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ÖAMTC warns of dangerous child seats

guest Author 15 April 2024 11:08

The mobility club and its partner organizations are currently testing the latest child seats. One model, the Peg Perego Viaggio Twist with an Isofix base, was found to have serious safety defects. ÖAMTC technician Steffan Kerbl summarizes: "During the frontal crash test with the seat mounted against the direction of travel, the support leg broke off at the joint of the Isofix base. The seat shell then detached itself from the base and was thrown forwards along with the 15 kg dummy, which could lead to serious injuries in a real accident." The same thing happened with the seat installed in the direction of travel: here too, the support leg broke in the frontal crash. The released forces ripped the plastic housing of the base apart and caused the dummy to be thrown far up and forwards. The manufacturer was informed of the situation by the test partners and asked what measures were being taken to solve the problem. According to Peg Perego, the Viaggio Twist received its approval in October 2023 and has only been sold in small numbers since then. Due to the failure in the consumer protection test, Peg Perego has temporarily stopped selling the Viaggio Twist. Consumers who have already purchased the Peg Perego Viaggio Twist + Base Twist (or just the Base Twist) should contact the point of sale or the manufacturer's service contact. Unsafe product on sale - why is that possible? The frontal impact tests carried out by the ÖAMTC and its partner organizations as part of the consumer protection tests are based on the Euro NCAP crash tests in terms of accident severity. The products are subjected to significantly higher forces than in the legally required approval tests for child seats. However, studies in recent years have shown that many products are also

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APF recovered 2,5 million euros for passengers last year

guest Author 15 April 2024 08:31

In 2023, the APF was able to obtain a total of 2,5 million euros in compensation, compensation payments and reimbursements for travelers in more than 5.200 completed proceedings. The Agency for Passenger Rights (APF) advocates for travelers in rail, long-distance bus, scheduled ship and air transport. As part of out-of-court arbitration procedures, the APF helps travelers to assert their rights free of charge and without commission. "Satisfied passengers are a prerequisite for a well-functioning transport system. The APF provides support especially when things are not running so smoothly. As a competent arbitration body, it helps travelers to protect and enforce their rights and thus offers them great relief. I am pleased to be able to provide all passengers with this free service from the Climate Protection Ministry," said Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler. Overview of figures 2023 In 2023, the APF was able to obtain a total of 2,5 million euros in compensation, compensation payments and refunds for travelers in more than 5.200 concluded proceedings in its arbitration proceedings. The largest share, amounting to 2,3 million euros, is attributable to the aviation sector. On average, this means a payment of 472 euros per settlement for passengers. "Depending on the flight distance, air travelers are entitled to compensation payments in the event of long delays and flight cancellations. Travelers often had to pay for alternative transport themselves and were not adequately looked after by the airlines with meals and hotel accommodation. In the rail sector, the APF was increasingly confronted with cancellations of incorrectly booked tickets, unjustified fines and compensation claims for reduced services in night train services," says Maria-Theresia Röhsler, Head of the APF. "My thanks go to the dedicated APF team.

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Railway: “Rail cruises” in Switzerland

guest Author 11 April 2024 10:01

Just get on board and don't miss a thing. On the rail cruise you can enjoy the most popular highlights, but also lesser-known gems of Switzerland's largest holiday canton. On the Alpine Cruise, the Rhaetian Railway takes its passengers past the most beautiful and unusual places in Graubünden to Tirano in Italy. The route of the optional four-, five- or eight-day trip is just as much the goal as the destinations that can be discovered along the Arosa Line, the Albula Line and the Bernina Line. The Rhaetian Railway trains cross unique viaducts on their journey and the large panoramic windows of the Bernina Express allow an incomparable view of the Swiss Alps. The journey through Chur begins leisurely. But soon the stroll through the city on rails is over: now the red train becomes a mountain railway. After countless curves, Arosa welcomes you with fresh mountain air, sunshine and a pinch of humor. From Thusis, the Rhaetian Railway climbs through spiral tunnels and over viaducts up the Albula Valley towards St. Moritz. The line, which is harmoniously embedded in the landscape, is a showpiece from the time of the railway pioneers and is part of the UNESCO RhB World Heritage Site. The Bernina Line between St. Moritz, Valposchiavo and Tirano impressively connects the north and south of Europe. It leads past mountains, lakes and glaciers down to the palm trees in the Valtellina. The famous panoramic route is part of the UNESCO RhB World Heritage Site - a trademark for railway lovers from all over the world. The Alpine Cruise offers the luxury of deciding whether the "rail cruiser" wants to relax or be active. The four, five or eight-day trip includes overnight stays in the

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Lower Austrian tourism study presented

guest Author 11 April 2024 07:02

At a press conference at the Hotel-Gasthof Graf in St. Pölten on Tuesday, Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner presented the results of a current study - carried out by the market research institute MANOVA - on the economic factor of tourism in Lower Austria. Tourism is an important economic pillar, said the governor, because "more than two billion euros are generated annually in tourism in Lower Austria." The focus is on spa or health tourism, with 21 percent of overnight stays, 36 percent are accounted for by seminar and business tourism, according to the study, and "the largest area is classic holiday tourism, which is responsible for 43 percent of all overnight stays." In addition, there is a clear trend towards quality tourism, with the number of four-star beds having increased to around twelve percent in the last five years. "A clear trend towards holiday and quality tourism in Lower Austria," said Mikl-Leitner, and the state wants to promote this as much as possible. “Over the past five years, we have supported around 1.600 investment projects with more than 32 million euros in grants, thereby implementing investments totalling 247 million euros.” Many new businesses have been created, such as the Hotel Garni Zwettl, the Kittenberger Chalets in Schiltern, the Refugium Lunz and the Hafnertec in Wieselburg. Many businesses have also used the funding to improve quality – the Lower Austrian Inn Package has been particularly successful here, “where we have provided four million euros in funding,” said the governor, who went on to explain: “175 hosts are investing in their businesses and we are triggering more than 20 million euros in investments, which above all also generate orders

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Styria with numerous attractions in summer 2024

guest Author 11 April 2024 06:01

The best way to travel through the Green Heart next summer is from A for Ausseerland to T for thermal and volcanic land. The topics are incredibly broad: from the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024 to 950 years of the Benedictine Abbey of Admont with the world's largest monastery library in the Gesäuse National Park to Formula 1 Grand Prix, Moto GP or Airpower in the Murtal to the new Dachstein mountain station as an "energy crystal" on the highest mountain in Styria. The thermal and volcanic land is the most popular golf destination in Austria in 2024 and those hungry for exercise can cycle and hike perfectly from alpine to southern hilly, always strengthened by the best culinary delights - from "Alpine culinary delights by Richard Rauch" to picnics in the vineyard. Culinary delights have never been more of a focus, and the application for the Green Heart has never been bigger than this year. Styrian trams in Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Amsterdam and Vienna, digital branding at major events in Germany alongside many digital external appearances from Poland to the Czech Republic and facade advertising in Vienna, many podcaster, influencer and streaming platform collaborations, international print, radio and TV presence, guerrilla marketing campaigns in the Netherlands, Styrian appearance in Italy, business collaborations with, for example, a fashion brand in Hungary, and much more: these are just a few examples of the largest national and international appearance that Styria has ever implemented in seven markets in order to bring the Green Heart into the spotlight and thus into the shortlist of holiday choices. In addition, a separate summer campaign is being played out together with all adventure regions, which also strongly emphasizes the culinary side of Styria in order to draw attention to the Green Heart. Styrian accommodation providers will

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Hidden payment fees cost consumers dearly

guest Author 11 April 2024 05:33

1,9 billion euros in losses: In Germany, hidden fees in inflated exchange rates, high costs for international transactions and expenses abroad by travelers are incurred. On behalf of Wise, the economic research company Capital Economics has determined that consumers and companies in Germany lost 1,9 billion euros last year through hidden fees on international payments - for example for travel, business, education or supporting relatives abroad. Consumers paid around 2023 million euros in hidden fees in 551 The hidden fees that German consumers paid as part of personal expenses while traveling amount to 288 million euros. The fees for transfers abroad or from abroad to Germany totaled 263 million euros. These hidden fees arise, for example, from exchange rate surcharges on currency conversions when transferring money abroad, withdrawing cash or making card payments. German companies even paid around 1,3 billion euros in fees Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) paid 1,3 billion euros in hidden fees last year. Many companies are deterred from expanding abroad by the costs and complexity of international payments. In 2021, German SMEs' export turnover to third countries was over 100 billion euros. The problem could be solved if the market were transparent: it would enable SMEs to make a fair market comparison and promote competition between providers. However, SMEs are currently not protected by transparency regulations in either the EU or Germany. How do hidden fees arise? The reason for hidden fees is usually currency conversion, which can be difficult even within Europe.

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The Federal Army showed the Alouette III cockpit at the trade fair in Wieselburg

guest Author 9 April 2024 07:09

At the Outdoor Experience Days on April 6 and 7, 2024 at the Wieselburg exhibition center, the latest trends and products in the areas of outdoor, camping and sports were presented. At the opening, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner presented the most important program items of the trade fair and answered questions about the Federal Army. In addition to numerous lectures and workshops, the Federal Army will be on site again this year. A special highlight is a cockpit of an Alouette III, which is equipped with the latest virtual reality technology. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner: "I am very pleased that the Federal Army is part of the trade fair in Wieselburg for the second time and that we have the opportunity to present the many facets of the Federal Army. The various program items offer visitors the chance to get to know the Federal Army better and to experience it actively. I wish all visitors a lot of fun and an exciting weekend." The Federal Army Experience World offered numerous hands-on stations where courage and skill could be demonstrated. For the first time, visitors can try their hand at being a pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit of a retired Alouette III helicopter. In the second row of seats in the helicopter, three other guests can use VR glasses to experience spectacular flight scenes from real Alouette III missions up close. With the help of VR glasses, different branches of the military can be learned virtually. In addition to numerous other stations such as a bag jump or an escape room, the sporting activities of the Federal Army can be tried out together with the army athletes. Visitors can get the most important tips for the next outdoor adventure and on the subject of survival from the Jadgkommando.

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International boating license is not valid in all states

guest Author 9 April 2024 05:03

Resolution No. 40 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the issuance of International Certificates for Captains of Pleasure Boats was designed to simplify and standardize the cross-border recognition of these certificates. Despite these international efforts, Austrian sailors and boat captains face challenges because the recognition of such certificates is not uniform. In popular holiday destinations in particular, such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece, as well as Albania, Montenegro, Poland, Sweden and Denmark, the ICC certificate issued under this resolution is not automatically accepted. Restricted authorization: Even if a certificate is generally recognized, certain restrictions may exist, such as a limit on the distance from the coast for which the certificate is valid. Additional exams or certificates required: In some cases, countries recognize the basic scope of a certificate, but require additional local exams or proof for special sailing authorizations, such as night sailing or driving certain types of boats. This discrepancy between international and local regulations in individual countries means that Austrian holidaymakers have to study the requirements of the destination country in detail in order to navigate safely and in accordance with the law. The label "international" on a boating license does not guarantee worldwide recognition or authorization to operate a pleasure boat in all waters. Austrian sailors and boaters who plan to use their skills in international waters (foreign countries) must plan and prepare carefully. This can often require obtaining additional local certificates or permits to meet the specific requirements of each country. The situation underlines the need for a flexible and well-informed approach to sailing and

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Vienna Higher Regional Court overturns Ö-Ticket service fees

guest Author 8 April 2024 11:09

In March last year, the Association for Consumer Information (VKI) sued CTS Eventim Austria GmbH, which operates the “Ö-Ticket” ticket service, on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs. The subject of the proceedings were clauses in the contract terms of Ö-Ticket, including those regulating “service fees” for the purchase of event tickets and their reimbursement. After the Commercial Court (HG) in Vienna had already declared the provisions on the service fee objected to by the VKI to be inadmissible, the Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Vienna has now confirmed that the clauses are illegal. The ruling is not yet legally binding. On the website, in the General Terms and Conditions (GTC) and on the booking form at Ö-Ticket there are text passages regulating the charging of a “service fee”. The Higher Regional Court of Vienna judged these provisions, like the Higher Regional Court of Vienna before it, to be non-transparent and grossly disadvantageous because they leave consumers unclear as to which specific services are actually provided for the service fee and what rights the customers have in return. However, customers must be able to see which services are provided in this context, otherwise they will not be able to judge whether these services have been properly provided by the company. In addition, it remained unclear whether the service fee is charged once per purchase or separately for each ticket. For the Higher Regional Court of Vienna, it was not enough for customers to have the option of finding out the specific amount of the service fee via a hyperlink. The courts could not find any explanatory information directly related to the clause. A clause that was also rejected by the Higher Regional Court of Vienna stipulated that any "service, shipping and worry-free fees" incurred in the event of an event being cancelled would not be refunded.

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Fare evasion is particularly expensive in these cities

guest Author 5 April 2024 08:36

Using public transport is part of everyday life for many commuters, travelers and city dwellers. In Germany alone, over ten billion people were transported by bus and train in 2022. To make life easier for passengers, Bunq, the second largest neobank in Europe, has found out where a missing ticket can be particularly expensive. To do this, the penalties for fare evasion in 27 European capitals were determined. According to Bunq's analysis, the fines average 65,12 euros. Traveling without a ticket is most expensive in Sweden. Passengers who avoid a ticket in the Swedish capital have to pay the most in Europe. Stockholm takes first place in the ranking, where travelers have to expect the equivalent of 137,68 euros for a missing ticket. In second place is Lisbon with 120 euros. Brussels, on the other hand, completes the podium with 107 euros. In the cities of Vienna, Helsinki and Copenhagen, there are also three-digit fines, with 104,80, 102,95 and 100,61 euros respectively – unnecessary costs can be saved here in particular. According to Bunq’s analysis, the average price for a missing ticket in Europe is 65,12 euros. The fines in Dublin, London and Bratislava are much higher: if commuters or holidaymakers travel without a ticket, they are charged 100, 93,57 and 81,10 euros respectively. This puts the cities in seventh, eighth and ninth place in the study, with Athens completing the top ten with a fine of 72 euros. In the German capital too, passengers should note that not visiting the ticket counter can result in a fine of 60 euros. This puts Berlin slightly below the

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