The Association for Consumer Information (VKI) feels that it is being led by the nose by the Austrian Ryanair subsidiary Lauda. Despite promises to quickly reimburse customers for the money for canceled flights, not only is everything going very slowly, but the company is trying to fob off customers with vouchers despite intervention by the VKI.

The Tiroler Tageszeitung, citing the association, reports that some of the vouchers with which Lauda wants to get rid of legitimate customer claims are dated several months back. By pointing out that a payment could only be requested after 12 months have elapsed, Lauda would not only mislead the affected customers, but also allegedly willfully inform them incorrectly.

A few weeks ago, the VKI started a collection campaign for passengers who were harmed by Austrian Airlines and Lauda due to their breaches of the law. Both carriers deactivated automatic reimbursement options and have since delayed the repayment of tickets that could not be used due to flight cancellations. At the AUA, however, there should be light at the end of the tunnel, because 10.500 of the 9.000 claims that are operated via the VKI are said to have already been paid out.

The situation at Lauda is completely different. The management assured a few weeks ago that the payment should now be made quickly, but VKI manager Ulrike Wolf reported to the Tiroler Tageszeitung from another picture: "It was announced that the money would be repaid quickly, but everything is still going very slowly and badly."

The consumer advocate is particularly angry that Lauda starts a new attempt to sell “compulsory vouchers” despite the intervention by the VKI and the promise of the management that they will repay quickly. Wolf describes the approach to the Tiroler Tageszeitung as “outrageous” and explains as follows: “The consumers only recently received the information, but the vouchers are dated April 23, 2020”. She also criticizes the fact that some e-mails are in English and contain the following notice in the “small print”: If you do not redeem your voucher within 12 months, you can request a cash refund on the airline's website. “The VKI considers the approach “outrageous” and “misleading”. Therefore one will take further measures against the airline Lauda and Ryanair. Wolf did not say which ones they are.