When a flight is delayed or cancelled, many travellers ask themselves: who pays for the extra costs, especially for an overnight hotel stay? The answer is more complex than it may initially seem.

According to EU Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, passengers are entitled to so-called care services when their flight is significantly delayed or cancelled. These include meals, refreshments, and – if necessary – hotel accommodation including transport between the airport and the hotel.

A recent case highlights the issue: two travellers from the Canton of Bern flew back to Switzerland from Spain with easyJet. Their flight arrived in Geneva nearly two hours late, causing them to miss the last train home. They had to book a hotel room, which cost CHF 150 – an expense the airline refused to reimburse.

Our air passenger rights jurist, Simon Sommer, was interviewed on this matter by nau.ch and explained that EU Regulation 261/2004 clearly outlines the circumstances under which passengers are entitled to either a hotel voucher or reimbursement of incurred hotel costs.

It is important to note that the entitlement to a hotel stay only applies if the delay or cancellation makes an additional overnight stay necessary. For example, if a flight from Zurich to Mallorca is delayed overnight and the passenger must stay near Zurich Airport, the cost of that hotel stay should be reimbursed.

However, costs for missed hotel nights at the destination or for overnight stays after the journey has ended – such as missing the last train home after arriving at the final airport – are not reimbursable.

Affected passengers are advised to keep all receipts and contact the airline directly to claim reimbursement. If the airline refuses to pay, it may be worthwhile to seek legal advice, contact your legal expenses insurer, or consult a specialised portal – such as ours.