FLIGHT: EUGH DECISION: NO ENTITLEMENT TO COMPENSATION IN THE CASE OF A SINGLE BOOKING IF THE FINAL DESTINATION IS REACHED AT THE SCHEDULED ARRIVAL TIME WITH A BOOKED CONNECTING FLIGHT
from Armin Trojer
The plaintiff in the main proceedings had booked a flight (operated by Air Nostrum) from Jerez de la Frontera (Spain) to Madrid (Spain) with a connecting flight to Frankfurt am Main (Germany). The flight was based on a single booking.
The passenger's booking was changed against her will - she was rebooked on another feeder flight, which, however, allowed her to make the scheduled connecting flight to her final destination. However, the feeder flight actually booked took place.
The passenger then demanded compensation from Air Nostrum in accordance with the EU Passenger Rights Regulation.
The case was ultimately referred to the ECJ for a preliminary ruling.
The wording of the Court's judgment:
"...must be interpreted as meaning that a passenger who has a single reservation for a flight with a connecting flight is not entitled to compensation if his reservation was changed against his will with the result that he did not take the first leg of his booked transportation, although that flight was operated, and that he was rebooked on a later flight which enabled him to take the second leg of his booked transportation and thus reach his final destination at the scheduled arrival time."