Treaty
The Montreal Convention
EU261 gives fixed payments for disruption. The Montreal Convention gives compensation for actual proven loss on international journeys — a different logic entirely.
What it covers
- Delayed, damaged or lost baggage — up to roughly €1,500 per passenger.
- Provable financial loss caused by a delay — up to roughly €6,000 per passenger.
- Death or injury during carriage.
You have to prove the loss
Unlike EU261, nothing is fixed. You claim what the disruption actually cost you — a missed prepaid hotel night, a rebooked onward ticket, replacement clothing — and you need receipts for all of it. Inconvenience and upset are not recoverable.
It stacks with EU261
The two are separate. A delayed flight from Madrid to Mexico City can produce a €600 EU261 payment for the delay and a Montreal Convention claim for the hotel night you lost. Airlines sometimes suggest one cancels out the other; it does not.
Deadlines
- Damaged baggage: 7 days.
- Delayed baggage: 21 days from delivery.
- Court action: 2 years from arrival.
Quick answer
EU261 gives fixed payments for disruption. The Montreal Convention gives compensation for actual proven loss on international journeys — a different logic entirely.
- Jurisdiction
- International journeys
- Primary rule
- Montreal Convention 1999
- Payment basis
- Special Drawing Rights
- Assessment
- Depends on route, disruption and cause
Common questions
- Does it apply to domestic flights?
- No. It covers international carriage between signatory states; domestic flights fall under national rules.
- Can I claim my missed hotel night?
- Yes, if the delay caused it and you have the booking and payment evidence.
- Do I claim it in the same letter as EU261?
- You can, but keep the two clearly separated: one is a fixed statutory amount, the other is an itemised loss with receipts.
Primary sources
Official guidance and legislation used to review this page.