Flight delays and cancellations are a nuisance for passengers, who can not only disrupt their travel plans, but also suffer possible financial losses. What many travelers don’t know is that if a flight doesn’t go as planned, they are entitled to compensation from the airline.

But what can passengers do to get compensation for the inconvenience caused? There are several ways to get this payout, but each has its pros and cons. In this article, we will compare the different options.

Different ways to get compensation

If an airline could do something in the course of normal business to ensure that passengers still arrive at their destination on time in the event of problems with a flight, but does not do so, they must pay compensation for delays or cancellations.

In order for customers to receive this amount, they must make their claim. There are several options for this:

● Submit your application yourself

Passengers can contact the airline themselves and submit an application there. To do this, they have to collect documents such as flight tickets and other information and send them in.

This takes time and effort. Under certain circumstances, the airline may decide that the application will not be accepted, for example because it does not feel at fault for causing the delay, or if the documents are not meaningful enough.

● Use a service provider for quick compensation

Fast-track compensation service providers such as Compensation2Go take on this task for their customers and pay out compensation directly without having to wait for a response from the airline. In return, they receive a share of the payout as a fee.

Even if a court later decides that the airline does not have to pay compensation in this case, customers will receive the amount from the service provider. (More information at www.compensation2go.com)

● Apply for a debt collection agency

Debt collection agencies specialize in clarifying outstanding claims between two contracting parties. If you commission them, they try to collect a denied compensation in various ways. Again, there is a fee for the service. Depending on the outcome of the order processing, compensation is received after a waiting period that usually lasts several months.

● Claim compensation

If the airline refuses to pay compensation, it may be necessary to enforce the claim in court. This is associated with a lot of time and potential costs if the negotiation ends in favor of the airline. Here, too, it can take months for the legal dispute to be resolved.

Based on these options, it can be seen that it is not always easy to implement the claim for compensation.

Why can compensation claims be denied?

Air passenger law states in which cases compensation must be paid. As it is an EU law, this does not affect all global travel and airports. However, for airlines that have to comply with these requirements, it is also true that they do not have to pay for all cancellations. This applies, for example, to a storm, which they cannot influence.

Providers often try to deny their complicity in the problem so that they can save themselves the expenses. If it is not clear whether the airline was responsible for the problem, such decisions can even go to court.

An example of a case that is in a gray area is strikes.

• Depending on the interpretation and course of the strike, these can be seen as part of ordinary business life, for which the airline must pay compensation.
• However, it may be decided that a strike is an “extraordinary circumstance” that the provider did not cause or could not influence.

In the past, there have already been courts that have ruled in favor of the passengers in this case and those that have not blamed the airline. In these cases, passengers risk that their efforts and the time spent on them will be in vain if the court refuses to pay them out. For these cases, a service provider for quick compensation is a good option.

Result

There are several ways to get compensation for a flight cancellation or delay. If you want to take care of yourself, you have to be prepared to spend the appropriate time collecting documents and dealing with the airline in the event of a dispute.

If you want to receive the money without waiting and it is uncertain whether the airline was responsible for the delay, the fees for a service provider for quick compensation can be worthwhile. They pay out the amount no matter how a potential legal dispute is decided in the end. In return, the customers waive around 34% of the compensation amount as payment.

A trip can pursue different goals: a relaxing time after months or years of work, where rest and distraction from everyday stress play an important role. In this case, it’s about a longed-for added value. Or for professional reasons, where it may be a matter of acquiring new customers or processing new contracts. There are economic reasons behind it, such as the expansion of a company. In this case, it is especially important that everything goes without unpleasant interruptions.

Longed-for added value: relaxation and distraction

After a long period of hard work, the desired vacation finally arrives. The money for this was saved up over several months or even years to finally treat themselves to the dream trip. Everything is already booked: the flight, the hotel in half or full board, a rental car or a few excursions … the suitcases are already packed and off we go.

You hardly expect something to go wrong, because everything has been planned in detail! Thus, the anticipation of the holiday and the expectations of the forthcoming happiness are very high.

However, this feeling of happiness can be disturbed by various incidents and the dream of a relaxing holiday soon comes to an end.

What can interrupt the happiness of a dream trip?

The departure is delayed for hours. Thus, not only is the arrival at the destination delayed, but the stay at the holiday destination is shortened.

When they arrive at their destination, the waiting time for the suitcases begins. This time can be delayed suddenly, unexpectedly. The luggage is accidentally mixed up or taken somewhere else. Sometimes it is even lost altogether, apart from a possible theft. In this case, a complaint must be created and forms must be filled out. Instead of going directly to the hotel, we spend more time than desired at the airport.

These are all time robbers who interrupt a vacation at short notice and put you in a bad mood. Unfortunately, it happens more often.

Travel insurance, for example from the renowned provider Europ Assistance , can include the delay of a flight and the loss of luggage and thus cover it.

Overbooking in the reserved hotel

If the holiday trip takes place in the high season, it can happen that we arrive at the hotel and do not get a room despite a paid reservation. How can something like this happen?

Many hotels risk accepting more room reservations than they really have available. Because they expect that not all tourists will start their trip and really show up in the booked time. This is because last-minute cancellations are more common and the accommodations do not want to have empty rooms and thus lose money. That’s a big risk that doesn’t always go well. In the end, tourists who arrive and don’t get a room suffer from it. You will then be accommodated in another hotel for a few days.

Of course, the few days in another hotel must also be paid for. Who bears the costs in such cases? The holidaymakers.

However, if you have previously taken out travel insurance and included this option in the insurance, the insurance will pay for it. In most cases, the guest gets a refund. Therefore, it is important to always keep all invoices.

Accidents at the holiday destination

Of course, no one expects to be subject to an accident or illness during the holiday season. Unfortunately, however, these also occur more often than we would like. Here are some examples of what make up the most accidents during a stay:

Sunburn

Depending on the time of year or where you are flying, it can lead to an unpleasant sunburn. As a tourist, you are often not aware of how strong the influence of the sun really is on your body. The sun’s rays also come through the clouds! The irradiation should not be underestimated. It is therefore particularly advisable to take precautions with an appropriate sunscreen, which is applied regularly, even if you would like to come home tanned after your holiday.

Here it is advisable to take special care to avoid sunburn and the resulting medical costs. This is because travel insurance companies always ask for a doctor’s report and a diagnosis. This is because sunburn and accidents caused under the influence of alcohol are usually excluded from insurance. This information is particularly important and should always be heeded!

Ear infection and urine infection

If the holiday resort is located in the south during a warm season, the pools are very popular and a swim is very refreshing. Swimming pools contain a lot of bacteria, which are not always removed immediately despite the chlorine content.

The water from the basin gets into the ears and inflammation occurs in many cases. The resulting earache is very unpleasant and should not be underestimated. This can be avoided if you go into the pool with earplugs. If an ear infection does occur, it is advisable to consult a doctor. This is because you should not take a return flight with a middle ear infection, as the pressure caused by the difference in altitude can have a negative effect on the eardrum.

Visiting a doctor during your vacation is unpleasant enough. This does not have to be supported by an invoice. Travel insurance can cover these costs.

The same applies to a urine infection if you stay in the pool for a longer period of time.

Other accidents

Slipping next to the pool or in the bathtub and breaking a leg or arm is also common and leads to high hospital costs.

It can also lead to a gastrointestinal upset if the holiday destination offers different meals than you are used to.

That’s why travel insurance should always be considered.

To start the new travel season, Tamina Kallert takes the audience to the sunny Costa Blanca “From Alicante to Valencia” (April 30, 8:15 p.m., WDR television). In the programme “Småland – Unterwegs in Bullerbü” (4 June), she follows in the footsteps of Pippi Longstocking and Michel from Lönneberga and gives valuable tips for a family holiday in Sweden. She travels in Italy “From Ravenna to Parma” (2.7.), does a 3-country bike tour on the “Via Claudia Augusta” (30.7.), explores the “Salzkammergut” (17.9.) and climbs the mountains in “Hiking on La Gomera” (12.11.). One of the highlights of the year is the beautiful hike in the “Dolomites” on 13 August, for which the WDR Funkhausorchester – after last year’s “Norway” audience success – will once again record the specially composed film music.

Daniel Aßmann is on the road with the bike “From Borkum to the Ems” (21.5.), conquers “Rügen on foot” (9.7.) and goes to Malta (27.8.). Judith Rakers travels to Lake Garda (6.8.), to Cornwall (3.9.) and hikes on the Rheinsteig (5.11.).

Ramon Babazadeh travels along the Croatian Adriatic coast (23.7.), through Saxon Switzerland (10.9.) and the Odenwald (1.10.). All presenters can also be seen at any time in the ARD Mediathek.

For almost 20 years, Tamina Kallert has been presenting the travel show “Wunderschön” on WDR – with unbroken enthusiasm and passion for her “dream job”. On April 30, 2023, she will open this year’s summer season with a trip to the southeast of Spain: She will sail “From Alicante to Valencia” (8:15 p.m., WDR television), visit well-known places on the Costa Blanca and discover lesser-known places inland.

We are pleased that the popular presenter was available to answer some questions:

On 4 June, you will take the audience to Småland and walk in the footsteps of Astrid Lindgren. Which other destinations with children would you recommend for a family holiday this year? The North Sea and Baltic Sea always work. You don’t have to fly, you can get there easily by train or car. Three personal tips: Texel with its miles of sandy beaches, Spiekeroog, a car-free island, ideal for families with small children, and Rügen, where you can also discover a lot on foot. Menorca, Mallorca’s little sister, is also family-friendly : not so crowded, with flat beaches, moderate hiking trails and hotels specially designed for families with small children. If you like it more adventurous and sporty and want to go a little further away, I recommend the Canary Islands, where you can discover the hinterland in addition to a beach holiday. I was just on La Gomera for “Wunderschön”, for me the most pristine island of the archipelago, but more for older children: magnificent vegetation, challenging hiking trails through volcanic landscapes and only a few black beaches.

You travel a lot for work. Do you like to take it easy on vacation and enjoy the days at the beach? Or are your legs always tingling? Professional travel and private holidays are two pairs of boots. On my professional travels, I discover the world for the viewers, the days are tightly timed and full of adventures. On vacation, I look forward all the more to relaxation and deceleration. As a family, we always revote on how it suits everyone best. The children are also growing up and their needs are changing. Whether it’s Lake Constance or through Italy in a motorhome – I’m excited to see what’s to come.

Last year, her book “And then the sea comes into view” was published. A feeling that brings back memories of my childhood when I went to the south of France by car every year. What is the book about? We often took the VW bus to the Mediterranean or the Atlantic. The rrrraaack when the sliding door of the VW bus slams shut is one of my earliest childhood memories. And the sea stands for holidays, longing and horizons. In my second book, I talk about new travel experiences, exciting encounters with people, inspiring life plans and take a look behind the scenes of the filming of my travel shows. It has become a very personal book again, in which I also report on my crises and setbacks. At the same time, I would like to encourage people to set out anew and to discover the world with an open mind, joie de vivre and optimism.

Is there a country that you still want to travel to and are there destinations that you visit again and again? Some countries in South America are still missing from my travel list, especially Costa Rica I would like to discover. Friends are in Japan right now and send exciting pictures, but China, for example, is less appealing to me as a travel destination. I am always enthusiastic about Italy, especially where the Alpine and Mediterranean meet. Norway is a country of longing that I have already been able to travel to twice. This great and powerful nature, this vastness, the fjords with their towering, steep mountains, the majestic waterfalls – I feel very small and humble as a human being. By the way, on July 16, the beautiful journey through “Norway’s West. From the Sognefjord to Bergen”. And of course, Switzerland is a country of the heart, because that’s where my two children were born.

As a travel journalist, it is inevitable that you think about the topic of climate change. Personally, I have already taken a few flights with my wife and children. Nevertheless, you do get a guilty conscience. How do you personally deal with this?
Climate change concerns me both professionally and privately. Over-tourism, sustainability and the question of how to be a good traveller are regular topics in the editorial office. In my family, for example, air travel is hotly debated, and to this day we have not taken any long-distance trips. It is a constant struggle.

How do you think travel will change in the next 15-20 years?
Travelling is and remains a primal longing of man. But the framework conditions will continue to change. Travel is tending to become more expensive again, and the travel industry is forced to invest more in climate-neutral sustainable offerings. The fact is: With climate change, innocence is gone and more and more people are thinking about what they can still reconcile with their conscience. But it is also a fact that traveling makes you more tolerant, broadens your horizons and can have a formative effect on your personal development. On my travels, I have experienced again and again that there is much more that unites than divides in the world. A comforting realization.

Getting children to eat healthily can be a challenge even at home. It gets even more difficult when the rules are relaxed, the schedule gets mixed up and lots of sugary treats and fast food lure you on a family holiday as a quick fix. While it can be difficult to ensure proper nutrition for the family on the go, it is entirely possible.

Healthy nutrition also important when traveling

A healthy diet for babies and toddlers is particularly important. This is because they are in a phase of life in which they need a balanced diet in order to develop healthily. But when traveling, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy diet, because when you’re out and about, it’s especially tempting to resort to readily available but unhealthy foods. What is perfectly okay for a short weekend trip becomes questionable at the latest on long trips. In addition, it becomes all the more difficult after the holiday to get the children used to the usual, balanced meals again.

In addition, an unhealthy diet on the go carries the risk of the youngest family members getting digestive problems and stomach aches. What is already not nice at home is even more annoying when it spoils the family’s holiday. Therefore, it is important for parents to ensure that their children eat healthily even when traveling. In this sense, it is important to make sure that sufficient fruit, vegetables, whole grain products and lean protein are consumed, that children drink enough water and refrain from eating too much sugar and salty foods.

Tip

: Especially for children with sensitive stomachs

, parents should think about remedies for travel sickness and diarrhea for the first-aid kit.

Healthy nutrition on the journey

Eating at rest stops, at the drive-in or eating on the plane is usually neither healthy nor particularly tasty. Therefore, it is advisable to put together an attractive picnic for the journey. This is not necessarily the best time to try new things. Especially for younger children, the usual snacks should be packed – the favorite fruit and vegetables can be cut and wrapped in bite-sized sizes. This also serves to use up leftovers before departure. Nuts and wholemeal crackers are also available to take away.

Tip
: Especially when traveling by air, it is important to make sure that no fresh food is packed that may not be allowed to be imported into the destination country.

Other countries, other foods

At the destination, it may be difficult with the usual fare. But local cuisine can also be a great opportunity to introduce children to new ingredients, flavours and dishes . Some children are even particularly keen to experiment on the road, when everything is new, exciting and different anyway. In any case, it is worth encouraging even the youngest to try unknown foods. For this purpose, the adults should take the first bite in an exemplary manner. If the child is rather skeptical, it can help to make it clear that he does not have to eat the whole dish, but at least a tasting bite. A great way to make it easier for children to get started with a new kitchen are divisible platters with different dishes for several people. If the child does not like the national cuisine at all, there may be simple appetizers on the menu as an alternative and these are then supplemented in the hotel room or on the go with healthy snacks from the supermarket in the form of well-known fruit and vegetables.

Breastfeeding on the go

A breastfeeding baby on the go may seem very practical at first glance, as the breastfeeding woman almost automatically has everything with her that the baby needs to be full and satisfied. But be careful: A few eventualities should also be planned for here. So it can happen that breastfeeding on the road no longer works so smoothly. This is because the baby can also react to a new environment and milk congestion and breast inflammation cannot be ruled out even on the go. For this reason, it is a good idea to take a breast pump and bottles with you in case the baby cannot always be breastfed or you do not always want to breastfeed. If you travel abroad, you should also find out about the cultural norms and expectations regarding breastfeeding in order to avoid unpleasant situations.