Austrian Airlines Compensation For Delayed or Cancelled Flight and Refund
Anton Radchenko
Reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
Last Updated:

It's everyone's dreaded travel scenario: you buy a ticket from Austrian Airlines, show up, and discover that your flight is delayed, cancelled, or worse. Or you find that the flight is fine, but you or an immediate family member are denied boarding. 

In such a case you could receive up to €600 from the airline. We here at AirAdvisor make claiming compensation easy.

Delayed or canceled flight? Find out if you're owed up to €600 in compensation.Check Your Flight

If you've had a cancelled or delayed flight and are looking for information about a refund or Austrian Airlines flight compensation, we are here to help.

What Are My Passenger Rights in Case My Austrian Airlines Flight Was Cancelled or Delayed?

All flights that depart from an airport in the European Union or are handled by an EU airline, like Austrian Airline, fall under EU Regulation 261 from 2004. According to this EU law your rights include:

  • up to €600 compensation which is not reliant on ticket price
  • Includes disrupted Austrian Airlines flights up to 3 years old
  • Covers flights that were delayed at least 3 hours, cancelled, or denied boarding because of overbooked

What Should I Do in Case of Cancellations or an Austrian Airlines Delayed Flight?

To claim compensation if your flight with Austrian Airlines:

  • Confirm the reason for the delay or cancellation.
  • Collect proof: photos, receipts of expenses, Austrian Airlines booking number, vouchers, etc.
  • Insist on your basic benefits and services at the airport like free meals at no extra cost to you.
  • Check your eligibility for compensation with our free online compensation calculator.

Austrian Airlines Compensation Claim

As a passenger, you may be entitled to compensation if the following has occurred:

  • Flight delay: If your flight arrived 3+ (three) hours late at your final destination.
  • Flight Cancellation: if Austrian Airlines cancelled your flight and informed you less than 14 days before departure.
  • Overbooking: If you have been denied boarding due to overbooked flights.
  • Missed connecting flight: If you missed a connecting flight due to a delay in one of the legs and you arrived at your destination 3+ hours late.

Austrian Airlines Flight Cancellations: When are They Liable?

When Austrian Airlines can escape liability: Austrian Airlines flight cancellation claims can be denied if a flight was cancelled due to events outside of its control; for example bad weather, or issues at the airport. Such events are typically called extraordinary circumstances, and in such cases, you are not entitled to an Austrian Airlines refund.

All airlines will generally try to book you on the first flight available at no additional charge in the case of cancelled flights. You may agree to the proposed flight or request another replacement flight, or demand reimbursement if you are not happy with any of the options proposed.

Note: If your rebooked scheduled departure arrives at a similar time to your original departure time, you're not entitled compensation. The law is fair and allows airlines not to pay compensation if you can reach your destination with minimum inconvenience. In most cases, passengers with a cancelled flight will have valid claims for a Austrian Airlines flight compensation.

When Austrian Airlines cannot escape liability: When Austrian Airlines cancel flights, EU 261 Regulation on air passengers claims and rights is clear: You must be put on an alternative new flight or provided with a full flight refund.

Also, if you were notified about the flight cancellation less than 14 days before your scheduled departure date, you may be able to receive up to €600 per person in compensation. Additionally, you may receive Austrian Airlines flight delay compensation if you arrived 3+ hours later than the scheduled arrival time of your original flight.

Figuring out how much you are owed for a disrupted flight can be complicated. We're here to help. Let us assess your compensation for you.Check Your Flight

Austrian Airlines plane

Austrian Airlines Flight Refund policy

A flight compensation and a refund are two different things. Regulations allow you to receive both: a cancellation refund and compensation.

In case of a cancellation, an airline will try to re-book you on an alternative flight, but if that becomes impossible, a cancellation refund will be a full cash refund. Generally, your claim would succeed, provided there were no extraordinary circumstances beyond airline control.

If Austrian Airlines cancels your flight to extraordinary circumstances (such as Covid travel restrictions or a serious illness) and you were offered no replacement flight, you can obtain a ticket refund in full since your flights booked were not available.

Types of ticket refunds: A full refund must be in cash or credit. Vouchers are allowed only if you specifically agree to them. We do not recommend accepting vouchers due to short expiry dates and potential restrictions on redemption.

Note: If Austrian Airlines offers a replacement flight with approximately the same arrival time and you decide not to take it, there is a possibility of you losing the right to get both compensation and a ticket refund.

Rule of thumb: you can generally reject alternate flights and receive a refund in full if a new replacement flight arrives 3+ hours later than your initial scheduled arrival time.

Austrian Airlines Refund problems? Let our team help you.

Disrupted flight? You might have a right to compensation - up to €600.Check Your Flight

Austrian Airlines Flight Delay Compensation

While all airlines attempt to operate on time, sometimes delays happen. EU Regulation 261 (EU 261) protects passengers in cases of flight delays.

According to EC 261, if your flight arrives later than 3 hours at your final destination, you may be eligible to file an Austrian Airlines delayed flight compensation claim form to receive up to €600 as a flight refund. If your flight was delayed for two hours and 59 minutes, you aren't eligible.

Exclusions: Not all delays are due compensation. EU Regulation states that the operating airline compensation will not be enforceable in case of extraordinary circumstances. If the flight departure time is delayed because of bad weather or any airport-related disruption, that is considered an extraordinary circumstance. Technical problems, airline staff strike, or operational problems are not valid reasons for rejected compensation claims.

Tip: accepting vouchers or signing release paperwork will result in losing the right to compensation.

What is the Time Limit for Austrian Airlines Flight Compensation Claims?

You have up to 3 years to contact Austrian Airlines and collect your compensation and ticket refunds, according to EU Regulation 261. However, we recommend that you submit your claim for flight compensation as soon as possible.

How to Claim Compensation for a delayed flight Austrian Airlines?

We advise you to use our free flight delay compensation calculator for further information. It takes only a couple of minutes to input basic information about your flight. Our calculator will inform you if you are eligible for compensation and exactly how much.

EU 261 Compensation Claim: How Much Can You Get?

  • Distance Compensation: All flights under 1,500 km Up to €250 per person
  • Austrian Airlines Internal flights over 1,500 km Up to €400 per person
  • Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 km Up to €400 per person
  • Austrian Airlines international flights over 3,500 km Up to €600 per person

Table shows values in € as specified in EC 261. To get calculate how much compensation is owed to you, please use our free compensation check.

If your flight was delayed, canceled or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to €600 in compensationCheck Your Flight

Common questions: Compensation Claims and Refunds

What to do when your Austrian Airlines flight is cancelled?

Confirm the reason for the Austrian Airlines flight cancellation with the airline ticket desk. Also, collect receipts for any additional expenses for reimbursement later. Ask the airline to provide food and refreshments for a delay of 3 hours or more. If your replacement flight is departing the next day, the airline must provide hotel accommodation and transportation. Finally, use our free online compensation calculator to check if you are eligible for compensation and submit a refund for cancellation request.

What if I cancel my Austrian Airlines flight? Can I get a refund?

If the Austrian airline cancels the flight, they must refund the price of the ticket to passengers. But if you decide to voluntarily cancel your scheduled flight, you are not entitled to a refund. Austrian Airlines cancellation policy is restrictive unless you have a flexible fare, which allows you to reschedule your flight to a later date with minimal cost.

Note: regardless of ticket type, passengers have the right to request a refund amount for airport taxes and fees as part of a cancellation refund according to European local laws.

Do I also get my money back for the Austrian Airlines cancelled a flight due to Covid-19?

If Austrian Airlines cancelled a flight due to Covid-19, passengers are entitled to a reimbursement as part of flight cancellation rights. If the carrier attempts to reimburse your cancelled flight with a voucher, we do not recommend taking it. Instead, apply for a refund. If your refund claim is rejected, AirAdvisor can help enforce your claim through our external lawyers.

Can I Get a Austrian Airlines Refund?

If you had booked a non-refundable or non-changeable fare and you had to cancel your own flight, you most likely would not be able to get a refund. However, if it was Austrian Airlines that cancelled your flight, then you would have the right to a refund as per the EU Regulation EC261.

How many hours for flight delay to be eligible for Austrian Airlines compensation?

Your Austrian Airlines flight delay of 3 hours or more at the airport of final destination may make you eligible for flight compensation. However, the amount of compensation may depend on the period of delay and flight distance. You can use the AirAdvisor flight delay compensation calculator to check your Austrian Airlines flight and your eligibility.

How long does it take to get Austrian Airlines flight delay compensation?

According to EC interpretation of EC 261 Regulation, airlines must pay compensation to passengers for flight disruptions within one (1) month. However, not airlines strictly comply with such regulations and it is quite common for Austrian Airlines to take up to 3 months to process claims. In some cases, Austrian Airlines may try to ignore payment requests from passengers, in which cases AirAdvisor legal team can step in to help your case.

How to claim Flight Delay Compensation with Austrian Airlines?

If you're experiencing flight delay or cancellation, AirAdvisor is here with a team of travel and legal specialists to help you obtain the compensation that's rightfully yours! With our knowledge in completing successful claims processes, we are eager to work on your behalf. Contact us today for more information on how we can assist.

How much compensation for Austrian Airlines delayed flight can you get?

Depending on the length of your flight, be prepared to receive up to €250 per person for flights under 1,500 km; €400 per person for EU flights over 1,500 km and between 1,500-3,500 km internationally; or €600 when you take a long haul international trip exceeding 3,500 km in distance.

How Much Time Do I Have to Make My Claim againt Austrian Airlines?

Local countries laws mandate the actual statute of limitations and that period is country specific. However, as a general rule travelers have up to three years from Austrian Airlines flight date to take action for a compensation claim (certain countries may have shorter period of statute of limitations). You can check if your flight is eligible for compensation via AirAdvisor website in under 3 minutes.