Air Passenger Rights and Flight Reimbursement

Since Austrian Airlines' headquarters are in the European Union, by law, all of its flights are covered by EC 261, one of the most extensive aviation passenger rights legislation in the world.

Passengers who have had delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights due to no fault of their own are entitled to compensation under the EC 261 rule. Passengers are also able to make claims for previous flights; in many cases, claims for trips over the previous three years are still valid.

Compensation for Austrian Airlines Flight Delays

Flight delays annoy Austrian Airlines as much as they annoy you (almost). After all, they do have a timetable to follow. However, not all delays are the same, and when the airline is to blame, customers are entitled to compensation for their inconvenience.

That is the purpose of EU Regulation 261/2004. Depending on the length of your travel, you may be eligible for up to 600€ in compensation for your Austrian Airlines delayed flight. To qualify, you must have arrived at your destination at least 3 hours beyond the scheduled arrival time, and the airline must be to blame for the delay.

From January 2018, around 22% of Austrian Airlines flights have been 15 minutes or more late. The airline's flights were on average 37.2 minutes late, which is a very great result compared to the rest of the industry. As a result, Austrian Airlines' on-time performance is slightly above average, with a 6.4 out of 10 ratings.

Reimbursement for Austrian Airlines Flight Cancellation

Austrian Airlines also cancels certain flights, and you can file a claim for compensation if your flight is canceled. When flights are canceled, the Austrian airline is responsible for enforcing passengers' rights.

It's worth noting that the operating airline may have to cancel a flight due to circumstances beyond their control, in which case they are not required to compensate passengers. However, if the situation does not qualify as "exceptional circumstances," the airline may owe you up to 600€.

The requirements securing your right to compensation if Austrian Airlines cancels your flight are significantly more difficult than the conditions ensuring your right to compensation if your flight is delayed. In summary, if the airline is to blame for the cancellation, they haven't given you at least 14 days' notice, and you arrive late (or not at all) at your final destination, you are most certainly qualified under the EU Regulation.

Austrian Airlines ranks highly in this category, taking only slightly more than two weeks to respond to a submitted claim. They are extremely quick in resolving their passengers' claims, with an average resolution time of only 44 days, which is far faster than the industry average. When a dispute arises and the claim must be taken to court, the processing period is significantly longer, and it might take up to 100 days for Austrian Airlines to pay the compensation due to its passengers. Nonetheless, Austrian Airlines' 7.4 rating reflects their excellent record in handling compensation claims for delayed and cancelled flights. Our specialists are well-versed in dealing with Austrian Airlines.

EC 261 covers which Austrian Airlines flights?

Covered by EC 261
Flights departing EU airports	Yes
Flights arriving at EU airports	Yes

How Much are Austrian Airlines’ Flight Compensation?

• up to 250 EUR per person; All flights under 1,500 km
• up to 400 EUR per person; Internal EU flights over 1,500 km
• up to 400 EUR per person; Non-internal EU flights between 1,500-3,500 km
• up to 600 EUR per person; Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km

If my Austrian Airlines flight was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, can I obtain a refund and compensation?

In most cases, no – you may only obtain a refund for your airline ticket if your flight is canceled, as the coronavirus pandemic is a rare occurrence that is not qualified for compensation.