What to Do When Emirates Flights are Affected by Strike-related Disruptions
What should you do when you find out your well-planned flight is going to be delayed or cancelled because of a strike? Depending on who initiated the work stoppage, you could be entitled to compensation, but you have other rights that protect you as an Emirates passenger.
Strike Alert: 2 December 2024
Edinburgh Airport tanker drivers have voted to strike over the festive season if an agreement about pay increases cannot be reached in the coming days.
Domestic and international flights departing from the airport could be cancelled over the busy Christmas and New Year holidays as a result.
Affected routes include Loganair’s domestic routes to the islands, United Airlines to New York, and Emirates to Dubai.
Find out what to do, important facts, and helpful tips to help you navigate the disruptions caused by airline industry strikes.
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A Strike is Pending! Now What?
Emirates isn’t known for having employee strikes, but sometimes flights can be cancelled or delayed because of strikes with air traffic control or at airports. Either way, here’s what you should do.
- If you haven’t already, sign up for SMS and/or email alerts and download the Emirates app.
- Check the airline’s alert pages for updates about if and how to make changes to your booking.
- If you want to make changes to a non-refundable ticket, contact Emirates to see if you can move your flight to another time or cancel.
Facts About Strike-Related Disruptions in the EU & UK
- If your Emirates flight is affected by an airline employee strike, (for example pilots or cabin crew), then you may be able to collect as much as £520 from the airline because of the inconvenience if you are departing from an airport in the European Union or the UK.
- If your flight is cancelled because of any strike, Emirates will give you the choice of a rebooking or a refund.
- If your flight is delayed by 2 hours or more and you’re at the airport, you are entitled to food and refreshments provided by Emirates. These will usually be given to you as a voucher or coupon.
- You can also get a refund or a rebooking if your Emirates flight is delayed by 5 hours or more.
- If you have a delay or cancellation that causes you to wait overnight, Emirates must provide hotel accommodation and a taxi, if you can’t get a shuttle.
- If you arrive at your destination 3 or more hours late because of an employee strike, then you can get repaid by Emirates for the trouble and inconvenience that it caused.
Emirates Will Not Repay You If . . .
If you are departing from an airport outside the UK, EU, or Canada, then you will not receive repayment from Emirates no matter how long you are delayed.
Also, if the flight disruption was caused by an airport, air traffic control, or any other 3rd party strike, you will not be able to collect any form of recompense, but the airline will still offer you the choice of a rebooking or a refund if your flight is cancelled.
Changing and Cancelling Your Emirates Flight
If you hear about a strike that may affect your travel plans, here’s what you need to know about altering your booking:
- If you have a refundable ticket, you can usually make changes or cancel without additional fees, but always check the terms and conditions to be sure.
- If you have a non-refundable ticket, contact Emirates to see if they will allow you to make changes without incurring the usual fees associated with doing this. Sometimes, they will make exceptions in light of strike action.
- If you can’t make changes, wait until Emirates cancels your flight so you can choose a new flight or a refund without fees of any kind.
Your Rights as a Passenger
All the rules we’ve mentioned here are set by UK Regulation UK261 and Regulation EU261. Both laws protect you as an Emirates passenger whenever you have a disrupted flight set to depart from an EU or UK airport.
They stipulate that you can receive up to £520 (€600) in compensation if your flight is cancelled or delayed as long as Emirates is at fault for the disruption. More specifically, if your flight is 3 or more hours late, then you could be eligible for some kind of repayment depending on the distance of your flight.
Need Help?
It can be tricky sorting out all the details of strike-related flight disruptions, but AirAdvisor can help! Our legal team has been protecting passengers’ rights since 2017 in cases around the world! Plus, we have already helped over 380,000!
You can start your claim or check your eligibility for compensation today! Just enter your flight details below.Check Your Flight
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