If a flight is delayed or even canceled, it is important to know your rights as a passenger. “The EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation provides clear rules for such cases.

These apply to flights within the EU, from the EU to other countries or from other countries to the EU, provided that it is an EU airline, ”says ÖAMTC lawyer Nikolaus Authried. "Depending on the length of the delay, there is an entitlement to care or compensation." If the flight is delayed by five hours or more or is even canceled, passengers have the choice between a refund of the ticket price, possibly with a return transport to the first place of departure or other transport to the final destination.

In the event of a delayed departure, airlines are generally obliged to offer snacks and refreshments free of charge and to enable telephone calls or the sending of e-mails. The care service depends on the length of the delay and the flight distance: For flights of up to 1.500 km, you are entitled to the care service if you are delayed two hours or more. "If this is refused, it is worth keeping the bills for snacks & Co. in order to be able to claim the expenses later," advises the lawyer of the mobility club. "If you arrive at your final destination at least three hours late, air travelers are also entitled to compensation."

Claims in the event of flight cancellation - timing of information is decisive

If a booked flight is canceled, the passenger has the choice between reimbursement of the ticket price or replacement transport (ie other transport to the destination or the earliest possible return flight to the first place of departure). “The airline has to pay a lump sum compensation if the passenger has not been informed of the cancellation at least two weeks before the planned departure,” says ÖAMTC expert Authried. “But even if two weeks were not reached, there is still no entitlement to compensation - provided an alternative flight is offered and certain time frames are adhered to for departure and arrival: the airline does not have to provide a flat-rate replacement if it is notified less than seven days before departure if a new flight is offered that departs no more than an hour earlier and arrives no more than two hours later. "

Compensation payment depends on the length of the flight route - in exceptional circumstances, the airline is required to provide evidence

If compensation is due (e.g. in the case of a cancellation without replacement or not notified in good time or a delayed arrival of at least three hours), the amount depends on the length of the flight route - and ranges from 250 euros for flights up to 1.500 km 600 euros for flights over 3.500 km (outside the EU). “Passengers have the right to get their money back. Airlines are also happy to offer vouchers in such cases - but these do not have to be accepted, ”explains the ÖAMTC lawyer.

However, if the airline offers an alternative flight, the amount of the compensation can be reduced by 50 percent if, depending on the length of the route, the new arrival time does not deviate too much from the agreed one, e.g. B. at distances of up to 1.500 km by a maximum of two hours.

Whether delayed or canceled - there is no entitlement to compensation if the airline can prove that the delay or cancellation was due to exceptional circumstances (e.g. severe weather or terrorist attack). However, this fact must be proven by the airline. In addition, the airline must be able to prove that the consequences of the extraordinary circumstances could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures (such as a rebooking) had been taken.