Air Berlin is insolvent, flies, however, more first. The passengers in a quandary: Should you book with Air Berlin continues to be a Ticket? And what rights do passengers have?
Consumer advocates advise the person who has already booked his Ticket to cancel now better not rushed. This was due to the announcement, the operation of the aircraft first, to continue, it is not advisable, stressed the verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv). Also, the risk for ticket purchases within the three months, in which Air Berlin is stabilized by the bridging loan of the Federal government, seems to be manageable. What happens after that is unclear.
Although it is quite conceivable that competitors will take over the route network of Air Berlin and the flights more to offer. But currently, no one can know. So you can pay off the uncertainty at bargain prices for long-distance flights, the thing can go wrong. “The cost risk of a flight failure, and each of us must judge for themselves,” stresses vzbv expert Ingmar Streese.
When booked, flights not take place, travelers can according to the EU air passenger rights regulation, in principle, always entitled to compensation or refund. How these security attacks, but this depends on the circumstances. Package tourists who have booked through a tour operator a package of flight and Hotel, are generally better. You are entitled to emergency aid. The organiser must provide for replacement flights.
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Package travellers are better
For travellers who have booked directly with the Airline, it is not considered so. You need to take care of themselves to an alternative transport. Claims to compensation have you of course. But you would have to enforce this in a long insolvency proceedings. And it would be uncertain whether they come at the end. Because the demands of flight pass from the insolvency mass to operate, as a rule, of secondary importance. First, the claims of shareholders and employees.
Package travellers are also protected, therefore, better, because tour operators insolvency protection obligation applies. You are legally obliged to manage client money in a way that also in the case of our own Bankruptcy is still available to settle their claims. This is the meaning of the so-called security certificate, the customer at the time of booking. For airlines, this rule does not apply yet.
Individual insurance such as trip cancellation insurance will not help. You grab, if a customer is unable, for personal reasons, booked travel – for example, because he is ill. Failures of the provider are a completely different scenario. There are also insurance companies with which travelers can protect themselves before a flight, especially against an Airline Bankruptcy. For Air Berlin, but you are likely to come into question, because the company has already registered for bankruptcy, the case is already made.
Who knows his rights?
If delayed, failed, or overbooked flights or missing baggage and More than a third of consumers said in a survey for the consumer portal Finanztip to know about your rights in case of flight cancellations and delays notification. The EU air passenger rights regulation does not regulate for a long time already the claims of consumers, when a flight is proceeding as planned.
Passengers are entitled to compensation if the airline for the delays, rerouting or flight cancellations are responsible. This applies mostly in the case of technical breakdowns or delays due to service time-outs from the Crews – but not in the case of force majeure such as strikes, weather-related delays or airspace closures, for example due to ash clouds from volcanoes. Consumers should ask, therefore, still at the airport, the reason for the schedule change, and this in writing and with witnesses hold.
A direct Shuttle flight is cancelled and passenger is, therefore, also with the subsequent long-distance flight too late to your destination, Airlines make to their customers, according to a judgment of the Federal court of justice, for both flights of a compensation payment. A cancellation is notified less than 14 days prior to departure, you may be entitled to compensation of 125 up to 600 euros. Also a forward by a couple of hours will apply as a cancellation.
Be entitled to compensation
The Airline for delays, changes and flight cancellations, travelers are entitled to compensation. Depending on the distance of 250 Euro to fall from a three-hour delay in the shorter routes, for routes between 1500 and 3500 kilometers, 400 Euro for flights over 3500 kilometres 600 Euro. In the event of delays, the Airline must take care of the catering, the ability to make phone Calls or Send E-Mails to offer and, if necessary, also Accommodation to pay for.
The loss of a piece of baggage must be made at time of baggage placement at the airport reported. Checked-in Luggage delay, consumers can buy the most Important and the Airline must take over against submission of invoices the costs. The maximum limit is currently at 1270 Euro.
In order to receive any compensation, passengers must prove, however, what items were damaged or lost. This should be created prior to departure, a packing list, in addition, the purchase should be records kept, the value of the lost things to prove. The original price is, however, not replaced.
Airlines are reluctant to make. Without the support of consumers, therefore, probably a losing battle. You can turn to the arbitration Board for public passenger transport (SÖP). Prerequisite: the person Concerned must have previously tried to reach an agreement with the Airline. You have been granted a final response, or has not reported to the airline for eight weeks, the client can switch the SÖP.
An Alternative law specialized lawyer portals such as flightright.de or EUclaim are on the trip. Enforce claims without financial inputs of the Affected and lead, if necessary, also processes with the Airlines. For this, they keep on success, a quarter or nearly one-third of the compensation compensation as fees.
who/tko (dpa, afp)