Munich court rejects claim after train delay causes missed flight

A Munich court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a couple who missed their flight to Hurghada, Egypt, due to a train delay. The travelers sought reimbursement for a replacement flight costing 567 euros and additional taxi expenses.

The couple had booked a package holiday that included a ‘Rail & Fly Flex’ ticket. Their flight was scheduled to depart from Munich Airport at 13:30. According to their travel documents, passengers were required to be at the check-in counter at least 120 minutes before departure, which would be 11:30.

The couple chose a train connection scheduled to arrive at the airport terminal at 11:28. However, a delay caused by people on the tracks resulted in the train being held for over an hour. By the time they reached the airport via S-Bahn, the check-in counter had already closed.

The Munich District Court ruled against the plaintiffs, stating that the travelers had planned their arrival too narrowly. The court noted that the critical factor was not whether they reached the airport terminal on time, but whether they would have reached the check-in counter 120 minutes before departure based on their chosen schedule.