A pre-Christmas shopping weekend in New York or a long-haul trip at the end of the year - what went without any problems in previous years is now impossible due to the pandemic-related measures. The Austrian motorists club ÖAMTC informs in a guest article about the possibilities that individual and package travelers have.

“During the current lockdown, a trip abroad may only be undertaken if it is at all possible due to numerous entry restrictions, if it serves the purposes for which one is allowed to leave the apartment. These are, for example, professional purposes or an acutely necessary medical treatment, ”explains ÖAMTC lawyer Verena Pronebner. "Even a trip or a day trip within Austria will probably not be covered by the purpose of the Covid19 Emergency Measures Ordinance if the rightly existing basic need to stay and relax outdoors can also be satisfied nearby." It should also be remembered that many accommodation providers are closed. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly advises against unnecessary, especially tourist, travel.

If you have booked a package tour for December after the lockdown in Austria has ended, the following applies: “A package tour can be canceled free of charge if the start of the holiday and the dangerous situation are close together and the journey or transport to the destination is significantly impaired. However, if the travel destination is not in a region affected by the pandemic at the start of the trip or if the holiday is only going to start in a few weeks, you have to wait, ”says the ÖAMTC lawyer. “Even if the courts will only be able to clarify the special circumstances surrounding the corona pandemic in the future - we assume that a long-haul trip at Christmas will be impossible. Because it is already foreseeable that the global situation will not improve. In these cases, we see the right of the consumer to cancel the package tour free of charge. " However, if you have only booked a trip for January, you should wait or discuss the possibility of rebooking or early free cancellation with the tour operator or travel agency. In any case, the entry restrictions for the destination country and the re-entry requirements for Austria must be checked.

Individual travel - what should be considered when booking individual hotels and flights

For individual trips, the cancellation conditions of the respective country apply and there is usually no right to free cancellation. If you could theoretically travel to the booked hotel, but would no longer like to do so, you are left with the cancellation costs - unless you find a solution with the accommodation provider or the terms and conditions (including a booking platform) provide otherwise.

If you have booked a separate flight to a country with a travel warning (up to level 5), you have to differentiate: If the flight takes place but you do not want to take it, in most cases there is no entitlement to a refund of the ticket costs. Then it is advisable to ask the airline for a goodwill solution. "If the flight is planned to a region for which travel warning level 6 exists or in which you are not allowed to enter as an Austrian, the flight can be canceled according to domestic law with the argument of 'loss of business basis' and you get the money back", explains the ÖAMTC expert. If the flight is canceled by the airline, the passenger receives the costs (ticket, taxes, fees) back.

If you want to visit close family members around Christmas time, you must also check the entry restrictions for the destination country and the re-entry requirements for Austria - as well as observe the applicable protective measures on site. Whether a trip abroad is necessary depends on the individual case and may have to be argued at the border.