Compensation under the

EU Passenger Rights Regulation

Your passenger rights in case of flight problems

In case of flight delays of more than 3 hours, flight cancellation or overbooking, you are entitled to compensation of up to € 600 per person. The amount of compensation depends on the flight distance traveled.

If your flight is delayed by several hours, you are entitled to care services such as refreshments, food, overnight accommodation including transfers and communication facilities. You are entitled to care services in the following cases:

• From more than 2 hours waiting time at the departure airport for flights with a flight distance of up to 1500 km
• From more than 3 hours waiting time at the departure airport for flights within the EU with a flight distance of more than 1500 km
• For all flights with a flight distance of 1500 and 3500 km
• For more than 4 hours of waiting time for flights with a distance of more than 3500 km

If your flight has been cancelled or you have been refused boarding, you have the right to substitute transportation to get you to your destination as quickly as possible. If you cancel your flight, you are entitled to a refund of the ticket price according to the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation.

Scope of application of the EU Passenger Rights Regulation:

• Flights within the EU operated by an airline from the EU or a non-EU country.
• Flights from a non-EU country to the EU operated by an airline from the EU
• Flights from the EU to a non-EU country operated by an airline from the EU or a non-EU country

The importance of the EU Passenger Rights Regulation

Before the EU found a uniform regulation for air passenger rights, compensation and care services were regulated inconsistently or not at all. By suing for damages in court, travelers could get their compensation. This was complicated because concrete damage had to be proven. The result was a low conviction rate and the associated lack of interest on the part of the airlines to change something about the inconsistent compensation regulation.

The EU Passenger Rights Regulation created an incentive for airlines to improve their service and customer satisfaction. The current Air Passenger Rights Regulation (261/2004) replaced Regulation (EEC) No. 295/91.

The following innovations have come into force as a result:

• Compensation payments have been increased and now also apply to flight delays.
• Differences between different types of flights and package tours have been removed.
• The number of affected flight routes has been increased, as flights to the EU are also affected.