One of the most common reasons for flight disruptions is flight strikes, which are often arranged by airline staff, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of the EU 261 regulation, under which you might be entitled to compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Continue reading to find out how you can get compensation and in which situations.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that any passenger is protected by EU Regulation 261. The EU 261/2004 is a European Union regulation that sets the rules for compensation and assistance for travelers in cases of flight disruptions. Now, let’s take a closer look at passenger rights, under European Regulation 261:
- The airline must provide passengers with information about their rights.
- In the event of flight cancellation, a passenger is entitled to select one of the following options: either a ticket refund or rerouting to the final destination under similar conditions;
- Passengers can expect to receive food and beverages; they are also entitled to have two free phone calls, e-mails, or faxes.
- If you decide to reroute, and it involves an overnight stay, the airline is required to provide hotel accommodation, as well as transportation between the airport and the hotel.
- Compensation between 250 to 600 euros per passenger
When You Are Entitled to Aer Lingus Strike Compensation
Often, Aer Lingus strikes involve their employees. These can be pilots, engineers, flight attendants, or any other crucial staff. As you’re now aware, you may be eligible for compensation for airline strikes, if your trip was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you encountered due to the strike.
It is also crucial to understand what “extraordinary circumstances” are. These are events beyond the airline’s control. If a strike is considered one of these circumstances, the airline is not obliged to provide compensation. Importantly, if a staff strike happens, the airline could have potentially foreseen and handled such incidents, therefore these situations are within the airline’s control. That is when flight disruptions are made by the airline’s own employees, these are not cases of extraordinary circumstances. Consequently, passengers have a right to claim flight compensation.
Nonetheless, you should understand that each incident is individual, meaning that every flight disruption caused by a strike must be carefully analyzed to determine whether the airline will pay compensation.
Aer Lingus Strike Compensation
Before seeking compensation for an airline strike, you should be aware of the conditions and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.
Aer Lingus Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it causes travelers. When airline staff go on strike, it can disrupt travelers’ plans and make them arrive at their final destination much later than expected. It is crucial to understand that if your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours because of a strike, you can claim compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
In considering the potential sum of compensation, passengers need to take two critical facts into account: the distance of the flight and the delay length they experience. It’s crucial to understand these details, as only that is how you can be calm regarding the fair flight delay compensation you are entitled to. Below you can find a table with the amounts of compensation you can receive.
| 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 |
Aer Lingus Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes cause flight cancellation. According to EU Regulation 261/2004, you are eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros. It’s important to know that the regulation also states that you are entitled to compensation in the case when the airline notified you about the cancellation less than 14 days before your travel.
However, there are always some exceptions to the regulations, and here is the case. The airline is entitled to avoid paying compensation if it provides the passenger an alternative flight. This alternative flight must meet the conditions enumerated below:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
Importantly, if you used an alternative flight but your final arrival time at your destination was still delayed, you have a right to claim compensation.
The amount of the compensation is determined by the flight distance and the time of delay in arriving at the final destination. Check the table below for additional information:
| 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 |
Which Aer Lingus Flights Are Covered by EU261?
The EU261 regulation covers every flight departing from airports in the EU, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from non-EU countries if they are operated by EU airlines. The regulation also covers flights to/from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
The table below shows which Aer Lingus flights are covered by EU Regulation 261/2004:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim Aer Lingus Strike Compensation
If you’ve experienced flight cancellations or delays at least once, you understand how frustrating it can be.
Passengers who experience any of these issues on Aer Lingus flights have a right to claim compensation, according to European Union regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We are well-versed in the EU laws comprehensively and will make every effort to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.