Some are already making vacation plans for this summer. From the current perspective, it is not yet possible to foresee which trips and where will be possible.
"Anyone who books for the summer now runs the risk that the trip may not take place after all due to the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus," says ÖAMTC lawyer Verena Pronebner. "Basically, the safest option is to book a package tour - this is the best legal protection if the trip cannot be started or if the organizer goes bankrupt." It may still happen that the trip has to be canceled by the organizer - but then you will get back any payments you have already made.
However, a residual risk remains even when booking a package holiday: "If you ultimately decide against the trip because, for example, there are corona-related restrictions in the country you are travelling to or you have health concerns, then a free cancellation may not be possible," explains the mobility club's lawyer. "A free cancellation of the trip could be refused by the organizer if a certain circumstance was already known at the time the trip was booked." The argument could therefore be: You had to expect at the time of booking that the corona pandemic could continue to be rampant. A free cancellation could then only be granted due to new exceptional circumstances, e.g. after a natural disaster at the holiday destination.
"If you want to book now despite the uncertainty of the situation for summer, you should definitely get a written assurance from the tour operator that a free cancellation is possible due to the pandemic," recommends ÖAMTC expert Pronebner. The deposit for package tours may not exceed 20 percent of the travel price when booked through Austrian tour operators (often 25 percent for German tour operators). Payments in excess of this may only be accepted by the tour operator when the travel documents are handed over at the same time, which show the customer's claims, and no earlier than 20 days before the start of the trip.
Individual travel - what is important when booking a hotel or flight only
If you only want to book a hotel in Germany or abroad, you should pay attention to the respective cancellation conditions. "Here too, when booking for this year, it is advisable to make an individual agreement with the accommodation provider that cancellations can be made free of charge until shortly before arrival 'due to corona'," advises the ÖAMTC lawyer. "Domestic companies are often very accommodating in this regard." The question of whether there is a right to free cancellation if, for example, the accommodation is not allowed to accommodate tourists or the hotel guest is not allowed to travel due to corona-related measures always depends on the law of the state in which the accommodation is located. In Austria, a free cancellation would be possible in these cases.
"If you only want to book a flight, it can be more difficult: a free ticket cancellation is then not guaranteed. Because you have basically booked a safe and largely punctual transport to your desired destination, but not a problem-free stay on site," explains the ÖAMTC lawyer. It should also be noted that there is still no protection against airline insolvency and therefore booking and paying for the flight early can be risky for the traveler. This also applies to hotels and other accommodation providers.
If you have any questions, the ÖAMTC legal advisors are available to club members free of charge - all information is available at www.oeamtc.at/rechtsberatung. All current regulations regarding entry and exit regulations for Austria and all of Europe can be found in the holiday service of the mobility club: www.oeamtc.at/urlaubsservice.
The ÖAMTC travel agency offers a wide range of package tours - to be found at www.oeamtc.at/reisen. There are attractive car trips available for self-drivers and those who want to rent a larger car for the holiday trip will also find what they are looking for.
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