Passenger rights depend on the length of the delay, the distance of the flight, the reason for the disruption and which rules apply to the route. Airlines must provide care in many cases, but cash compensation is separate and only due under certain conditions. Most confusion comes from mixing care (meals, hotel, transport) with compensation (extra money). 

Problem

The flight is late or cancelled and you are not sure what the airline actually has to give you. Some passengers get meals and a hotel, others get only a new flight the next day, and talk about compensation money floats around without clear numbers. 

Travel

What to do
Note the exact delay length and the reason given by the airline. Keep the boarding pass and any official messages. Ask at the service desk what care they will provide right now. If the delay is long or the flight is cancelled, ask clearly about meals, hotel and transport to the hotel. For possible cash compensation, write down the details and claim later in writing, because it is rarely paid on the spot.

Three practical levels of help
First level is basic care during the wait. When the delay reaches two or three hours, airlines often give meal and drink vouchers. The exact trigger time depends on the flight distance. This costs you nothing and is the most common form of help you can expect the same day.

Second level is overnight care. If the new flight is only the next morning and the delay is long, the airline may have to provide a hotel room and transport to and from it. This is more likely when the disruption is within the airline’s control. Always ask, because it is not offered automatically every time.

Third level is cash compensation. This is separate from care and is due only in specific cases of long delays or cancellations within the airline’s responsibility. The amount depends on the flight distance and the length of the delay. It is claimed after the trip by email or online form and can take weeks to process. Extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control strikes usually remove the obligation to pay this money.

Cost
Care such as meals and hotels should cost you nothing when the rules require the airline to provide them. If you pay yourself, keep every receipt because you can try to claim the money back later. Cash compensation, when it applies, ranges from roughly 250 to 600 euros depending on distance and delay length. It is not guaranteed and is refused when the airline can prove extraordinary circumstances.

Summary
Delays and cancellations give you two different kinds of rights: immediate care and possible later compensation. Ask for meals and a hotel while you are still at the airport, keep every document, and claim any cash compensation only after you know the final delay length and the official reason. The three levels cover what most passengers can realistically expect. Knowing the difference between care and compensation stops a lot of unnecessary frustration.