Many airlines and airports in Europe are currently experiencing significant delays and cancellations. In many cases, these are due to acute staff shortages. The ÖAMTC gives valuable tips on what claims those affected have in such cases and how you can best prepare for the struggle for compensation payments.

According to ÖAMTC travel monitoring, 68 percent of all Austrian travelers surveyed are planning to go abroad this summer: “Many people are planning another flight this year. However, travelers should be prepared for longer waiting times and arriving at the airport in good time. It is also advisable to check the flight status regularly in good time before the start of the journey, because according to reports from airlines and airports, passengers must expect problems such as delayed or canceled flights," explains ÖAMTC lawyer Verena Pronebner.

If a booked flight is canceled or the flight is delayed by five hours or more, passengers have the choice between a refund of the ticket price or alternative transport, i.e. another transport to the destination or the earliest possible return flight to the first departure point. If the air carrier does not offer a choice between refund or rerouting, but instead refunds the original ticket cost, passengers are entitled to a refund of the additional cost of the new ticket under comparable travel conditions.

Compensation payment ranges from 250 to 600 euros, depending on the flight route

"Instead of refunding the ticket price, airlines are also happy to offer vouchers - but these do not have to be accepted," the ÖAMTC lawyer clarifies. "The airline must also pay a lump-sum compensation if the passenger was not informed of the cancellation at least two weeks before the scheduled departure or no alternative flight was offered within less than seven days before departure that departs a maximum of one hour earlier and maximum arrives two hours later". The amount of the compensation payment depends on the length of the flight - and ranges from 250 euros for flights of up to 1.500 km to 600 euros for flights of more than 3.500 km (outside the EU). "But if the airline offers an alternative flight, the amount of 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."

Whether delayed or canceled - there is no entitlement to compensation if the airline can prove that the delay or cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances and that these could not have been prevented with all reasonable measures. This is e.g. B. in storms or a terrorist attack the case but z. B. not if it has long been clear due to a lack of staff that flights cannot take place as planned.

Tips from the ÖAMTC lawyer for air travelers

• When booking: "The big advantage of booking the flight directly with the airline and not via booking platforms is that the airline has the contact details of the passengers and can contact them directly," explains the lawyer.
• Inform in advance: Check the flight status regularly before departure or, from about two weeks in advance, check whether you have received any news about the flight from the airline. Be sure to check the spam folder as well.
• Use airline apps: Airlines often have apps that provide information about the flight status in real time or where you can reach someone from the ground staff via a chat bot, for example.
• In case of delay: Document the delay and keep receipts (invoices during the waiting time) or speak to the ground staff whether vouchers for consumption at the airport are issued.
• Canceled flights: In the event of cancellation, contact the airline and ask whether alternative transportation is offered. "If the airline does not actively offer an alternative flight, the airline should be contacted before making an alternative booking. All receipts for a further booking should be kept. The airline must reimburse the cost of re-routing if no comparable alternative was offered. The ÖAMTC legal advice provides information and also helps directly and is also available 24/7 for member advice in emergencies," says Pronebner.
• Compensations: If passengers are entitled to a refund of the ticket costs or compensation, the first step should be to address this claim in writing directly to the relevant airline.