When are you entitled to hotel accommodation?

You are entitled to accommodation if the delay or cancellation necessitates an overnight stay or if your departure is postponed until the following day.

In this case, the airline has:

• to provide hotel accommodation and

• organize transportation between the airport and your accommodation, if necessary.

Here too, the following applies: Benefits must be appropriate to the waiting period and are always assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Does the entitlement to meals and accommodation also apply in the event of flight cancellation or rebooking?

Yes. If your flight is canceled or you are offered alternative transportation, you are also entitled to care services. These include:

• Catering,

• free contact options,

• as well as accommodation including transfer, if required.

The specific arrangements depend on the length of the waiting period until the onward journey.

What does "reasonable proportion to the waiting time" mean?

The airline is obligated to provide services that are appropriate to the duration of the delay.

Example:

• Short waiting times do not usually entitle you to hotel accommodation.

• If you are leaving the following day, overnight accommodation is usually appropriate.

There is no unlimited entitlement to meals or accommodation.

Does the airline have to offer these services on its own initiative?

Yes. The airline is obligated to actively offer assistance services without you having to explicitly request them.

If this does not happen, we recommend that you contact the airline directly before covering the costs yourself.

What should you do if you had to pay for meals or accommodation yourself?

If you have to incur expenses yourself due to a lack of support from the airline, the following applies:

• Keep all original receipts and invoices.

• The costs incurred can usually be claimed from the airline.

• If no agreement can be reached, it is possible to submit an submitarbitration request the APF .

Does the entitlement also apply in exceptional circumstances (e.g., severe weather, strikes)?

Yes. Even if there are exceptional circumstances that may exclude compensation payments, the entitlement to care services such as meals and accommodation generally remains.

What should you bear in mind when enforcing your claims?

• If possible, contact the airline first before covering any costs yourself.

• Collect and keep all receipts for expenses incurred.

• If the airline does not respond or rejects your claim, you can contact the Agency for Passenger Rights (apf) free of charge and without commission.