Flight compensation Germanwings:
Milano — Duesseldorf

Legal right to compensation: Germanwings flight between Milano and Duesseldorf

If your trip departing from Malpensa International Airport and arriving at Dusseldorf International Airport operated by Germanwings was disrupted, you are not alone against the airline.

European legislation strictly frames passenger rights. For a distance of 646 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.

The case law of the CJEU has strengthened these rights over the years, transforming Regulation 261/2004 into an effective shield against abuses by carriers like Germanwings.

How to know if the flight Germanwings Milano - Duesseldorf is eligible?

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

In the case of a cancellation, if you are notified less than 14 days before your departure from Milano, the regulation applies in the same way.

What are the conditions for Germanwings to compensate you?

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

The impact of a strike on your Germanwings compensation

Not all strikes exempt the company from its obligations. If the delay of your Milano - Duesseldorf trip is due to an internal strike within Germanwings, the European justice recently ruled that this entitles to compensation.

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

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

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

Even in extraordinary circumstances, this right to assistance at Milano remains valid. The hotel is due if Germanwings offsets your flight by one night.

Steps: how to get your 250 € from Germanwings?

For your Milano - Duesseldorf trip, every minute counts. Note the reasons given by Germanwings staff at the Malpensa International 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?

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

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 Milano - Duesseldorf line.

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.