Semester break: Rights in the event of cancellations and delays

Semester break: Your rights in the event of flight and train cancellations and delays

February is traditionally a busy month for travelers. The apf takes this as an opportunity to provide information about the rights of travelers with regard to problems that most frequently lead to arbitration procedure : Cancellations and delays in air and rail travel.

Flight cancellation: up to 600 euros compensation payment

Flight cancellations at short notice often mean considerable inconvenience for travelers. According to the Passenger Rights Regulation, passengers can choose one of three options in such cases:

• Refund of the ticket price
• Return flight to the place of departure at the earliest possible time
• Alternative transportation to the destination

It is important that passengers contact the airline on their own initiative if they have not been contacted by the airline beforehand. If the cancellation is not notified in good time, compensation payments of up to 600 euros per person are also due, depending on the flight distance. Airlines are exempt from paying compensation if there are "extraordinary circumstances". However, these must be clearly explained in the arbitration procedure . In the 2023 semester break, most cases of cancellation (39 percent of all procedures) involved Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines.

Flight delays: another annoyance for travelers

Travelers who arrive at their destination three hours or more late are also entitled to a compensation payment of up to 600 euros. In this case too, the amount depends on the flight distance. 36 percent of apf proceedings with a departure date in February 2023 dealt with flight delays. Most of these proceedings concerned Austrian Airlines, WizzAir and Iberia.

Attention when traveling to the airport by train

During the semester break, there was an increase in fines in the rail sector, especially on the route between the Vienna city limits and Schwechat Airport. Passengers were often penalized by the railroad company due to incorrectly booked tickets or the lack of a valid ticket. It is not possible to buy a ticket on this route on ÖBB-Personenverkehr regional trains. In the case of immediate payment of fines (additional fare demand) on the train, it is important that the personal details are recorded by the railroad company. This means that an objection to the claim can still be lodged afterwards. This must be received by the railroad company within one month.

Passengers affected by flight cancellations, delays or unjustified additional fare claims can find out about their rights at www.passagier.at and, in the event of an inadequate response from the transport company, apply for an arbitration procedure free of charge.