A method for operating an air conditioning system that is operable both manually and automatically for a transportation means and an air conditioning system for implementing the method are provided. An automatic characteristic line is corrected based on a manual operation. The air conditioning system includes sensors for detecting parameter values that influence and represent the climate in the transportation means, memory means having a plurality of automatic characteristic lines for different operating states which represent the fixedly predetermined dependencies between the detected sensor signals of an operating state and the assigned manipulated variables for components of the air conditioning system during automatic operation, and equipment for manual adjustment of manipulated variables.