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Know Your Rights: Claim Up to $650 for Flights Delayed or Cancelled Due to Strikes

airline strike | LowTickets

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When airline staff or, say, the crew members are on strike, it often ends up causing flight disruptions. This affects the passenger’s travel plans and also causes a lot of confusion when the flights are cancelled. So, if you have or have not experienced such an event and were flying to or from the EU, you may be entitled to up to $650 in airline strike compensation under every conditions.

When am I Eligible for Flight Strike Compensation?

You, as an air passenger, are eligible for airline strike compensation only if:

  1. Your scheduled flight was delayed by 3 hours or more, or was cancelled less than 14 days before the departure.
  2. You had a flight disruption by an airline or strike.
  3. Your flight was confirmed.
  4. When the flight took off in the EU, or has landed at an EU region airport.
  5. If you have rebooked another flight, and the new flight arrival time was different from your previous flight.
  6. When the disruptions had happened within the last 3 years.

Cancelled or Delayed Flight Due to a Strike?

Your chosen airline is supposed to offer flight cancellation compensation, irrespective of the time they have informed you about the delay or cancellation. Here, you also have the right to ask for a rebook, or if you are transferring a flight back to your departure destination.

Kindly bear in mind that you will not be able to have any monetary compensation for any extraordinary circumstances. However, the European Court has ruled out that the strikes held by the airline staff are within the airline’s complete control. Therefore, the airlines can offer you monetary compensation in addition to the first-mentioned condition.

Key Points About “Flight Cancelled or Delayed Due to Strike”

In case you face a delay or a cancellation by the airline only, then here is what to expect:-

  • When your flight is cancelled 2 or more weeks before the scheduled departure, then you will be provided with the choice of either a complete refund or a rebooking, but you will not be eligible for a cash payout by any means.
  • If the flight is delayed, you will receive monetary compensation when you arrive three or more hours late to your destination.
  • If your flight was cancelled 2 weeks before your departure, then you will also be provided with a refund or a rebooking, or compensation depending on the distance of your flight

When Can You Claim Compensation for Flight Strikes?

Due to an airline strike, if your scheduled flight faced cancellation and was supposed to depart from the EU or UK, then the passenger should get in touch with the airline in proper writing. On the official site, you will have a dedicated online form on their site for claiming the compensation. Do not be stressed about the compensation; however, do not forget to mention all the relevant information about your situation and attach all the documents, including the correspondence with the carrier. The claim process is an easy claim process, but do not be stunned if your claim is denied, if the airline denies or if you receive no response from the airline. It might take weeks or months to reach a decision after thorough thinking, but that’s where LowTickets.com can help you.

It is your airline’s responsibility to update you with imminent airport strikes in a timely manner. However, you can make additional monetary claims if the passenger finds out about it less than 14 days in advance, and then there are no extraordinary circumstances. Your airline should also be prepared beforehand to provide you with a complete refund or an alternative flight as well.

Are Strike-Related Flight Delays or Cancellations Eligible for Compensation?

The flight delays and cancellations are very frustrating when they happen due to air strikes. If you're not aware of the many compensations you are entitled to, don't worry - we've got you covered. Here, the answer generally depends upon the very rights in your region.

The flight strike or the 1airline strike can be held up by pilots, cabin crew members, or ground workers, or sometimes they involve third parties like the airport or the air traffic controllers. The many labour actions can sometimes lead to schedule disruptions, leaving passengers stranded or forced to change their travel plans.

How Much Compensation is Allowed to be Claimed?

Under the European Regulations, different amounts of compensation are available depending on the distance of the flight:

  • If the flight distance is upto 1500 kms, then the compensation amount is €250 for a delayed flight or canceled flight.
  • If the flight distance is between 1500 and 3500 km, then the flight cancellation compensation is €400 for a delayed flight or a cancelled one.
  • When the flight distance is more than 3500 km, then the value of compensation is €600 for a flight that is delayed or cancelled.

When the delay is because of the airlines, they will provide you with the following compensation. which are as follows:

FLIGHT DISTANCE DELAY AIRLINE WILL HELP
Upto 3,500 km 2-4 hours Foods & drinks, also 2 phone calls, faxes, or emails.
All Flights 5 + Hours Food & drink, also two phone calls, emails, or faxes. Opportunities to withdraw from the airlines with full reimbursement and with alternative transportation.
All Flights Following Day Get an overnight accommodation in a nearby hotel wth transport to and from the airport.

Know Your Rights: Compensation for Airline Staff Strike

When one experiences flight disruptions because of the flight strike, as mentioned here:

  • Get paid for delays and for cancellations as well. So when the flight is delayed or cancelled due to the airline’s fault, however, some laws grant you a monetary refund in cash as compensation.
  • Compensation for the overbooked flights, the airline customer right laws protect you and ensure that you get all the compensation when you are involuntarily bumped from your scheduled flight.
  • Free meals and drinks are offered when the passenger is stuck at the airport for hours.
  • Free rebooking or full refunds, which means that when the flights are cancelled or are overbooked, then the laws regulate that either the airline gets you to fly to your desired destination or refunds you the complete amount of your booking.
  • Luggage Compensation, in case your baggage is lost, damaged, or delayed, you can ask for compensation from the airlines under the law of baggage allowances.
  • Free hotel stays, if the flight is delayed, then, as per the regulations, the airline must cover your hotel room stay as well.

How Much Compensation Am I Entitled To?

When the flight has been disrupted in the European Union and the United Kingdom, then the passenger is entitled to get cash for the flight delay compensation.

Less than 2 hrs 2-3 hours 3-4 hours More than 4 hours 3-Never Arrived Distance
€125 €250 €250 €250 €250 Flights 1,500ks or less
€200 €200 €400 €400 €400 Internal EU over 1,500 km
€200 €200 €400 €400 €400 Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 -3,500 km
€300 €300 €300 €600 €600 Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km

Do I Still Need to Arrive at the Airport During a Strike?

Yes, it is considerable to reach out at the airport in no time, as the strike will only last for a short period of time. The airline here offers you an alternative flight on very short notice. So, if you are faced with a much longer waiting period, then always remain at the gate.

When the flight is scheduled for many days, you can reach out to the airlines in advance to find out when the flight will take off. When this happens, you obviously do not have to check in at the airport early to board the flight that you had already booked. The passengers in package tours may call their tour company to determine how they will travel as a result of the strike, whether it will be cancelled or delayed.

What Is the Process to Claim Flight Compensation?

There are a few steps that are important to follow under the passenger rights regulations. First, know the eligibility by checking on the reasons for the delay or cancellations and the applied laws, such as the EU Regulation 261/2004 or local aviation rules. The factors like the flight distance, delay duration, and airline responsibility play a vital role here.

The next thing you should do is to have all the relevant information, like the boarding pass, proof of delay or cancellation, booking confirmation, and any receipts for extra expenses. Contact your airline directly, preferably in writing, with proper detailing of the situation and requesting compensation. Also, many airlines have dedicated online claim forms to simplify the process.

And if the airline does not respond or rejects your claim without any valid grounds, then you can escalate the matter to the appropriate national body. Also keep all the correspondence properly as evidence.

When Strikes Cause Delays of Over 5 Hours

If the airport strikes cause a delay to your scheduled flight for at least 5 hours, then the flyers are entitled to withdraw from the flight. Also, you will be due to get a refund from the airlines, on the provision that you haven’t taken any other transportation that was offered by them to you.

What to Do When Strikes Delay Your Flight Until the Next Day

In the event that the strike leads to the next day, then the airline has to provide you with accommodation in a hotel for the night. Along with the cost of the hotel stay, the transportation is also managed by the airlines.

Checklist: When You’re Not Eligible for Compensation During a Strike

Firstly,in the event your flight did fall during the immediate strike time frame.

Secondly, when you have reached your destination 3 hours late.

Thirdly, you miss the time of the flight.

Fourthly, your flight was functional more than 6 years ago.

Fifthly, the flight operated outside the EU.

Claim your Compensation

For sure, figuring out whether you qualify for the compensation or not can be a tricky thing to do at the best of times. And this difficulty only increases when there are strikes in action, disrupting your flight. Many times, the airline fails to inform the passengers about the rights of compensation under the European Regulations on Air Passenger Rights.

Furthermore, they might even ignore your plight and become difficult to get in touch with or even refuse to pay by referring to extraordinary circumstances. As well, this discourages the passengers who want to exert their rights

With LowTickets by your side, you have an absolute chance of getting your compensation. We have knowledge and onboard experts who know how to validate your claim, and hear no, NO from the airlines. Our customer support department can assist you from step one to the last step to get you compensated for your flight bookings. We try to do everything in our power to help you with your flight disruptions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) ?

Is Alternative Transportation an Option During Airline Strikes?

Yes indeed. The alternative transportation can be a good option during the airline strike, although the main options and responsibilities may vary. The airlines are generally obligated to provide alternative transportation or refund options when the flights are cancelled due to an airport strike.

When Am I Not Eligible for Strike Compensation?

You are not eligible for strike compensation when the strike is not under the airline’s control, like the strikes by the airport staff members, air traffic control, or due to some unavoidable scenarios.

What care and assistance can I get at the airport?

Proper assistance and services like stays and meals are provided from the end of the airport.

What should my airline do if a strike is imminent?

It's the responsibility of the airlines to update you on the imminent strike as soon as possible. However, you can always ask for monetary claims if you find out about an airline strike less than 14 days in advance.

Credit cards and Section 75 – your rights

According to Section 75 of the Consumer Protection Act, your credit provider can protect you when things fall apart. For this very reason, the credit card has chargeable fees; in other words, they are obligated to pay you for anything that crosses the amount of £100 in an avoidable scenario.

What if the strike is unannounced?

If a strike is unannounced, airlines must still assist passengers with rebooking or refunds, but compensation eligibility depends on local laws and whether the strike is within the airline’s control.

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