July 9, 2026, 4:24 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
A flight delay can have more far-reaching consequences than just a later arrival. If you incur additional expenses, such as picking up a rental car, you may be entitled to reimbursement under certain conditions. A recent court ruling highlights what is important in such cases.
Rental Car Only Available for an Extra Fee Due to Late Arrival
A traveler arrived at his destination in the evening with more than an hour’s delay. Since the regular opening hours of the car rental station had ended, he could only pick up the reserved vehicle by paying a late fee.
The man subsequently demanded reimbursement of the additional 65 euros from the airline. The Geldern District Court ruled in his favor (Case No.: 4 C 448/25).
Also of interest: What if my booked rental car is unavailable?
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Airline May Have to Compensate for Delay Damages Under Certain Conditions
According to the court, airlines can be required to compensate for damages directly caused by a delay for which they are responsible. This includes additional costs like the surcharge for the late pickup of a rental car. The decision is reported by the trade journal “ReiseRecht aktuell” (3/2026).
The court emphasized that travelers generally rely on reaching their destination at least approximately at the scheduled time. Often, further plans are tied to the arrival—such as picking up a rental car or reaching a cruise ship at the port on time. Therefore, the agreed flight times are of significant importance.
Proof of Cause is Crucial
A claim for damages requires that the airline is responsible for the delay. If there are extraordinary circumstances like extreme weather, such an obligation generally does not exist.
Additionally, the incurred additional costs must be directly attributable to the delayed landing.
“You can assess your situation by determining whether the costs would have been incurred even with an on-time arrival,” writes attorney Christian Gerd Kotz about this case on his website. The advice: “Document precisely that the provider’s regular business hours (e.g., the rental car station) ended during the delay and that the surcharge was imposed solely due to the late pickup.”
With material from dpa