If your flight is disrupted by a strike, can you claim airport strike compensation?
It depends on the strike. For an airline staff strike, you might be eligible for compensation as it’s not seen as an extraordinary circumstance. In case of a cancellation or delay due to an airline staff strike, you could receive up to €600. You can claim directly from the airline or opt for a flight compensation company for a simpler process.
If your flight is disrupted due to any strike, you are entitled to care from the airline.
Check flight compensation online.
Airport Staff Strikes vs Airline Staff Strikes: Can You Get Airport Strike Compensation?
Airport staff strikes and airline staff strikes can disrupt your travel plans.
Can you claim airport strike compensation if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to a strike? The type of strike determines if you can claim. The main difference between the two strike types in terms of passenger rights is significant.
- In the case of an airport staff strike, you can’t get compensated. You could try to sue the airport, but your chances of winning are slim due to the lack of common rules on this issue. Unless your travel insurance covers it, you’ll likely get no refund or compensation.
- For an airline staff strike, you may get compensation. Your situation is slightly different and more favourable. You may be entitled to flight compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled due to an airline staff strike. Airline staff strikes are the airline’s responsibility, not extraordinary circumstances. Just like technical problems and other staffing issues aren’t extraordinary circumstances.
It’s important to identify the type of strike.
Note that ground staff are not always employed directly by the airline, so it’s not always clear if it’s an airline staff strike.
Airport Strike Compensation in Europe
Can I get compensation for a flight delay or cancellation due to a strike?
Yes, if the disruption meets these criteria:
- For flight delays: Compensation may be due if your arrival at the destination is delayed by 3 hours or more, counted from the time the aircraft doors open for passenger disembarkation. If you reach your destination 3 or more hours later than planned, you could be eligible for flight delay compensation.
- For flight cancellations: The cancellation must be last-minute and the airline’s fault. A last-minute cancellation is when a flight is cancelled within 14 days of departure. If your flight is cancelled at the last minute due to the airline’s fault, you may be entitled to flight cancellation compensation and a full refund (or a new flight).
Compensation is €250, €400 or €600, depending on the flight distance. You can claim compensation directly from the airline (by contacting the airline through email or website) or opt for a flight compensation company for a simpler process.
To claim airport strike compensation, we recommend using a flight compensation company because it will save you time.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
Check flight compensation online.
You Have the Right to Care
In Europe, you are protected.
While you may not always receive flight delay or cancellation compensation, EU regulations ensure that you are well protected when flying in Europe and with European airlines, even as a foreign tourist. Airlines must either take you to your destination or provide a full refund.
But that’s not all.
When your flight is disrupted, you have the right to care. Here’s what your airline should provide if there’s a strike:
- If you wait 3+ hours: A free meal and drink, plus two free phone calls, emails, or faxes, usually in the form of coupons.
- If you wait overnight: In addition to the above, a free hotel room and transportation to and from the hotel.
This applies regardless of the circumstances or the type of strike. You are entitled to care even if your flight is disrupted due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g., bad weather).
This protection covers all flights operated by European airlines (to, from, and within Europe). For non-European airlines, it applies to flights departing from Europe. These rules also apply to charter airlines.
Read more:
- What to Do If the Airline Refuses to Pay Compensation?
- What Are the Extraordinary Circumstances in European Air Travel?
By Europe, European Union and EU here on this website we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. This is where these European regulations work.
Do you have more questions about airport strike compensation? Do you have more questions about airline or airport strikes? Ask in the comments.
Featured photo by Martin Lopez from Pexels