Flight compensation Germanwings:
Cologne — Berlin

Refund and compensation Germanwings: route Cologne to Berlin

If your trip departing from Cologne Bonn Airport and arriving at Berlin-Tegel International Airport operated by Germanwings was disrupted, you are not alone against the airline.

By taking off from Cologne Bonn Airport, you are protected by the EU's legal framework. The distance of 463 km determines your legal compensation level.

Why are you entitled to 250 €?

The European Regulation EC 261/2004 is very strict regarding air passenger rights. The amount of fixed compensation does not depend on the price of your ticket, but only on the flight distance.

This is not a commercial gesture from Germanwings, but a legal obligation that applies to all flights within the scope of the directive.

How to know if the flight Germanwings Cologne - Berlin is eligible?

Don't confuse ticket refund and legal compensation! Even if Germanwings offers you a voucher for your Cologne - Berlin flight, you can still claim the 250 euros cash provided by law.

Also note that the distance of 463 km perfectly justifies the compensation bracket of 250 €. This amount is net and the airline cannot derogate from it in its own terms and conditions.

What are the conditions for Germanwings to compensate you?

• Delay at arrival: You arrived with more than 3 hours delay at Berlin.
• Cancellation: The airline cancelled the flight less than 14 days before departure.
• Overbooking: You were denied boarding against your will at Cologne airport.
• Airline responsibility: The problem must be attributable to Germanwings (technical problem, sick crew, scheduling...).

The impact of a strike on your Germanwings compensation

A work stoppage of Germanwings crews is considered inherent in the normal activity of the carrier and no longer constitutes a valid excuse to refuse the 250 €.

A strike by weather services at Cologne Bonn Airport or European air traffic control is an external cause over which Germanwings has no control.

What are your rights at Cologne airport in case of prolonged wait?

If Cologne Bonn Airport airport becomes your temporary residence because of Germanwings, know that your essential needs must be covered by the carrier.

In the case of a flight postponement until the next day, the regulation stipulates that hotel accommodation and transfers from and to Cologne Bonn Airport airport are entirely the responsibility of the air carrier.

Steps: how to get your 250 € from Germanwings?

It is strongly recommended to keep your Germanwings boarding pass and any communication relating to the delay suffered at Cologne Bonn Airport airport. These documents will be vital for your case.

If you don't have the time or the desire to engage in long email exchanges, delegating your claim to lawyers is the most effective solution to see your 250 € arrive in your bank account.

How long does it take to get the 250 € compensation?

Patience is often the watchword. Airlines receive thousands of requests weekly and processing your file for the flight from Cologne to Berlin-Tegel International Airport can drag on if you don't follow up.

A collective action on the Germanwings flight from Cologne can also be a way to get your funds faster.

What to do faced with silence or refusal from the airline?

It is not uncommon for a claim for 250 € to be automatically rejected by the company's algorithms under a fallacious generic pretext.

In the last instance, it is the summons to court that often unlocks the payment. The company Germanwings will always prefer to compromise and pay the 250 € rather than incur additional legal costs for a lost cause in court.