Majority of air passengers unaware of their rights to compensation

THE vast majority of air passengers are unaware of their rights to compensation and assistance for delays, cancellations and lost baggage when travel plans go wrong.

An EU-wide survey shows 71% of Europeans did not know their consumer rights, as airline customers, had been strengthened as a result of an EU directive in 2004.

Only 23% said they were aware of such legislation while 6% said they were uncertain about their actual entitlements in the event of disrupted flights.