Austrian Flight Delay Compensation

Austrian flight delay compensation.

How to claim for delayed flight? And how much can you get?

In Europe you are protected against flight delays. In many situations you can claim compensation for delayed flight. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what is the price of your ticket, or whether or not you have travel insurance. According to the EU Flight Compensation Regulation (EC 261/2004), all travellers in Europe are protected under the law. And Austrian Airlines has to follow these laws. How to claim compensation for a delayed flight?

One of the options is to let professionals deal with this.

Or, you can pursue flight delay compensation on your own.

1. Austrian Flight Delay Compensation: EU Regulations

Overall, the EU flight delay compensation rules are simple.

If you reach your destination 3+ hours later than scheduled, and this delay is your airline’s fault, you might be eligible to flight delay compensation. 

If you’re flying to or from Europe, your flight is delayed for 3 or more hours, and the delay is due to the fault of Austrian Airlines, you are eligible to compensation of up to €600.

Could you be entitled to Austrian flight delay compensation?

Yes, if your Austrian flight meets these criteria:

• It’s a 3+ hour delay;
• It’s due to the fault of Austrian;
• Flight is to/from Europe (including the UK and EEA).

So, all the above mentioned rules apply to all Austrian delays and cancellations.

Are you protected as a passenger when flying with non-EU airlines? On some flights, yes. If your flight is with a non-EU airline (e.g., Qatar Airways, Thai Airways, Delta Air Lines, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, etc.), the regulations apply only to flights departing from the EU.

By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

There are situations when you aren’t eligible for compensation. 

Flights delayed due to “extraordinary circumstances” are not eligible to compensation.

Events that are out of the airline’s control are called “extraordinary circumstances”. These events are bad weather, natural disaster, political instability, terrorism threat, security issues at the airport and some strikes. If your Austrian flight is delayed because of any of these reasons, you can’t get compensation from the airline. 

What about strikes? Not all strikes are considered “extraordinary circumstances”. If it’s an Austrian staff strikes, not something the airline has no control over, you might be entitled to compensation. If it’s a nationwide strike unrelated to the airline, it’s considered to be extraordinary circumstance, and you can’t get flight delay compensation from Austrian Airlines.

If you are claiming compensation yourself, always double check what you’re told.

Be persistent and ask for proof. Not always airlines are telling the real reason for delay. This is how airlines avoid paying compensation — by not telling the right reasons for delay and wrongly refusing claims. 

A good way to avoid this hassle is to work with a flight compensation company. The company can check your flight and claim compensation on your behalf. Our partners offer such services.

Just fill in a claim form, and a team of professionals will check your flight.

1.2 How to Calculate the Delay Time?

What really matters is the time of arrival to your destination.

Calculate the delay time at your destination, not at the moment of departure. This rule also applies to connecting flights. Your destination is your final destination (last stop). This is when you have to calculate the delay time.

Flight delay time is calculated based on the actual time of arrival to your destination, specifically, when the doors of the airplane are opened. If the doors are opened 3 or more hours after the original arrival time, you can get compensation. Keep in mind that you can’t calculate the delay time based on the time of departure.

1.3 Right to Care

In Europe you also have a right to care.

When your flight is delayed for 3+ hours, and you have to wait until it departs, you have a right to receive care from your airline. If you are flying with a EU airline, including Austrian Airlines, it applies to all of its flights. 

Austrian Airlines must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If the flight is delayed overnight, you should be offered accommodation and transportation from and to the airport as well. In Europe all passengers are eligible for this type of care from the airline.

2. How to Claim Austrian Compensation For Delayed Flight?

How to claim flight delay compensation Austrian owes you?

There are two ways you can do it online.

One of the options is to contact Austrian yourself. Contact Austrian Airlines using the contact form available on their website. Fill in the form, providing your personal details and information about your delayed flight. Don’t forget about your bank information, as compensations in the EU are paid to bank account. Keep in mind that it might take a while until you get Austrian flight delay compensation. 

The second option is — legal representation.

It’s the easiest of the two options.

In this case everything is done by a flight compensation company (a team of legal professionals). You fill in a claim form. You don’t have to contact the airline yourself. It is done on your behalf, and without your involvement.

Our partners offer such services.

Read more:

• How to Claim Austrian Compensation?
• Austrian Missed Connection Compensation
• Your Austrian Compensation Claim Is Denied. Now What?
• Your Austrian Flight Is Delayed. Should You Wait at Home?

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

No matter how you proceed, it isn’t a short process. 

If everything goes well, it might take 2-3 months until your Austrian flight delay compensation is transferred to your bank account. If the process isn’t going smoothly, it will take more. Airlines often refuse to cooperate, and it complicates everything. 

This is why so many choose to work with flight compensation companies. It helps to avoid the hassle of dealing with the airline if it refuses to cooperate. 

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount is fixed and range from €250 to €600.

How to calculate your Austrian delayed flight compensation?

Use this simple flight delay compensation calculator.

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 Austrian Voucher Refund or Cash?

You might be offered a voucher or coupon instead of compensation.

Do you have to accept any vouchers from Austrian when a compensation is due? Compensations we are discussing in this article have to be paid to your bank card. This is the law in Europe. Your Austrian delayed flight compensation has to be paid by bank transfer.

So, no, you don’t have to accept any Austrian Airlines vouchers. Ask for a bank transfer instead.

Austrian Flight Delay Compensation: FAQ

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received Austrian flight delay compensation? Do you still have questions about Austrian compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.