecting flight.

If you arrive on time for your connecting flight, but it is cancelled, you can decide not to continue with your journey. In this case, that airline should repay the total price of your tickets and provide a free flight back to your original departure point.

DELAYED FLIGHTS

You have the right to be reimbursed the cost of your ticket if the delay is more than five hours and you decide not to travel.

But you will not be reimbursed for any other elements of your trip you have lost as a result.

BUMPED OFF AN OVERBOOKED FLIGHT

If an airline does not have space for you on the flight, you must be compensated. Provided you are at an EU airport or an EU airline is involved, and you have your ticket, confirmed reservation and have checked in by deadline, you are entitled to a refund or another flight.

The airline must also pay compensation based on the length of the flight and how late you will be. The minimum amount is £114 for flights up to 930 miles and up to two hours late. The maximum is £545 for more than 2,170 miles and more than four hours late. Meals, phone calls and overnight accommodation must be offered.

AIRLINE LOSES YOUR BAG

Ask for cash to buy emergency supplies, such as clothes and toiletries. Some airlines do this, others say you must buy them first and produce the receipts.

After 21 days your bags are deemed lost and the Montreal Convention says the airline must compensate you. But it might ask for proof of the cost of the luggage and contents. The maximum amount it will pay is about £1,000, depending on the exchange rate. If your bags turn up and are damaged, you must claim within seven days. Alternatively, claim under your travel insurance.