Why should I think of the Passenger Rights Regulation when making the flight reservation?
In many cases, a flight delay is not as bad as first thought.
If you fly more often, you probably know the problem of flight delays only too well. Meanwhile, it is also widely known that airlines in principle have to pay a compensation of 250, - € to 600, - € (depending on the distance) according to the Passenger Rights Regulation to the passenger in case of a late arrival of at least 3 hours at the destination.
However, this only applies if the passenger rights regulation applies to the delayed flight. The scope of the air passenger rights is regulated in Art. 3 VO (EG) 261 / 2004. Simplified, this results in the following:
- If the flight starts at an airport in the territory of a member state of the EU, then the passenger rights regulation is always applicable, In this case, it does not matter which destination the flight has or whether it is a European or non-European airline. A delayed flight of the Emirates airline from Munich to Dubai therefore always leads to a compensation payment.
- If it is a flight of a European airline, then the Air Passenger Rights Regulation is also applicableif the flight starts from a non-EU member state and lands within the EU. A flight from the USA to Germany, for example, with Lufthansa also leads to a compensation payment in the event of a delay.
- Not applicable On the other hand, the Passenger Rights Regulation applies to flights with a non-EU airline from outside Europe to the EU (eg flights with Emirates from Dubai to Munich) and flights from outside Europe to the destination airport outside the EU (eg Flight from USA to Canada). In the latter case, therefore, the passenger rights VO is also not applicable if the flight is, for example, by Lufthansa.
You should consider this starting point when choosing your flights. If you search for flights, for example from Munich to New York and back, using known flight search engines on the Internet, you will be presented with various flights from different airlines at different prices. In addition to flight and transfer times, you should also consider whether the Passenger Rights Regulation is applicable in this case. If, for example, outward and return flights from Germany to the USA are offered by a German and an American airline, the following applies with regard to the Passenger Rights Regulation: For both airlines, the flight from Germany to the USA is covered by the Passenger Rights Regulation . However, there are differences between the USA and Germany route: While the German airline's passenger rights regulation applies, this is not the case on the American airline's flight. So if the flight is delayed by at least 3 hours, the passenger of the German airline receives € 600 in compensation, the passenger of the American airline does not. For example, if the flight with the German airline costs a few euros more, it could still make economic sense, taking into account the Passenger Rights Regulation, to book this flight.
Your comment
Participate in discussion?Leave us your comment!