Passagerätt

Passagerätt is the term used for the legal protections granted to travelers in relation to the use of transport services. It covers information duties, assistance, reimbursement, rerouting, and, in some cases, compensation when travel is disrupted. The concept applies to passengers on various modes of transport—air, rail, road, bus, and sea—and is shaped by national laws as well as international agreements and, in the European context, EU rules.

In the European Union, passenger rights are governed by harmonized rules that vary by transport mode. For air travel, EU rules require airlines to inform passengers about delays and cancellations, provide care (such as meals or hotel accommodation) during long waits, offer rerouting or refunds, and, in certain cases, pay compensation for eligible disruptions. For rail, rules cover information, assistance, and refunds or rerouting, with compensation for delays on many routes. Bus and coach services are covered by equivalent protections under Regulation 181/2011, while ferry and sea passenger rights are addressed through national laws and international conventions. The overarching principle is that passengers should receive timely information, appropriate assistance, and access to remedies in the event of disruptions.

Key concepts include the possibility of extraordinary circumstances, which can relieve carriers of compensation obligations, and the right to care for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. Rights may vary depending on trip origin, destination, and whether travel is domestic, within the EU, or international.

To exercise passagerätt, passengers should retain tickets and boarding passes, document delays or cancellations, and submit a claim to the carrier. If the claim is denied or not resolved, they can appeal to national enforcement bodies or consumer authorities, such as Transportstyrelsen in Sweden or the European Consumer Centre. The Montreal Convention also governs international air carriage in many cases, complementing EU rules. Passagerätt is a dynamic area of law subject to updates and refinements.