Proceedings regarding passenger rights have increased

More and more passengers are aware of their rights as air passengers and are finding out about their claims in the event of delays, cancellations or overbookings.

The corresponding legal proceedings usually concern compensation for cancelled or delayed flights.

According to the German Judges' Association (DRB), there were a whopping 2023 cases involving passenger rights in 125.000, 80 percent more than in the previous year - a new record high.

According to the DRB, an important reason for this drastic increase is that consumer protection organizations are increasingly committed to enforcing passenger rights and supporting passengers in asserting their claims.

When are passengers entitled to compensation?

1. Flight delay: If the delay is at least three hours or more, passengers may be entitled to compensation under EU law.

2. Flight cancellation: In the event of a short-term cancellation, compensation can be claimed under EU law. If no replacement flight is offered, passengers can also request a ticket refund.

3rd connecting flight: If a connecting flight is missed through no fault of the passenger, those affected are entitled to compensation if they arrive at their final destination at least three hours later.

4. Flight rebooking: If a flight is rebooked, passengers can claim a full refund of the ticket price. If the flight is rebooked at short notice to another day - 14 days or less before departure - you can receive compensation.

How can passengers enforce these claims?

Being right and getting justice are two different things when it comes to passenger rights. With appropriate legal protection insurance, you can assert your claims.

The Itzehoer Legal Protection Union, for example, has entered into a cooperation agreement with Flightright, a leading portal for air passenger rights. Insured persons can use the service free of charge to enforce their air passenger rights.

To do so, they must enter their travel data at itzehoer.de and then instruct the passenger rights portal to enforce their claims.

This means that there is no longer any need to report the claim. The insurer also pays the entire commission that would normally be incurred in the event of a successful claim.

“Our cooperation partner ensures fast and efficient processes,” say Stephanie Chander and Clemens Cichonczyk (both in the photo above), managing director and managing director of the Itzehoer Rechtsschutz Union, emphasizing the advantages of the cooperation.

Sierks Media / © Photos: puhhha, de.depositphotos.com (2), djd, Itzehoer Versicherungen (1) / Source: djd