Austrian Airlines compensation: how to claim
Austrian Airlines is registered in Austria, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Registered in
- Austria (EU carrier)
- Main bases
- Vienna (VIE)
- Typical first response
- About 35 days
- Time limit where it is based
- 3 years (Austria)
Austrian Airlines is registered in Austria, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because Austrian Airlines is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
How Austrian Airlines handles claims
Vienna is a connecting hub for Central and Eastern Europe, so a large share of Austrian claims are missed connections. On a single booking the delay is measured where you finished, not where you missed the connection.
Austria has a dedicated passenger-rights conciliation body, the Agentur für Passagier- und Fahrgastrechte (APF), which handles air passenger complaints free of charge.
Austrian limitation is three years from the flight, with no end-of-year extension — shorter in practice than the German rule despite the same headline number.
As part of the Lufthansa group they use similar wording in rejections, and the same counter-arguments apply.
What a delay on Austrian Airlines is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna (VIE) → Paris (CDG) | 1,035 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Vienna (VIE) → Barcelona (BCN) | 1,370 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Vienna (VIE) → Rome (FCO) | 780 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Vienna (VIE) → Amsterdam (AMS) | 959 km | EU261 | €250 |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from Austrian Airlines, by what happened
- Austrian Airlines: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Austrian Airlines: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Austrian Airlines: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Austrian Airlines: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your Austrian Airlines flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Austrian Airlines yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Austrian Airlines: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Austrian Airlines?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. Austrian Airlines is registered in Austria, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
Does Austrian Airlines have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against Austrian Airlines?
In Austria, where Austrian Airlines is based, the limit is 3 years, counted from the date of the flight. You can usually also claim where your flight departed or arrived, which may give you longer — for example six years in England and Wales.
Where do I send a claim to Austrian Airlines?
Austrian Airlines takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Austrian Airlines AG, Customer Relations, Office Park 2, Postfach 100, 1300 Wien-Flughafen, Austria. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Austrian Airlines flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.