Many airlines and airports in Europe are currently experiencing significant delays and cancellations. In many cases, these are due to acute staff shortages. The ÖAMTC provides valuable tips on what rights those affected have in such cases and how to best prepare for the struggle for compensation. According to ÖAMTC travel monitoring, 68 percent of all Austrian travelers surveyed are heading abroad this summer: "Many people are planning a flight again this year. However, travelers should be prepared for longer waiting times and arrive at the airport on time. It is also advisable to regularly check the flight status well in advance of the start of the trip, because according to reports from airlines and airports, passengers must expect problems such as delayed or canceled flights," explains ÖAMTC lawyer Verena Pronebner. If a booked flight is canceled or the flight is delayed by five hours or more, passengers have the choice between a refund of the ticket price or alternative transportation, i.e. alternative transportation to the destination or the earliest possible return flight to the first departure point. If the airline does not offer a choice between reimbursement or alternative transport, but instead refunds the original ticket price, passengers are entitled to reimbursement of the additional cost of the new ticket under comparable travel conditions. Compensation payments range from 250 to 600 euros, depending on the flight route. "Instead of refunding the ticket price, airlines also like to offer vouchers - but these do not have to be accepted," the ÖAMTC lawyer clarifies. "The airline must also pay a flat-rate compensation if the passenger was not informed of the cancellation at least two weeks before the planned departure or if no alternative flight was available within less than seven days.