September 10, 2025, 11:08 am | Read time: 3 minutes
A relaxed start to your vacation–that’s what many travel operators promise with the “Rail and Fly” offer. But what happens if the train is significantly delayed on the day of travel and the plane takes off without the passengers? A recent court ruling provides clarity–and shows when operators must pay and when travelers are liable if the train to the flight is late.
Train Travel as Part of the Travel Contract
If the train ride to the airport is part of a package tour, the operator is also responsible for train delays. According to a ruling by the Böblingen District Court, a significant train delay in this case is considered a travel defect. However, travelers must have factored in a reasonable time buffer when choosing the connection.
Court Sees Operator as Responsible
In the case at hand, a vacationer wanted to catch a flight that was scheduled to depart three hours after his planned arrival at the airport. The booked Deutsche Bahn train to the flight was supposed to get him there two hours and 54 minutes before departure–but arrived massively late, causing him to miss the flight.
The affected traveler booked replacement flights at his own expense and stayed overnight at the airport hotel. The resulting costs of nearly 2,500 euros had to be reimbursed by the travel operator. Additionally, the court awarded the traveler compensation of around 750 euros because he lost vacation days due to the late arrival at the destination.
The Böblingen District Court ruled that a traveler can generally rely on the adherence to the train’s departure and arrival times. Minor delays must be anticipated, but not massive ones (Case No.: 20 C 1695/24).
Also of interest: Late at the Gate–Can I Be Denied Boarding?
Six Minutes Short–Still Adequately Planned
Although the traveler in this specific case planned six minutes less than the three hours recommended by the operator, the court did not see this as a failure. Under normal conditions, the time buffer would have been sufficient, according to the reasoning.
The trade journal “Travel Law Today” (Issue 4/2025) reports on the ruling and highlights the importance of realistic time frames in train planning.
Late to the Gate–Can I Be Denied Boarding?
Missed Your Flight Due to a Full Check-in? Know Your Rights
Risk with Self-Booked Train Rides
The key is that the train transfer is part of the booked package tour. Only then can the operator be held liable for a delay. Those who independently book a train ride to the airport bear the risk themselves–even in the event of significant delays. In such cases, the train is not responsible for missed flights, according to the ruling.
Consumer Advocates Recommend Generous Time Buffer
Consumer advocates generally recommend adhering to the buffer mentioned by the operator when planning travel. Those who plan the time window too narrowly risk losing their compensation claim. In the past, there have been rulings where courts rejected claims–even if the deviation was only a few minutes.
So, to be on the safe side, it’s better to plan a little more time–so the journey doesn’t fail at the train station.
With material from dpa