The weather is uncomfortable. In Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, a thick layer of ice has formed on many roads and rails due to heavy freezing rain. The result? Planes cannot land or take off, trains cannot leave the stations and buses remain at the stops. Black ice and freezing rain are putting a damper on many people’s travel plans. The situation should return to normal by Wednesday afternoon.
Numerous flights were canceled at Frankfurt Airport on Wednesday morning due to snow and ice warnings. As a Fraport spokeswoman announced this morning, 570 of 1,047 planned flights have already been canceled. No plane take-offs have been possible since midday. The aircraft could no longer be safely de-iced before take-off due to the persistent freezing rain, said a spokesman for the operator Fraport.
“Saarbrücken Airport is suspending flight operations for the entire Wednesday,” it says on the airport’s official website.
There are also expected to be “significant restrictions” in Munich until midday, according to the airport’s official website. All flights to Europe and the USA are affected. But many domestic German flights to Munich or Frankfurt are currently being postponed or canceled from the north. FOCUS online advises : Check with the airline whether your flight is on Wednesday.
There are also delays on the train until midday. Travelers have to be prepared for massive disruptions.
But when will the ticket be refunded – and when not?
Rail customers must expect delays
The German railway has limited the maximum speed of all ICE trains to 200 km/h as a precaution, according to the press office. This is currently causing disruptions and cancellations nationwide.
The following long-distance connections are also affected:
- all trains that travel on the high-speed route between Cologne and Frankfurt am Main,
- all ICE trains between Stuttgart and Paris,
- all ICE trains between Frankfurt am Main, Mannheim and Paris.
The railway also canceled the train connection to all train journeys on January 17th.
Also canceled on Thursday:
- ICE 9550 Saarbrücken – Paris Est
- ICE 9553 Paris Est – Saarbrücken
- ICE 9555 Paris Est – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
- ICE 9556 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – Paris Est
- ICE 9557 Paris Est – Saarbrücken
- ICE 9558 Saarbrücken – Paris Est
- ICE 9563 Paris Est – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
- ICE 9568 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – Paris Est, replacement service TGV 69086 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – Paris Est
- ICE 9571 Paris Est – Stuttgart Hbf
- ICE 9573 Paris Est – Stuttgart Hbf
- ICE 9574 Stuttgart Hbf – Paris Est
- ICE 9572 Stuttgart Hbf – Paris Est
- TGV 9578 Stuttgart Hbf – Paris Est
FOCUS online says: For delays of one hour or more, rail travelers can have 25 percent of the fare refunded – regardless of whether adverse weather conditions were the cause or not. From two hours onwards it is 50 percent. Consumer advocates advise: You should have the railway staff confirm the delay on the train or at the station in writing.
The quickest way to get your money back is to hand in the completed passenger rights form with the compensation application together with the confirmation from the train staff at the travel center at the station, advises Stiftung Warentest. The form can also be sent by post to the railway passenger rights service center in Frankfurt.
Anyone who has a customer account with “bahn.de” can also apply for compensation digitally. On its website, the group lists the options for compensation claims can be claimed .
What happens if nothing works at the airport?
If airport operations are restricted due to black ice, this is an exceptional circumstance. This means that passengers are not entitled to compensation under the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation. However, the airport must prove that it has done everything possible to maintain flight operations.
For example, if there was not enough de-icing agent available, passengers can request their ticket back. According to the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center, such “inadequate preparation for winter weather conditions” can certainly lead to claims for compensation.
At the same time, if passengers are stuck at the airport due to ice and snow, the airline must provide appropriate meals. If there are delays of more than two hours, it must offer free care services, according to the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center. This can be food and drinks – in proportion to the waiting time. If you are stuck overnight, hotel stays are also included.
Flight canceled: Do I have to pay the costs?
No. If the flight is canceled or delayed by more than three hours, the airline must offer alternative transportation – be it by rebooking on another flight or, for example, by converting the ticket into a train ticket.
If a flight is canceled or delayed by more than five hours, passengers have a second option in addition to alternative transportation: they can demand their money back. You then have to figure out how to get to your destination yourself.
What applies on the long-distance bus?
Passenger rights on long-distance buses only apply to a limited extent if the bus is delayed due to a traffic jam or the trip is canceled due to storms or other reasons for which the bus company is not responsible. This is similar to passenger rights: certain disruptions are beyond the company’s control.
In the event of black ice, snow and storms, passengers are left with the costs. “Unlike the train, bus companies are not responsible for delays or cancellations due to force majeure,” explains Heinz Klewe, managing director of the Arbitration Board for Public Transport (SÖP).
If the bus has an accident on the way, the bus company must provide first aid and care to the passengers. This applies to food, clothing and onward transport. Passengers are also entitled to compensation. The exact amount depends on the legislation of the respective country. The currently applicable maximum compensation limit is 220,000 euros per passenger and applies, for example, in the event of death.