A family from the Rhine-Main area has sued the online portal Check24 for damages amounting to €7.725. The lawsuit relates to lost hotel accommodations booked through Check24 with the insolvent tour operator FTI.
The family's lawyer, travel lawyer Holger Hopperdietzel, accuses the booking portal of violating its duty to provide information to consumers. He argues that FTI's financial difficulties should have been apparent prior to the booking. The hearing before the Munich Regional Court is scheduled for October 8.
The case could have a signaling effect for the entire travel industry. If the court follows the plaintiffs' arguments, the question would arise as to when online portals and travel agencies are obligated to warn their customers about the financial problems of tour operators.
The FTI insolvency had already led to the fact that customer money protection no longer provides coverage for individual services such as hotel bookings.