Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH) is a key gateway to southern Germany, located on the shores of Lake Constance. While it primarily serves regional and European destinations, flight cancellations can still disrupt your travel plans. Whether you're a business traveler, a tourist visiting the scenic lakeside town, or catching a connecting flight, a cancelled flight from Friedrichshafen can be a major inconvenience.
Fortunately, under EU Regulation 261/2004, you may be eligible for financial compensation if your flight was cancelled at short notice. In this guide, we’ll cover your rights, what to do next, and alternative travel options to minimize disruption.
Yes! If your flight from Friedrichshafen was cancelled, you could be entitled to up to €600 in compensation, depending on the distance of your flight and the reason for cancellation.
Here’s what you need to know:
✅ Your flight must have been cancelled less than 14 days before departure.
✅ The airline must be responsible (e.g., technical issues, staff shortages, overbooking).
✅ The flight must have departed from an EU airport or been operated by an EU airline.
€250 for flights up to 1,500 km (e.g., Friedrichshafen to London).
€400 for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km (e.g., Friedrichshafen to Istanbul).
€600 for flights over 3,500 km (e.g., Friedrichshafen to Dubai, if operated by an EU carrier).
🚨 Airlines may try to avoid paying compensation by offering vouchers. Don't accept them unless it's your only option!
If you’ve just found out your flight has been cancelled, follow these steps immediately:
Ask the airline why your flight was cancelled. If it’s due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g., extreme weather, airport strikes, air traffic control restrictions), you might not be eligible for compensation. However, technical faults and crew shortages are valid reasons for a claim!
You have the right to either:
✈ Be rebooked on another flight – either on the same airline or a different one.
💰 Receive a full refund – especially if the alternative flight doesn’t work for you.
Hold onto:
📃 Your boarding pass or e-ticket confirmation
📃 Any written communication from the airline about the cancellation
📃 Receipts for extra expenses (food, hotel, transport)
Even if the airline offers an alternative flight, you can still claim compensation if the cancellation was preventable. Use Trouble Flight to check your claim in less than 3 minutes!
If your flight from Friedrichshafen is cancelled and you need a quick way out, consider these alternative routes:
Friedrichshafen is well-connected to both Zurich Airport (ZRH) and Munich Airport (MUC) by train.
Zurich is 90 minutes away by train, offering a wider range of international flights.
Munich Airport is a 2.5-hour journey, but it’s one of Germany’s busiest hubs, increasing your chances of finding another flight.
Tip: Airlines don’t always offer transfers, so check train schedules and book early if needed!
If you’re in a hurry, a rental car can be a good alternative, especially for shorter distances to Zurich or Munich.
Long-distance buses to major German cities (like Stuttgart or Frankfurt) are also an option.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) – 85 km away
Memmingen Airport (FMM) – 85 km away
Stuttgart Airport (STR) – 170 km away
Munich Airport (MUC) – 230 km away
If an airline doesn’t offer an alternative flight, you can book your own ticket from a nearby airport and claim the cost back!
🛑 “The cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances.”
Airlines often claim bad weather or air traffic issues, but not all cancellations qualify as extraordinary. If other airlines were operating normally, you can challenge their excuse.
🛑 “We rebooked you, so you’re not eligible for compensation.”
Not true! If your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, you can still claim compensation, even if the airline provided a new flight.
🛑 “Technical issues don’t qualify for compensation.”
They do! Under EU261, most technical problems (except for hidden manufacturing defects) are the airline’s responsibility.
If you find yourself stuck in Friedrichshafen due to a cancelled flight, make the most of your time. The city, located on the stunning Lake Constance, offers plenty to explore:
🏛 Zeppelin Museum – Discover the history of airships in the city where the Zeppelin was born.
🌊 Lake Constance Promenade – Enjoy breathtaking views of the lake and Swiss Alps.
🏔 Excursion to Austria or Switzerland – You can easily hop on a ferry to Bregenz, Austria, or take a short train ride to Switzerland.
Even if your flight is delayed, Friedrichshafen is a fantastic place to unwind before you depart.
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