Flight compensation Germanwings:
Nice — Cologne

Legal right to compensation: Germanwings flight between Nice and Cologne

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

By taking off from Nice, you are protected by the EU's legal framework. The distance of 801 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.

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

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

To determine if your trip between Nice and Cologne entitles you to compensation, the main criterion is the delay at arrival (and not at departure). It must be more than 3 hours.

Upgrading or downgrading does not change your right to 250 € if the initial incident is qualified under Regulation 261.

What are the conditions for Germanwings to compensate you?

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

The impact of a strike on your Germanwings compensation

Don't be fooled by Germanwings's vague terms: a 'wildcat' or declared strike remains the management responsibility of the company.

Warning however: if the cancellation is directly attributable to the airport staff or a decision by air navigation, Germanwings is released from its obligation to pay the legal indemnity of 250 euros, but not from its duty of assistance.

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

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

Your forced stay at Nice shouldn't cost you a penny more than originally planned for your NCE-CGN trip.

Steps: how to get your 250 € from Germanwings?

For your Nice - Cologne trip, every minute counts. Note the reasons given by Germanwings staff at the Nice 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?

Some passengers wait more than 6 months for a response from Germanwings. An expert can reduce this time by half.

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

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

Don't take Germanwings's email for granted claiming that the airport was blocked by snow without checking official reports.

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.