Strikes, what are passengers' rights in case of cancelled flight?
For several months now, Germany has been hit by waves of strikes by transport employees: on the 7th [...]
For several months now Germany is hit by waves of strikes by transport employees: March 7 and 8 will be the third agitation (but probably not the last one) that will affect tens of thousands of passengers.
What are passengers' rights in case of delay or strike?
In this article:
It is good to know that In the event of both a strike and a delay, passengers are entitled to assistance: lhe airline is obliged to provide travelers, free of charge, with meals and drinks And, based on the duration of the wait, even possible hotel accommodation, with accompanying transfer from the airport.
The duty of care is stipulated in Community Regulation 261/2004 and companies that fail to comply with it are sanctionable. Assistance aside, in the event of flight cancellation passengers can choose from 3 options:
- refund of ticket price
- boarding the first alternate flight
- Postponement of boarding to a date more convenient for the traveler
Carriers have an obligation to offer re-routing on another flight, however, the passenger can choose according to his or her own needs.
In some cases you are also entitled to "monetary compensation"
Passengers are also entitled to "monetary compensation". There is, however, a but: European Regulation 261/2004 specifies that. there is no right to compensation if "the cancellation of the flight is due to exceptional circumstances that could not have been avoided in any case even if all reasonable measures had been taken"; "exceptional circumstances" means political instability, security risks, bad weather, sudden flight safety deficiencies, and strikes.
It is evident that if an airline suffers a strike by its staff, it cannot say that it has no control over that, so in case of delay-or, worse-cancellation caused by an abstention from work of the company's staff passengers will also have to receive the aforementioned monetary compensation, which, depending on the length of the route, will range between 250 and 600 euros.
Be careful, though: In case of disruption caused by the strike of non-airline personnel - for example, airport security personnel or baggage handlers or, again, air traffic controllers - there is no compensation for the passenger, only assistance and reprotection.
The compensation for additional damages
Sometimes it may happen that passengers, in case of flight cancellation, are not rebooked by the airlines or the airlines offer alternative flights at inconvenient times; in short, It may happen that travelers are forced to incur expenses (sometimes also very important) For cabs, hotels or for flights operated by other companies. Here, in these cases we talk about "additional damage": passengers are entitled to it provided, however, that the strike affects the staff belonging to the airline with which you are traveling; finally, it is very important that all extra expenses be documented otherwise you can kiss your compensation goodbye.
In short, in case of flight delay or cancellation due to a strike you have to arm yourself with patience (much) And send a refund request to the airline as soon as possible, remembering-as mentioned-to attach all receipts for expenses.
