Can I demand a reduction in the travel price if the booked transfer did not take place?
August 16, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Ralf Schlittmaier
Dear Travel Law Lawyer,
My name is Petra Volkmann and I recently booked a package holiday that included a transfer from the airport to the hotel. Unfortunately, the transfer was not carried out as planned and I had to take a taxi at my own expense to reach my hotel. This not only put a financial strain on me, but also negatively affected my travel experience.
I am very concerned that I paid for a service that I ultimately did not receive. Therefore, I am wondering if I can demand a reduction in the price of the trip to compensate for the costs of the transfer that was not carried out. I find it unfair that I had to pay for a service that was not provided, and I would like to know if I have a legal right to a refund.
I would be very grateful if you could inform me of the steps I can take to request a reduction in the price of the trip. Are there specific legal grounds or laws that I can rely on? How should I best proceed to successfully enforce my request?
Thank you in advance for your support and advice on this matter.
Sincerely,
Petra Volkmann
Dear Mrs. Volkmann,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the missed transfer in the context of your package tour. I am sorry to hear that your travel experience was negatively affected and that you incurred additional costs as a result.
Indeed, as a consumer, you have legal rights if a service that was agreed upon as part of a package tour is not provided. According to § 651n of the German Civil Code (BGB), as a traveler, you have the right to a reduction in the price of the trip if the travel service was not provided or was inadequate. This means that you may be entitled to a refund of part of the trip price to compensate for the costs of the missed transfer.
To assert your claim and demand a reduction in the price of the trip, you should first inform the tour operator in writing about the incident. Describe exactly what happened and what additional costs you incurred as a result. Request a reasonable reduction in the price of the trip and set a deadline for the operator to respond.
If the tour operator is not willing to meet your demand, you can take legal action. For example, you could consult a lawyer specializing in travel law who can assist you in enforcing your rights. In such a case, you could also involve the consumer protection agency, which can help you in resolving the dispute out of court.
In any case, it is important to keep all documents and receipts, such as taxi receipts, to support your claims. The more accurately you can document the incident, the better your chances of successfully enforcing your claim.
I hope this information is helpful to you and wish you success in enforcing your rights. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Ralf Schlittmaier
Lawyer specializing in travel law
