Glossary
Definition: The Montreal Convention is an international treaty governing airline liability for passenger injury, death, baggage damage or loss, and flight delays on international air travel, setting maximum compensation limits.
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Term at a glance
| Term | Montreal Convention |
|---|---|
| One-liner | The Montreal Convention is an international treaty governing airline liability for passenger injury, death, baggage damage or loss, and flight delays on international air travel,… |
| Where it matters | Premium-cabin booking decisions, fare-rules interpretation, airline-product comparison. |
| Related concepts | EU261 · DOT Refund Rule · Travel Insurance · Consumer Protection |
| Last verified | 2026-05-07 |
The Montreal Convention (formally the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air) was adopted in 1999 and has been ratified by over 130 countries. It replaced the earlier Warsaw Convention and establishes uniform rules for airline liability.
Under the Montreal Convention, airlines are liable for: passenger death or bodily injury (unlimited liability for the first ~$175,000), checked baggage damage, loss, or delay (up to ~$1,800 per passenger), carry-on baggage damage (if airline is at fault), and damage caused by flight delays (up to ~$7,500 per passenger).
For business class travellers carrying valuable luggage, the Montreal Convention’s baggage compensation limits are important to understand. While the limits are per passenger rather than per bag, they may not cover the full value of expensive business attire and equipment. Travel insurance is recommended for high-value items. BookMyBusinessClass can advise on appropriate travel insurance options.
In booking practice
At a Glance
| Term | Quick definition | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Connection Time | Minimum connection time (MCT) is the shortest legally permitted time between connecting flights at an… | Read |
| Multi-City Itinerary | A multi-city itinerary is a flight booking that includes segments to multiple destinations in a single… | Read |
| Mileage Run | A mileage run is a flight taken primarily to earn frequent flyer miles or qualifying segments to achieve or… | Read |
| Narrow-Body Aircraft | A narrow-body aircraft (also called a single-aisle aircraft) is a smaller passenger airplane with one central… | Read |
| Mileage Pool | An arrangement under which two or more frequent-flyer programmes share a single mileage currency, allowing… | Read |
| NDC (New Distribution Capability) | NDC (New Distribution Capability) is an IATA-driven technology standard that allows airlines to distribute… | Read |
Related Terms
Minimum connection time (MCT) is the shortest legally permitted time between connecting flights at an airport, set by aviation authorities based on the airport’s layout, terminal configuration, and security requirements.
A multi-city itinerary is a flight booking that includes segments to multiple destinations in a single ticket, allowing travellers to visit several cities without backtracking or purchasing separate tickets.
A mileage run is a flight taken primarily to earn frequent flyer miles or qualifying segments to achieve or maintain elite status, rather than for the destination itself.
A narrow-body aircraft (also called a single-aisle aircraft) is a smaller passenger airplane with one central aisle, typically used for short-haul and domestic flights, seating 100–240 passengers.
An arrangement under which two or more frequent-flyer programmes share a single mileage currency, allowing balances to be transferred between accounts at parity (1:1) and redeemed through any participating programme's booking system. The Avios pool (BAEC, Iberia Plus, AerClub, Qatar Privilege Club) is the most prominent mileage pool in operation as of 2026.
NDC (New Distribution Capability) is an IATA-driven technology standard that allows airlines to distribute personalised offers, ancillary products, and dynamic pricing directly to travel agents and booking channels.
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