Airline Strike Compensation: How to Claim up to 600€ For Cancelled Flights

Reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Last Updated: December 17, 2024

Claim up to £600 for flight disruption due to airline strike

We've been helping travelers for over 7 years. Join more than 380,000 passengers who have entrusted AirAdvisor with their compensation claims due to the strike.

Has your flight been disrupted due to airport strikes, weather conditions or other circumstances? Don't worry! Under current EU Regulation 261, you can exercise your right to compensation, as well as compensation for flight cancellations due to a strike or any other reason.

What to do if your flight is cancelled in extraordinary circumstances? We, the team at AirAdvisor, recommend you check your entitlement to compensation. Airlines often resort to excuses to avoid payouts. However, there is always a chance of getting compensation under the EU Regulation, even if your flight is disrupted in extraordinary circumstances.

Check out the information below on how airlines strike, your rights to compensation for a flight cancelled due to a strike or for other reasons, and all the most important information you need for a successful complaint process.

Every time air traffic controllers or ground staff decide to strike, flight schedules are disrupted and lead to significant chaos, disruption to your plans or extra costs.

Mostly in such cases, passengers are left to fend for themselves: they are confused and do not receive adequate information or assistance.

Before we get into your passenger rights, it's important to understand how cash compensation differs from other alternatives. In the event of a strike, under EU Regulation 261, you may be entitled to the following options:

• Replacement of transport: the airline is obliged to arrange alternative transport to the destination
• Right to Support: If you have to wait a long time at the airport, the airline is obliged to provide you with drinks and food in proportion to the waiting time, as well as two free phone calls/text messages and, if necessary, a place to stay overnight.
• Ticket refund: Flight delay of 5 hours or more? You are entitled to have your flight cancelled and your ticket refunded.
• Compensation in the event of an airline's cabin crew going on strike (unlike, for example, a nationwide strike). Passengers are entitled to compensation of between 250 and 600 euros each (this depends on the length of the flight delay and the distance of the flight)

Given the above, we suggest to consider in more detail what monetary compensation is and when you are entitled to it by law.

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Compensation in the event of an airline strike: when can you claim your right to receive it?

Each time an airline employee starts a strike that disrupts the flight schedule, the airline is obliged to pay compensation for its actions and the inconvenience caused by them, but in the following circumstances:

• Flight delays of 3 hours or more
• The flight was cancelled
• Unjustified denial to board a flight.

In 2018, the European Court of Justice ruled that the airline was liable for strikes called by its workers and therefore liable for monetary compensation.

These cases are known as “wildcat strikes” because they involve strikes that airline workers announce at the last minute, as opposed to those planned in advance.

Thanks to EU regulation 261, in the event of a “wildcat strike”, airlines must compensate passengers whose cases meet the criteria for compensation, because they are responsible.

You can also claim compensation if the strike has affected your flight. For example, if the strike happened the day before your flight and it was cancelled the next day, you can claim compensation for any delays caused as a result.

Compensation in the event of an airline strike: when is compensation not paid?

According to the provisions of the EU regulation no.261, the requirements for compensation in connection with the strike primarily depend on the person who declared the strike.

Most of the strikes are outside the airline’s control and relate to extraordinary circumstances.

Strikes by air traffic controllers, pilots, airport staff, baggage handlers and almost all other strikes (with the exception of “wildcat strikes”) are not considered sufficient grounds for a claim for compensation.

If a flight is delayed for the above reasons, the airline will usually not be liable because it often resorts to claims that such strikes are an "emergency" situation, thus refusing to pay compensation. This makes it difficult for passengers to get compensation.

That’s when we come to help!

A flight delay due to a strike is a stressful situation. In addition, there are many different laws and regulations that airlines use to try to avoid their obligation to pay compensation. To find out if you're entitled to compensation for a disrupted flight, use our free and quick compensation check form. If your flight meets the criteria, we'll help you resolve your issue quickly and easily.

Below is an overview of the rights and services you can claim in the event of a flight delay:

Apart from compensation, what other rights should be respected in the event of a flight delay/cancellation due to a strike?

According to EU regulation 261, even if the delay or cancellation of the flight occurred in extraordinary circumstances, the airline is still obliged to provide you with appropriate support and assistance at the airport.

If you're delayed for 2 hours or more (even if you're just waiting for a cancellation notice), the airline is obligated to provide you with food and beverage vouchers. If you don't receive them, keep the vouchers and claim a refund.

In general, your airline should “properly provide you with food and drink” in proportion to the waiting time.

If the flight is delayed by 5 hours or more, you are entitled to a refund of the cost of the ticket or to the provision of alternative transport and, if necessary, even a hotel room for the night.

Remember, you are always entitled to support and assistance in the event of a long delay or cancellation of your flight, even in cases caused by extraordinary circumstances.

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Can I rebook the flight?

You are entitled to claim compensation if your flight arrives at your destination with a delay of 3 hours or more.

If you arrived at your destination 3 hours late due to a strike by the airline, you will most likely be entitled to compensation due to the strike.

If your flight is cancelled or delayed for 5 hours or more, you can cancel it and get a full refund.

You can also take advantage of an alternative flight offered by the airline. 

What is the compensation for a flight delay due to a strike?

What is the compensation for a flight delay due to a strike?
If, due to a wildcat strike by airline workers, your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours, you can receive up to €600 compensation, depending on the distance and duration of the flight. Are you entitled to compensation in your case? You can find out the amount of compensation for free.

In case of flight delays, there are 4 possible compensation amounts, depending on the distance of your flight according to EU regulation 261.

Below is a system for calculating the amount of compensation in case of a flight delay due to a strike:

What is the amount of compensation for flight cancellation in case of a strike?

If your flight is cancelled due to a wildcat strike by airline employees, you are additionally entitled to monetary compensation if you were notified of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure and the airline was unable to reimburse you for the full cost of the ticket or offer you an alternative flight.

It should be noted that it is extremely important that the airline provides the reason for the cancellation in written. This information is very strong evidence that will increase your chances of receiving a refund.

Depending on the flight distance, EU Regulation No. 261 provides for 5 possible amounts of compensation in case of flight cancellation.

Here is how to calculate the amount of compensation in the event of a flight cancellation caused by a strike:

Find out if you are entitled to compensation right now: contact our team of experts for a quick assessment of your case.

Can I claim if my flight was canceled due to a strike?

The primary thing to focus on is the reason for your flight cancellation or delay. In case the reason is connected to a wildcat strike (an airline crew strike launched at the last minute), that would, besides your right for “care”, make your case eligible for additional monetary compensation. 

In addition, to qualify for compensation rights, your flight should either take off from a country located in the European Union or land in a country from the EU if it is a European airline.

Here is a breakdown of strikes that meet the criteria for a compensation claim:

• Last-minute pilot strike (wildcat strike)
• Last-minute airline crew strike (wildcat strike)

These are strikes that are not considered an eligible reason for a compensation claim: 

• Air Traffic Control Strike
• Airport Staff strike
• Baggage handlers and ground staff strike (some cases)
• Announced pilot strike
• Announced airline crew strike

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My Flight Has Been Delayed Or Cancelled Due To A Baggage Handler/Airport Staff Strike/Pilot Strike

Flight strike compensation claims are very much dependent on who calls the strike. When it comes to baggage handlers, airport staff, or pilot strikes, the law is less direct and it’s likely that court proceedings would be required in order to decide on the specific circumstances of your case.

Our claim service can help you claim your compensation in this case. Use our Instant Claim Checker to see If your case qualifies for a flight delay compensation.

How Do I Get My Airline Strike Compensation?

To get around compensations for airline strikes, the air-carrier often argues that no matter what, strikes are ‘extraordinary circumstances’ and refuses to pay compensation. That’s when our claim service at AirAdvisor steps in -- and enforces your rightful claims for you on a “no win – no fee” basis, so there is zero cost risk. 

You can simply fill in your flight info into our compensation checker to see if your particular circumstance qualifies to whether you can claim compensation.

Our team will assess the situation and get back to you with an opinion as soon as possible.

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Does travel insurance cover airline strikes?

As long as the airline strike wasn’t known publicly at the time you booked your trip and/or took out your travel insurance policy (whichever came later), while strikes were going ahead, you can claim for travel interruptions on your travel insurance if you’re covered for that.

Does travel insurance cover strike action in case of flight cancellation?

When an airline cancels your flight --  i.e., you cannot get to your destination or home from your journey as a result of the strike, it’s their duty to offer you a full refund or an alternative flight, to get you to where you need to be. However, if you accrue financial losses as a result, those losses may be reimbursed by your travel insurance provider when you make a claim.

Does travel insurance cover strike action in case of flight delay?

If you find yourself being a victim of a flight delay due to strike -- as in you cannot get to your trip destination on schedule and financial losses result from those delays, providing you have checked in for your flight and that your travel insurance policy cover delays (due to strike action or other reasons) you can look to claim for compensation once your flight has been delayed for a certain number of hours, which is normally 12, but this can vary.

When handling possible airline strikes, preparation is essential. Before you go, keep up to date by reviewing airline correspondence and news updates often. An additional degree of protection can be obtained by purchasing travel insurance that includes strike-related interruption coverage. Act quickly to look into alternate travel choices in the case of a strike; occasionally, rebooking with partner airlines or even transferring to other forms of transportation, such as trains or rental vehicles, might keep your plans on track. - Tim Choate
Founder & CEO, RedAwning.com, Inc.

Frequently asked questions