Frustration is growing for passengers whose flights have been grounded in the UK and Europe as a result of the volcanic ash cloud.

Airports have remained closed and a number of passengers have been stranded in the UK and overseas since Thursday.

Many would now have cancelled holidays, but others trying to get home will be missing work and school.

So if passengers are affected, what are their rights?

What are my basic rights?

You have a contract with the airline to get you from A to B. So that means the airline should try to re-route your journey.

Many people will be told to stay at home and contact their airline before they travel. Passengers can generally choose to have a refund or to change to another flight, according to the Trading Standards Institute. Airlines are usually quite swift to give refunds and should not charge an administration fee.

When things are moving again, those rebooked on more expensive flights will not have to pay the difference.

What happens if I am stranded and trying to get home?

If a flight is cancelled, or delayed for more than five hours, in Europe, there are strict European rules in place, which mean that the airline is obliged to provide assistance at the airport. This includes supplying meals and refreshments, along with accommodation if an overnight stay is required.

Key points include:

* People flying into the European Union from overseas are also covered by the rules, as long as they are travelling on a European airline
* There should be no time limit on their provision of accommodation and food, even though it adds to the financial pressure on airlines
* If passengers have organised their own return travel or hotel stays, they should apply to the airline for the money back when they return. But if these are costs are “unreasonable” – such as a taxi back from Spain – then the airline will not pay. Alternative return transport organised by airlines will be safest as there will be no need to pay out and claim back
* Those flying on non-EU carriers, from outside the EU, are entitled to a refund or to be rebooked under alternative regulations, but will probably have to make a claim to their insurance company for hotel and food costs.

In the current situation it is not clear when flights will be able to take off and passengers are therefore being advised not to travel to the airport.

For those stranded overseas, it is worth keeping expenditure on continuing stays to a minimum and then making a claim to the airline. This might be an issue because there might be a shortage of hotel space.

Many airlines are providing alternative ways to get home – such as coaches – but for those further from home hotel rooms and food are being provided as they wait.