Read about your rights in case of cancellation, denied boarding, delays, and strikes here.

Air passenger rights

What are you entitled to?

Was your flight…

Delayed Cancelled Denied boarding

Cancelled flight

You always have the right to a refund or to have your journey rebooked in the event of a flight cancellation.

You are entitled to reasonable care (food, drinks – excluding alcohol) while you wait for the next available flight.

If an overnight stay is necessary due to rebooking, the airline must provide hotel accommodation and transport between the hotel and the airport.

If the cancellation was not announced at least 14 days before the scheduled departure, you may be entitled to compensation, unless the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances.

Here is an overview of possible compensation:

Within the EU:

  • 250 euros for flights under 1,500 km

  • 400 euros for flights over 1,500 km

Outside the EU:

  • 250 euros for flights under 1,500 km

  • 400 euros for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km

  • 600 euros for flights over 3,500 km

In some cases, the airline may reduce your compensation by 50% if you are rebooked on another flight. This depends on the flight distance and how quickly you reach your destination.

Delayed flight at departure

If your flight is delayed by at least five hours at departure, you may choose to cancel your journey and receive a refund for the ticket price.

  • 2-hour delay at departure applies to flights under 1,500 km

  • 3-hour delay at departure applies to flights over 1,500 km within the EU, and to flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km outside the EU

  • 4-hour delay at departure applies to flights longer than 3,500 km and outside the EU

If your delay is at least 5 hours, you may choose to cancel your journey and get a refund for your ticket.

If an overnight stay becomes necessary due to the delay, the airline must also provide hotel accommodation and transport between the hotel and the airport.

Delayed flight upon arrival

If you arrive at your final destination with a delay of at least three hours, you may be entitled to compensation.

However, you are not entitled to compensation if the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances, such as bad weather, certain types of strikes, manufacturing defects in the aircraft, or air traffic control restrictions.

In some cases, the airline may also reduce your compensation by 50% if you are rebooked on another flight. This depends on the distance of the flight and how quickly you reach your destination.

This is how much compensation you may be entitled to per passenger

Within the EU:

  • 250 euros for flights under 1,500 km

  • 400 euros for flights over 1,500 km

Outside the EU:

  • 250 euros for flights under 1,500 km

  • 400 euros for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km

  • 600 euros for flights over 3,500 km

In some cases, the airline may also reduce your compensation by 50% if you are rebooked on another flight. This depends on the distance of the flight and how quickly you reach your destination.

Denied boarding

Passengers have the right to a refund of their ticket or to have their journey rebooked if they are denied boarding.

If the passenger chooses to be rebooked, they are entitled to reasonable care (food and drinks – excluding alcohol) while waiting for the next available flight.

If an overnight stay is necessary due to denied boarding, the airline must provide hotel accommodation and transport between the hotel and the airport.

Compensation for denied boarding

You may be entitled to compensation if you are denied boarding.

Other amounts or benefits may also be agreed upon if you voluntarily give up your seat on the flight.

This is how much compensation you may be entitled to per passenger

Within the EU:

  • 250 euros for flights under 1,500 km

  • 400 euros for flights over 1,500 km

Outside the EU:

  • 250 euros for flights under 1,500 km

  • 400 euros for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km

  • 600 euros for flights over 3,500 km

In some cases, the airline may reduce your compensation by 50% if you are rebooked on another flight. This depends on the distance of the flight and how quickly you reach your destination.

Advice and rights in connection with strikes

Stay informed about your journey
The Authority recommends that you stay updated on your journey via the airline’s and airport’s websites.

If your flight is cancelled, your rights depend on when the cancellation occurs and when you are informed. If you cancel your reservation yourself, you are not entitled to a refund or compensation.

Show up for check-in
Make sure to arrive at the airport in time for check-in, unless the airline has already informed you that the flight has been rescheduled or cancelled.

Rebooking to another flight
You always have the right to be rebooked on another flight. This must be done at the earliest opportunity – even if it is with another airline. You can also be rebooked to a later flight that suits you better, provided there are available seats. It is the responsibility of your airline to rebook you, and you should therefore wait for an offer of rebooking from the airline.

Rebooking must generally take place under comparable transport conditions, so layovers should be avoided whenever possible.

Refund of your ticket or reimbursement of costs for an alternative ticket
As a rule, you may be entitled to reimbursement for the cost of an alternative flight – even if it is with another airline. However, it is recommended that you wait to purchase alternative tickets until you have communicated with your airline. If you are unable to reach the airline, you may buy alternative tickets and later apply for reimbursement of the expenses.

You may also be entitled to have expenses for care (meals, drinks, accommodation) covered while waiting for your new flight.

If you have paid for new tickets, meals, or accommodation, remember to keep all receipts.

If you no longer wish to travel, you are entitled to a refund of the ticket price. As a rule, the refund must be issued within seven days from the time you made your claim.

If your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure – the right to compensation
If your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before the scheduled departure, you may also be entitled to compensation. This depends on whether the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances. If it was, the airline is not required to pay compensation.

Your right to compensation depends on whether those who are striking are working within or outside the airline’s organisation.

IT IS FREE TO FILE A COMPLAINT THROUGH THE DANISH CIVIL AVIATION AND RAILWAY AUTHORITY

Read more

Disability rights

You must be able to travel by air like anyone else, even if you have a disability or reduced mobility. Accessibility when travelling is regulated by the EU and therefore applies throughout Europe.

You must be able to fly like any other passenger, even if you have a disability. Airlines may not deny you boarding unless the size of the aircraft or access conditions make it physically impossible to carry you, or if there is a specific safety risk – in which case the airline must provide a justification. In case of doubt, it is recommended to contact the airline before departure.

As a passenger with a disability, you are entitled to assistance (free of charge) at the airport before and after your flight, help with boarding and disembarking, and assistance on board. Airlines are not required to help you eat or take medication during the flight. If you need this kind of support, for example on a longer flight, the airline may require you to travel with a companion.

If your wheelchair or other mobility aid is damaged during the flight, the airline – or in some cases the insurance company – must provide compensation in accordance with international, EU, and national legislation.

To ensure the best possible assistance during your journey, you should contact the airline, ticket seller, or travel agency no later than 48 hours before departure.

Below, you can see what information you should provide.

When booking a flight, you should notify the airline or travel operator as early as possible – and no later than 48 hours before departure – if you are a wheelchair user, as cargo space on the aircraft is limited. The size and weight of the wheelchair may mean that it is not possible to board a specific type of aircraft or that there is no room for the wheelchair on a specific departure.

You must therefore provide the size and weight of the wheelchair when booking the flight, and it is important to contact the airline in good time to check whether it is possible to bring the wheelchair on your chosen flight. There are also specific rules regarding wheelchair batteries – see more below.

Electric wheelchairs may not be brought into the aircraft cabin. Instead, they must be handed over at the gate or checked in with regular baggage. During the flight, the wheelchair will be stored in the aircraft’s hold. You can read more about baggage rules for electronic equipment. To minimise the risk of damage to the wheelchair, it is a good idea to remove all loose parts before handing it over to the airline.

Please note that most airports offer complimentary wheelchair loans from arrival at the airport until boarding. However, the type of wheelchair available may vary, so if you have specific needs, you may wish to contact the airport in advance for more information.

Special information about wheelchair batteries

Depending on the type of battery in your electric wheelchair, there are different safety measures to be aware of.

IATA (International Air Transport Association) regulates dangerous goods, and the rules for transporting wheelchair batteries can be found on their website.

  • Wheelchairs with dry or gel batteries (dry battery / non-spillable battery):
    These batteries are considered non-hazardous and are approved for air transport without restrictions. However, the battery must be disconnected or possibly removed – if the wheelchair is designed for easy removal.

  • Wheelchairs with wet cell batteries (wet/acid battery):
    The battery must be completely disconnected and, in some cases, removed and placed in a special container depending on the aircraft type. There are also several requirements for battery storage.

  • Wheelchairs with lithium batteries:
    The battery must be completely disconnected and carried into the cabin. Documentation must confirm that the battery is approved for air transport and protected against short-circuiting and damage during the journey. There are also size restrictions: max 300 Wh, or if the wheelchair uses two batteries, max 160 Wh each.
    In addition, you may bring one spare battery of up to 300 Wh, or two spare batteries of up to 160 Wh each. Spare batteries must also be carried in the cabin.

Each airline may impose stricter safety rules at its own discretion. It is therefore important to contact the airline as early as possible, preferably before booking your flight.


Relevant links


Go to page about electronic devices and batteries at flypassager.dk

Go to IATA’s website on dangerous goods (English) (new window)

Go to IATA’s documentation page on dangerous goods (English) (new window)

It is important that you inform the airline at the time of booking if you are travelling with a guide dog. The rules for guide dog travel vary between airlines. However, in most cases, the dog is allowed to travel with its handler in the aircraft cabin and does not need to be placed in a crate.

There is no extra charge for bringing a guide dog on flights operated by EU-based airlines, and the dog is not included in the total baggage weight allowance.

As with all animal transport, it is the owner’s responsibility to check the rules that apply in the country to which the dog is travelling. In addition, the owner must check which vaccinations the dog must have in advance and what quarantine regulations apply in the destination country.

Passengers travelling with a guide dog are usually allowed to board the aircraft before other passengers.