A Munich court ruled that a delayed package tour flight can cost a full day’s price. The ruling went out on July 18, 2026.
The case involved a nine-hour flight shift and rejected the usual hourly compensation model. If your tour flight gets rescheduled, this ruling gives you a stronger claim.
Antalya Arrival Moved From Midday to Evening
A traveler from Baden-Württemberg booked a package tour to Antalya. The trip ran from April 15 to April 27, 2026.
The traveler’s 12-day trip for two cost €2,935 total.
Weeks before departure, the traveler’s outbound flight time changed.
The flight moved from a 7:40 AM departure to 4:30 PM. Arrival shifted from 11:55 AM to 8:45 PM, a nine-hour delay.
By check-in, there was no time left to use the hotel. The couple lost their entire first vacation day.
The tour operator would have offered 5% of the daily price per hour, starting from the third hour. This means, based on this formula, the couple would have received €56.44. However, the couple argued this amount was not enough.
A Lost Vacation Day Can Cost a Full Day’s Price
The Munich court, in case 191 C 7747/26, rejected the hourly model. It said the model treats every hour the same.
Flight timing is a value-determining part of a trip, the court said. Morning departures let travelers use their first vacation day.
A nine-hour shift to the afternoon erased that vacation day. The Munich court called this a real loss.
The Munich court awarded a full day’s price. That added €56.44 to the original offer. The traveler’s total compensation reached €112.88.
The court rejected a separate claim for the rest of the trip, since the remaining days went as planned.
NOTE: This is a district court ruling, not a Bundesgerichtshof decision. It doesn’t bind other courts, but it may guide similar disputes. The ruling can still be appealed.
How to Claim a Full Day’s Price If Your Package Tour Flight Time Changes
Watch for major flight time changes on your package tour. A shift of several hours could support a stronger compensation claim.
This ruling gives you leverage if it happens to you. Here’s what to do:
- Document the original and new flight times, from your booking and the operator’s notice.
- Calculate the value of one full day using the total trip price.
- Note how much usable time you had at your destination that day.
- Send a written demand citing the lost day, not just delay hours.
WARNING: Only the traveler on the booking contract can claim. A companion cannot claim on their behalf without their own claim or an assignment of rights.
TIP: Compensation claims have a statute of limitations. Do not wait too long after your trip to submit one in writing.
