Travel to the European Football Championship 2024

The European Football Championship in Germany starts in just under two weeks. Fans from all over Europe have secured tickets for the matches - including many from Austria. The Austrian national team's (group) matches will take place in Düsseldorf (June 17 against France) and Berlin (June 21 against Poland and June 25 against the Netherlands). To get to the venues, fans can travel by plane, train or long-distance bus. However, there may be delays at airports, train stations and bus stations if there are large crowds. The apf provides information on the most important rights in connection with air, rail and long-distance bus travel to Berlin and Düsseldorf.

Arrival by airplane:

Around the first match date on June 17, flights from Austria to Düsseldorf and the surrounding airports (Cologne-Bonn and Dortmund) will be offered by various airlines. The airlines Austrian Airlines, Eurowings and Ryanair offer direct flights on or before the match day. There are also several daily direct connections to Berlin (including Eurowings, Austrian Airlines).

In the event of flight cancellations at short notice, the airline must offer the choice between a free refund of the ticket price including compensation (250 euros per person) and alternative transportation under comparable conditions at the earliest possible date.

In cases where no connection or an unsuitable connection is offered, travelers should contact the airline directly and request a rebooking to a suitable flight. The airline must also rebook to another airline if seats are still available.

If the air carrier does not offer a choice between reimbursement or re-routing, but unilaterally decides to reimburse the original ticket costs, travelers are entitled to reimbursement of the additional costs of the new ticket under comparable travel conditions.

Other care services, such as meals, depend on the individual case and must be in reasonable proportion to the waiting time.

From a two-hour departure delay, passengers are also entitled to care services in proportion to the waiting time. If the arrival of the aircraft is also delayed by more than three hours, compensation payments of 250 euros are also due here, provided there are no exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances must be examined on a case-by-case basis in an arbitration procedure of the apf.

Persons who are denied boarding against their will also have the right to alternative transportation and a compensation payment[nbsp] of 250 euros, provided there are no justifiable reasons. Justifiable reasons for denied boarding are:

• Too late for check-in
• No valid travel documents
• General and/or operational safety hazards (e.g. heavily intoxicated persons)

[nbsp]

Travel by train:

ÖBB-Personenverkehr and Deutsche Bahn offer travelers the opportunity to travel from Austria to the European Championship host cities. This is possible with various day and night train offers. If a booked train is canceled or delayed by 60 minutes or more, the railroad company must offer passengers the following options:

• To continue the journey on the same or a different route at no additional cost at the next opportunity and under comparable conditions (other train journey; long-distance bus).
• Passengers also have the right to organize their own onward journey and to have the costs reimbursed by the rail company, provided the rail company agrees. Passengers are also entitled to use other public transport services (bus, train) if the rail company does not offer an alternative travel option within 100 minutes of the scheduled departure time.

Passengers are also entitled to compensation for delays:

Passengers who are 60 minutes or more late receive a refund of 25 percent of the ticket price
Passengers who are 120 minutes or more late receive a refund of 50 percent of the ticket price

Travel by long-distance bus:

Flixbus offers direct long-distance bus connections between Austria and Berlin or Düsseldorf several times a day.

From a departure delay of more than 90 minutes or a bus cancellation, travelers are entitled to meals and refreshments in proportion to the waiting time, provided these are available on site. If passengers organize meals and refreshments themselves, apf strongly recommends that they keep the invoices.

In the event of a bus cancellation or a departure delay of more than two hours, the bus company must proactively offer a choice between the following options:

Waiver of the onward journey and commencement of the free return journey including reimbursement of the fare (pro rata and free of charge) OR

to continue the journey at the earliest possible time at no additional cost and under comparable conditions (e.g. with a subsequent bus or another connection).

If the bus company does not offer this option, 50 percent of the ticket price is due as compensation.

We hope for a trouble-free journey to the European Championships and a good performance by our national team.