Your trip by plane is also a contract between the passenger and the airline, therefore, both parties have their rights. If you meet any problems connected with your flight, you have right to contact the airline representative and ask for the the solution.
17.02.2006 the European Union developed a collection of new regulations involving both regular flights and cheap airlines. After reading the following text you will be aware what to do if an airline interdicts you to enter the plane or lose your luggage and where can you make a complaint if your flight has been delayed or cancelled.

Plane entering refusal

It is typical for airlines to sell more tickets than there are places in the plane to minimalize the risk of prospective loss (empty seats do not generate profits at all…), counting on the cancellations of some passengers in the last moment. This policy often becomes a reason of numerous predicaments, as at the time of customs suddenly it occurs that there are more passengers who had bought the tickets than places available in the plane. When the places finally lack, the airline is obligor to find passengers who agree to cancel their flights to make a room for other passengers. If you volunteer to resign from your place, you get the right to return your ticket, including a free flight to the airport from which you had departted or to which you were going to. However, if you do not will to do so, your airline is obligor to pay the compensation for your inability to continue your journey. The compensation amounts are:

• 250 EUR for the airways under 1500 km
• 400 EUR for the airways over 1500 km within the European Union and between 1500 km and 3500 km for any other flights
• 600 EUR for the airways over 3500 km outside the European Union

If the flight delay caused by lack of places in the plane is shorter than 2, 3 or 4 hours, the compensation may be reduced to 50%. Moreover, while waiting for the alternative flight offered by the airline, you have right to obtain alimentation and accommodation at the hotel (providing that the particular flight takes place the next day or in a few days), transfer and (if necessary) two toll-free phone calls, faxes or e-mails. Airlines first supervise handicapped passengers with their caretakers and children traveling alone.

Flight cancellation

It can happen that the flight you planned to have is cancelled. Then, you have similar rights as in case of refusal to enter the plane board (return of the amount of money you paid for the air ticket, free flight to your destination place, boarding and accommodation, ditto). The compensation will not be paid if you had been informed about the delay:

• at least 2 weeks prior to the date of departure
• at least 7 days priot to the date of departure, providing that the airline provides a connection beginning max 2 hours before the planned flight and ending max 4 hours after the planned flight
• less that 7 days prior to the date of departure, providing that the airline provides a connection beginning max 1 hour before the planned flight and ending max  2 hours after the planned flight

Please notice, that at the time of emergency, e.g. disasters, catastrophes, strikes or bad weather conditions, providing that the airline proves that the flight cancellation was caused by one of the above mentioned factors, passengers do not have right to receive a compensation.

Flight delay

If you arrived at the airport on time and met the announcement about flight delays:

• over 2 hours regarding the airways under 1500 km
• over 3 hours regarding the airways over 1500 km within the European Union and between 1500 km and 3500 km for any other flights
• over 4 hours regarding the airways over 3500 km outside the European Union

you have right to boarding, accommodation at the hotel and transfer (if necessary) for the time of awaiting the flight and 2 free calls, faxes or e-mails. In case of the delay time increase up to over 5 hours, you have right to return the ticket and a free flight to the airport of the departure.

Luggage damaging or loss

If your luggage had been damaged or lost at the time of your flight, you have right to claim for the compensation from your airline in the amount of 1000 SDR (over 4000 PLN). All the claims regarding the damaged luggage should be put in max 7 days after receiving and regarding the delayed baggage – max 21 days after receiving. If the luggage had benn lost by any other airline than the one which had sold you the air ticket, you may choose from which airline you with to receive the compensation. 

Source: www.esky.pl