Refunds and Compensation for China Airlines Strike

Flight cancellations or delays due to airline strikes can be annoying, but there is good news for passengers. There is a law called EU 261/2004 that protects you. It says that airlines are required to issue compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled as a result of a strike. In this article, we will clarify what the EU 261 regulation is and how it can help you.

Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004

Now let’s focus on the details of EU Regulation 261. In the following sections, you will discover your entitlement to compensation and what benefits you can expect in the event of a flight disruption.

Right to Compensation

The European Union regulation stipulates that if you are protected by EU 261, you have a right to claim compensation if a wildcat or planned strike of the airline’s workers disrupts your flight. It is worth noting, that both cases do not qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” meaning circumstances the airline cannot control.

Flight Cancellation Compensation

In line with EU Regulation 261, you may be eligible for compensation of up to €600 if your flight is cancelled and the airline does not notify you of the flight cancellation within 14 days before your scheduled travel date.

However, as is frequently the case, there are exceptions you should be aware of. In particular, the airline is entitled to refuse compensation if they decide to offer you an alternative flight. However, this flight should also meet specific requirements:

• If your flight is over 3,500 km, your replacement flight must arrive at the point of destination with a delay of less than 4 hours;
• If your flight is 1,500-3,500 km, your replacement flight must arrive at the point of destination with a delay of less than 3 hours;
• If your flight is less than 1,500 km, your replacement flight must arrive at the point of destination with a delay of less than 2 hours;

If you agreed to the alternative flight provided by the airline but arrived at the final destination later than originally scheduled, you are still eligible to claim compensation.

The key factors that affect the amount of compensation are the flight distance and the delay time. Check the table provided below for compensation amounts:

Under 2 hours	2-3 hours	3-4 hours	Over 4 hours	Never arrived	Distance
€125	€250	€250	€250	€250	All flights 1,500 km or less
€200	€200	€400	€400	€400	Internal EU flights over 1,500 km
€200	€200	€400	€400	€400	Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km
€300	€300	€300	€600	€600	Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km

Flight Delay Compensation

Delays caused by airline strikes of any duration can be frustrating and may seriously affect your itinerary. You may be eligible for compensation if the flight delay caused by an airline strike lasts a minimum of three hours.

Concerning the possible amount of compensation that passengers may receive, there are two key factors to consider: the duration of the delay and the flight distance. Check the table below for compensation amounts:

Less than 3 hours	Between 3-4 hours	Over 4 hours	Distance
€0	€250	€250	All flights up to 1500 km
€0	€400	€400	All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km
€0	€400	€400	All intra-EU flights over 3500 km
€0	€300	€600	All non-EU flights over 3500 km

Ticket Refund or Alternative Transportation

In the rare cases when a passenger’s flight is delayed for 5 or more hours or cancelled, the passenger obtains more significant rights. You have two options to select from:

• You can refuse the cancelled or delayed flight and choose a full ticket refund, meaning that you will also cancel your planned trip, and there won’t be a financial penalty for this.
• You can agree to use an alternative flight that the airline arranges for you.

As you can see, you have the right to select the option that meets your needs.

Right to Care

In addition to compensation for a disrupted flight resulting from an airline strike, passengers are also entitled to the right to care. Therefore, the airline is required to provide passengers with meals, beverages, and the opportunity to make two phone calls, fax messages, and emails. When your flight is rescheduled for the next day, the airline has to provide you with a hotel, as well as transportation between the airport and the hotel.

Upgrading and Downgrading

Sometimes it happens the airline can either downgrade or upgrade your flight’s class when offering an alternative flight. In these situations, you need to be aware of specific rules and your rights:

In case of upgrading: if your class has been upgraded, you aren’t required to pay extra for this advantage.

In case of downgrading: if your class is downgraded, the airline must reimburse you. Furthermore, the compensation here is determined by the distance of the flight:

• 30% of the cost of the flights that are 1,500 km or less;
• 50% of the cost of t is an intra-EU flight over 1,500 km; also, if these are all other flights that are 1,500-3,500 km;
• 75% of the cost of the flight is 3,500 km and more.

These rules cover all flights inside the EU; besides, these rules apply to flights that are either departing from or arriving in the European Union on EU-based airlines.

When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?

Unfortunately, you should know that in cases in which the airline can’t influence or prevent the strike, there will be no compensation for passengers. Let’s take an example: any labor dispute may significantly affect aviation (it can be a national labor or air traffic strike); however, such occasions are not under an airline’s control, and it’s not their fault that this situation happens. Therefore, the airline is not required to pay compensation for disrupted flights.

Even though many instances of strikes are not covered by EU261 and are classified as “extraordinary circumstances”, this doesn’t automatically mean that the airline will not pay compensation.

According to the ECJ ruling of 11 June 2020 (Case C-74/19), the airline must prove they have done everything possible to avoid a strike. If the airline cannot prove it, it is obliged to provide passengers compensation for flight disruptions.

Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?

EU Regulation 261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. It also covers flights arriving in the EU if the airline is based in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

However, China Airlines is not a European airline. Therefore, they don’t have to issue compensation if their flights operate outside the European Union. This is true even for their flights to the European Union if they start outside the EU.

Itinerary	Covered by EU 261
Flights departing from EU airports	✔️ Yes
Flights arriving at EU airports	❌ No

How to Get China Airlines Strike Compensation

Dealing with delayed or cancelled flights due to strikes is always frustrating. This can spoil your trip but also create problems – emotional, financial, etc. To claim compensation for this inconvenience, follow these steps:

1. Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We know the EU laws comprehensively and will make every effort to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.

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