Flight cancellations or delays due to airline strikes can be annoying, but there is good news for travelers. 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 due to a strike. In this article, we will clarify what EU261 is and how it can assist you.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
Now let’s focus on the specifics of EU Regulation 261/2004. In the following sections, you will learn about your eligibility for compensation and what benefits you can expect in case of a flight disruption.
Right to Compensation
The European Union regulation stipulates that if you are protected by the EU 261/2004, you have a right to seek compensation if a wildcat or planned strike of the airline’s workers disrupts your flight. Notably, such situations do not qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” i.e., those beyond the airline’s control.
Flight Cancellation Compensation
In line with EU Regulation 261, you are entitled to compensation of up to €600 if your flight is cancelled and the airline does not notify you of the flight cancellation within two weeks before your scheduled travel date.
However, as it often happens, there are exceptions you should be aware of. Specifically, the airline has a right to refuse compensation if they decide to offer you an alternative flight. Though this flight must 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 proposed by the airline but arrived at the final destination later than originally scheduled, you are still eligible to claim compensation.
The primary factors that affect the amount of compensation are the flight distance and the duration of the delay. Check the table 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 due to airline strikes of any duration can be frustrating and can significantly disrupt your itinerary. You are entitled to compensation if the flight delay caused by an airline strike lasts three or more hours.
Concerning the possible compensation amount that passengers may receive, there are two crucial factors to consider: the duration of the delay and the flight distance. Check the table provided 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 is entitled to more significant rights. There are two options for you to choose 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 choose the option that meets your needs.
Right to Care
Besides compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight due to an airline strike, passengers also have the right to care. Therefore, the airline must 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 is required to provide you with a hotel, as well as transport between the airport and the hotel.
Upgrading and Downgrading
Sometimes it occurs the airline may either downgrade or upgrade your flight’s class when providing an alternative flight. In these situations, you should understand specific rules and your rights:
In case of upgrading: if your class has been upgraded, you aren’t required to pay extra for this benefit.
In case of downgrading: if your class is downgraded, the airline must reimburse you. Furthermore, the compensation in this case entirely depends on 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 regulations cover all flights within the EU; additionally, these regulations cover 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 understand that in situations when the airline can’t control or prevent the strike, there will be no compensation for passengers. Let’s take an example: any labor dispute could 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. As a result, the airline is not required to pay compensation for disrupted flights.
Although many instances of strikes are not covered by EU261 and are classified as “extraordinary circumstances”, this does not automatically mean that the airline will not provide compensation.
In line with 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, they are obliged to provide passengers compensation for flight disruptions.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU 261 applies to all flights departing from European Union airports. It also applies to 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, American Airlines is not a European airline. Therefore, they aren’t required 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 American Airlines Strike Compensation
Dealing with flight cancellations or delays 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:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We know the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled due to the strike? Check our table for the latest flight delays and cancellations. Assess your right to compensation using our claim checker, and let us protect your rights and pursue compensation for you.
Did not find your flight in our table? Try our compensation form, and we will check it for you.
| Date | Flight number | Route | Status | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
06.07.202508:55 | American Airlines 7288 | Brisbane (BNE) Townsville (TSV) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.07.202508:40 | American Airlines 7399 | Brisbane (BNE) Auckland (AKL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.07.202508:20 | American Airlines 7279 | Brisbane (BNE) Darwin (DRW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.07.202508:15 | American Airlines 7368 | Sydney (SYD) Darwin (DRW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.07.202501:50 | American Airlines 8493 | Tokyo (HND) Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.07.202501:25 | American Airlines 8945 | Mumbai (BOM) Hong Kong (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.07.202501:05 | American Airlines 8159 | Doha (DOH) Maputo (MPM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202522:30 | American Airlines 8258 | Manama (BAH) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202520:50 | American Airlines 8224 | Doha (DOH) Peshawar (PEW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202520:50 | American Airlines 8187 | Doha (DOH) Phuket (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202520:45 | American Airlines 8948 | Hong Kong (HKG) Mumbai (BOM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202520:30 | American Airlines 8239 | Phuket (HKT) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202520:29 | American Airlines 7826 | Iquique (IQQ) Santiago (SCL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202520:25 | American Airlines 6716 | London (LHR) Bologna (BLQ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202520:25 | American Airlines 8241 | Doha (DOH) Islamabad (ISB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202520:25 | American Airlines 8237 | Amman (AMM) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202519:45 | American Airlines 8176 | Doha (DOH) Colombo (CMB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202519:40 | American Airlines 8808 | Madrid (MAD) Jerez De La Frontera (XRY) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202519:05 | American Airlines 856 | (ORD) Des Moines (DSM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202518:55 | American Airlines 7110 | Toulouse (TLS) London (LHR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202518:36 | American Airlines 1032 | Charlotte (CLT) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202518:35 | American Airlines 8174 | Doha (DOH) Jakarta (CGK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202518:27 | American Airlines 2873 | Miami (MIA) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202518:15 | American Airlines 8142 | Doha (DOH) Dhaka (DAC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202518:00 | American Airlines 9212 | Mumbai (BOM) New Delhi (DEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202517:55 | American Airlines 8180 | Kilimanjaro (JRO) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202517:45 | American Airlines 8995 | Helsinki (HEL) Warsaw (WAW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202517:35 | American Airlines 9021 | Helsinki (HEL) Prague (PRG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202517:34 | American Airlines 6070 | Philadelphia (PHL) Nashville (BNA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202517:30 | American Airlines 8208 | Entebbe (EBB) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:55 | American Airlines 309 | Miami (MIA) Nashville (BNA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:55 | American Airlines 8972 | Helsinki (HEL) Frankfurt (FRA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:53 | American Airlines 1070 | Tampa (TPA) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:43 | American Airlines 4212 | San Antonio (SAT) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:40 | American Airlines 9183 | Pune (PNQ) New Delhi (DEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:36 | American Airlines 2374 | Dallas (DFW) San Antonio (SAT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:25 | American Airlines 6966 | Billund (BLL) London (LHR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:20 | American Airlines 8969 | Helsinki (HEL) Berlin (BER) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:20 | American Airlines 9023 | Helsinki (HEL) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:10 | American Airlines 4252 | Detroit (DTW) Alpena (APN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:10 | American Airlines 8990 | Helsinki (HEL) Oslo (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:10 | American Airlines 8646 | Madrid (MAD) Geneva (GVA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:05 | American Airlines 7294 | Sydney (SYD) Brisbane (BNE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:05 | American Airlines 8997 | Helsinki (HEL) Chania (CHQ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:05 | American Airlines 8685 | Madrid (MAD) Paris (ORY) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:00 | American Airlines 8987 | Helsinki (HEL) (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:00 | American Airlines 8620 | Madrid (MAD) Bologna (BLQ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202516:00 | American Airlines 8975 | Helsinki (HEL) Los Angeles (LAX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:55 | American Airlines 8980 | Helsinki (HEL) Vilnius (VNO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:50 | American Airlines 1370 | Phoenix (PHX) Nashville (BNA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:45 | American Airlines 9170 | Ahmedabad (AMD) New Delhi (DEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:40 | American Airlines 8703 | Madrid (MAD) Toulouse (TLS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:40 | American Airlines 4147 | Dallas (DFW) San Antonio (SAT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:30 | American Airlines 2525 | Charlotte (CLT) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:29 | American Airlines 4710 | New York (JFK) Nashville (BNA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:25 | American Airlines 5947 | Philadelphia (PHL) State College (SCE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:15 | American Airlines 6796 | London (LHR) Toulouse (TLS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:15 | American Airlines 9206 | Bangalore (BLR) New Delhi (DEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:15 | American Airlines 9210 | Hyderabad (HYD) New Delhi (DEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:10 | American Airlines 8971 | Helsinki (HEL) Tallinn (TLL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202515:00 | American Airlines 6497 | San Antonio (SAT) Los Angeles (LAX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202514:55 | American Airlines 6986 | London (LHR) San Diego (SAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202514:55 | American Airlines 9025 | Tallinn (TLL) Helsinki (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202514:55 | American Airlines 7781 | Lima (LIM) Tarapoto (TPP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202514:54 | American Airlines 5584 | (DCA) Detroit (DTW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202514:48 | American Airlines 2366 | (ORD) San Antonio (SAT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202514:48 | American Airlines 2640 | Dallas (DFW) West Palm Beach (PBI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202514:40 | American Airlines 2361 | Dallas (DFW) San Diego (SAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202514:37 | American Airlines 6465 | Dallas (DFW) San Antonio (SAT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202514:30 | American Airlines 8683 | Madrid (MAD) Paris (ORY) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202514:05 | American Airlines 8979 | Riga (RIX) Helsinki (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:50 | American Airlines 7375 | Brisbane (BNE) Sydney (SYD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:50 | American Airlines 4212 | Miami (MIA) San Antonio (SAT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:50 | American Airlines 3617 | (ORD) Lansing (LAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:45 | American Airlines 6737 | London (LHR) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:31 | American Airlines 4749 | Miami (MIA) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:30 | American Airlines 4693 | New York (JFK) Nashville (BNA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:29 | American Airlines 3511 | (DCA) Des Moines (DSM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:15 | American Airlines 8991 | Copenhagen (CPH) Helsinki (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:10 | American Airlines 8989 | Oslo (OSL) Helsinki (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:10 | American Airlines 8968 | Berlin (BER) Helsinki (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:03 | American Airlines 3794 | Dallas (DFW) Brownsville (BRO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:03 | American Airlines 9299 | San Diego (SAN) Fresno (FAT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:03 | American Airlines 3864 | Charlotte (CLT) Hilton Head (HHH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:00 | American Airlines 8254 | Cape Town (CPT) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202513:00 | American Airlines 9029 | Warsaw (WAW) Helsinki (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:55 | American Airlines 6722 | London (LHR) Billund (BLL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:55 | American Airlines 7299 | Darwin (DRW) Brisbane (BNE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:53 | American Airlines 1100 | Dallas (DFW) Nashville (BNA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:44 | American Airlines 4929 | Dallas (DFW) Durango (DRO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:43 | American Airlines 7500 | Seattle (SEA) Yakima (YKM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:40 | American Airlines 4471 | West Palm Beach (PBI) New York (LGA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:39 | American Airlines 4230 | Dallas (DFW) Blountville (TRI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:29 | American Airlines 757 | Dallas (DFW) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:28 | American Airlines 1070 | Dallas (DFW) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:25 | American Airlines 8993 | Gothenburg (GOT) Helsinki (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:20 | American Airlines 7015 | London (LGW) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:20 | American Airlines 6864 | Geneva (GVA) London (LHR) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:15 | American Airlines 1491 | Miami (MIA) Holguin (HOG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
05.07.202512:08 | American Airlines 1870 | West Palm Beach (PBI) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
