Flight compensation Germanwings:
Cologne — Friedrichshafen

Legal right to compensation: Germanwings flight between Cologne and Friedrichshafen

Your claim for compensation for the Germanwings flight from Cologne to Friedrichshafen deserves to be examined. A flight delay or cancellation is a frustrating experience for any traveler.

European legislation strictly frames passenger rights. For a distance of 395 km as is the case here, legal compensation is due if the company is at fault.

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.

Did you know? Even if Germanwings is a non-EU airline, if the flight takes off from Cologne Bonn Airport, the European regulation applies in full.

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

Check your actual arrival time at Friedrichshafen. If Germanwings made you wait more than three hours on the tarmac at Friedrichshafen Airport, your claim is legitimate.

Also note that the distance of 395 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 Friedrichshafen.
• 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?

During these long hours of waiting in the Cologne Bonn Airport terminal, know that the airline has a legal obligation to take care of you. This includes catering, but also the possibility of making two telephone calls or sending emails for free.

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?

For your Cologne - Friedrichshafen trip, every minute counts. Note the reasons given by Germanwings staff at the Cologne Bonn Airport counter during the incident.

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?

Airlines like Germanwings sometimes prioritize cases defended by law firms to avoid late interests.

Technology today allows real-time tracking of the progress of your request against Germanwings on your smartphone.

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

Hitting a wall or getting a 'standard' negative response is unfortunately the lot of many passengers who claim only for the prejudice suffered on the Cologne - Friedrichshafen line.

If you are certain of your right, you can refer to the Civil Aviation of the country of departure, or better yet, escalate the matter to the lower courts with the help of a specialized partner lawyer.