Table of contents
- My flight has been delayed or canceled due to weather conditions. Now what?
- I have been waiting for hours at the airport for my flight. Am I entitled to compensation?
- My train has been canceled due to snow chaos. What now?
- Who pays for the replacement transportation to my destination?
- The train is not running, the plane is grounded. How do I get to my destination now?
Traffic chaos - When flights and trains are canceled due to snow: These are your rights in case of problems in winter
"Train canceled" - a lot of people are seeing this banner at the train station again these days. Instead of arriving relaxed at their destination, they are left stressed on the train track. A similar scenario played out at Munich Airport: flights were grounded for days due to the amount of fresh snow. Once again, winter came as a surprise - and it will probably bring us a few more snow showers. We give you an overview of what rights you have if trains and planes are canceled due to the sudden onset of winter - and what alternatives are available.
My flight has been delayed or canceled due to the weather. What do I do now?
In the event of a delay of five hours or more or a cancellation, passengers have the right to appropriate replacement transportation. Alternatively, passengers can apply for a prompt refund of the flight price. Apart from this, passengers are entitled to assistance at the airport if they are stuck there for more than two hours. This includes drinks and meals and, depending on the time of day and expected delay, an overnight stay in a hotel. Passengers can assert their rights via their airline or, if they have booked a package tour, via their tour operator.
I have been waiting for hours at the airport for my flight. Am I entitled to compensation?
According to the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation, it depends on the exact cause. If the aircraft is canceled or delayed solely due to adverse circumstances - including the snow chaos of the last few days - then passengers are not entitled to compensation from the airline. However, it is also possible that the airline itself is at least partially responsible for the failure - for example, due to insufficient antifreeze or slow de-icing of the aircraft. It is therefore important to check carefully. Depending on the waiting time, passengers are entitled to compensation of up to 600 euros.
My train has been canceled due to snow chaos. What now?
If the booked train has been canceled or is expected to be at least 20 minutes late at its destination, Deutsche Bahn's train service is no longer valid. This means that passengers can then take any train that takes them to their destination. However, as a number of ICE connections have been canceled due to the winter chaos, it is also worth looking at regional trains. Although they often take longer, they may be more reliable. In the event of a delay of at least one hour, passengers can apply for a (partial) refund of their fare on the Deutsche Bahn website. However, rail passengers should not hope for compensation, because since the reform of passenger rights in the summer, these are excluded for cancellations due to extreme weather conditions.
Who pays for the replacement transportation to my destination?
If the train is expected to arrive at the destination at least one hour late or is completely canceled, passengers have the option of changing to alternative transport. If there is no other train going in the desired direction due to the snow, a cab may also be an option. However, you should proceed with caution here and check beforehand whether Deutsche Bahn really does not offer any other alternatives. At the service desk in the station, for example, you can find out which routes lead to your destination. If a cab is the only option, it is important to have receipts to apply for reimbursement. The same applies to a hotel room if you are stranded at the station and neither the destination nor the starting point of the journey can be reached on the same day.
The train doesn't run, the plane stays on the ground. How do I get to my destination now?
Winter often presents commuters with one or two challenges. As soon as a snow shower announces itself, you should be prepared to look for alternatives to the usual train or flight so that you don't end up standing in the snow without a plan. It is often worth taking a look at local public transport and finding alternative connections, as there are often other trains running when express trains are canceled. Long-distance buses may also have an easier time on the cleared roads than trains or planes.
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In the midst of Germany's winter chaos, a delayed or canceled flight can lead to Traffic chaos at the airport. Passengers have the right to appropriate replacement transportation if their flight is delayed by five hours or more or canceled entirely.
Following the snow chaos, if your train has been canceled or is expected to be significantly late, you can take any train that gets you to your destination, even regional ones that may take longer but are more reliable.
Source: www.stern.de
