The right to care is one of the most important protections for EU air passengers under UK261 and EU261, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. Many travelers wrongly believe that airlines only need to help in certain situations or that care is optional. These myths often lead passengers to miss out on free meals, hotel accommodation, and transport they are legally entitled to receive during flight disruptions.
In this article, we debunk the most common myths about the right to care and explain what your real rights are when your flight is delayed, cancelled, or overbooked.
Check your compensation online.
Common Myths About the Right to Care on Jet2 Flights
Under EU261 duty of care, airlines are required to provide meals, refreshments, accommodation for overnight delays, and transport during long delays or cancellations, regardless of the cause.
Learn more about the common myths associated with the right to care.
Myth 1: The Right to Care Only Applies If the Airline Is at Fault
Many passengers mistakenly believe they only have the right to care when the airline is at fault for a flight delay or cancellation, such as in cases involving technical and mechanical problems.
This is false.
The right to care applies regardless of who is responsible for the disruption.
Even if your flight is delayed or cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather, natural disasters, safety issues, air traffic control restrictions, or air traffic control strikes, the airline must still provide meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation when required, and transport.
EU flight compensation may depend on fault, but care never does.
Myth 2: You Only Get the Right to Care After 5 or 6 Hours
Some passengers think airlines only have to provide care after very long delays.
In reality, the right to care starts much earlier.
In many cases, the right to care begins after 3 hours. Waiting too long to ask for assistance can mean you miss out on support you were entitled to much earlier.
Myth 3: Airlines Can Refuse Care During Extraordinary Circumstances
This is one of the most common myths about the right to care.
Even when a delay or cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather, storms, volcanic ash, air traffic control, or security risks, the airline still must provide care.
This includes:
- Meals and refreshments
- Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary
- Transport between the airport and the hotel
- Means of communication
The only thing airlines may be exempt from in these situations is flight compensation, not care.
Read more:
- Jet2 Flight Delay Compensation
- Jet2 Flight Cancellation Compensation
- Jet2 Denied Boarding Compensation
Myth 4: The Right to Care Only Applies to EU Airlines
Many travelers think the right to care only applies when flying with European airlines.
This is incorrect.
The right to care applies to:
- All flights departing from the UK or EU, regardless of the airline
- Flights arriving in the UK or EU with a UK/EU airline
That means even non-EU airlines must provide care when departing from the UK or EU.
Myth 5: If You Booked a Package Holiday, You Don’t Get the Right to Care
Booking a package holiday does not remove your flight rights.
Passengers on package holidays are still protected by UK261 and EU261 when it comes to flight disruptions. The airline remains responsible for providing care during flight delays and cancellations.
Myth 6: You Can’t Book Your Own Hotel or Buy Meals
Many passengers believe they must wait for the airline to arrange everything.
If the airline fails to provide care in a reasonable time, you are allowed to arrange your own meals, hotel, and transport and later request reimbursement. The key rule is that your expenses must be reasonable and supported by receipts.
Myth 7: The Right to Care Ends If You Accept Rebooking
Accepting a new flight does not cancel your right to care.
If your replacement flight departs hours later or the next day, the airline must continue to provide care until you reach your final destination.
This includes overnight accommodation and airport transport if needed.
Myth 8: Airlines Always Automatically Provide the Right to Care
In reality, airlines do not always proactively offer care, especially during major disruptions.
Passengers often have to request care and assistance at the airport. If you do not ask, you may be left waiting without support—even though the airline is legally required to help.
If the airline fails to provide meals, refreshments, or hotel accommodation in a reasonable time, you are allowed to purchase these yourself and later request reimbursement, as long as your expenses are reasonable and you keep all receipts.
Check your compensation online.
Myth 9: The Right to Care Is the Same as Compensation
Care and compensation are two completely separate UK/EU air passenger rights, and one does not cancel out the other.
You can receive care:
- Even if you are not entitled to UK/EU flight compensation
- Even if the delay or cancellation is beyond the airline’s control (i.e., extraordinary circumstances)
Many passengers wrongly assume that if compensation is not owed, care is not owed either. This is false.
Also, even if you are entitled to compensation, you remain fully entitled to the right to care as well.
Myth 10: If You Have Travel Insurance, the Airline Doesn’t Have to Provide Care
Some travelers assume that having travel insurance replaces the airline’s obligation to provide care.
This is false. Travel insurance and the airline’s duty of care are completely separate.
The airline is still legally required to provide meals, accommodation, and transport under UK261/EU261, even if you also hold a valid insurance policy.
Read more: Right to Care from Jet2
Do you have more questions about the UK261/EU261 right to care? Ask in the comments.
Featured photo by Engin Akyurt from Pexels