Article 9: the right to care

Meals, communication and a hotel while you wait — owed even when no compensation is.

Legal referenceEU 261, Art. 9; McDonagh C-12/11

Article 9 is the "right to care": the practical support the airline must give you during a long wait, regardless of the cause of the disruption.

Meals and refreshments proportionate to the waiting time
Two phone calls, emails or equivalent
Hotel accommodation if you must stay overnight
Transport between the airport and the hotel

Care is owed even when extraordinary circumstances rule out cash compensation. In McDonagh the Court confirmed there is no upper limit on it. If the airline fails to provide care, keep receipts and reclaim reasonable costs.

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