One of the most common causes of flight interruptions is flight strikes, which may be initiated by airline workers, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of the EU 261 regulation, under which you might be qualified for compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Continue reading to find out how you can get compensation and under what circumstances.
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 assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of flight disruptions. Now, let’s take a closer look at air passenger rights, under EU 261/2004:
- The airline needs to provide passengers with information about their rights.
- In the event of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right 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 Air France Strike Compensation
Frequently, Air France strikes involve their staff. These could be pilots, engineers, flight attendants, or other essential personnel. As you now know, you can seek 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 essential 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 occurs, the airline could have potentially foreseen and managed such incidents, thus such cases are within the airline’s control. That is when flight disruptions are caused by the airline’s own employees, they are not cases of extraordinary circumstances. Consequently, passengers have a right to claim flight compensation.
However, you need to be aware that each incident is unique, meaning that every flight disruption caused by a strike must be carefully analyzed to determine whether the airline will provide compensation.
Air France Strike Compensation
Before claiming compensation for an airline strike, you should be aware of the conditions and the amount of compensation you might receive.
Air France Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it creates for passengers. 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 essential to know that if your flight is delayed for over 3 hours due to a strike, you are entitled to compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
In evaluating the potential sum of compensation, passengers should take two critical facts into account: the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay. It’s crucial to understand these factors, as only that is how you can be calm regarding the fair flight delay compensation you are entitled to. In the following, you can find a table with the amounts of compensation you may get.
| 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 |
Air France Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellations. Under EU 261/2004, you are eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros. Keep in mind 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.
Nevertheless, there are always some exceptions to the regulations, and here is the case. The airline has a right to avoid paying compensation if it provides the passenger an alternative flight. This alternative flight must meet the criteria 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 the destination point was still delayed, you can claim compensation.
The amount of the compensation is based on the flight distance and the time of delay in arriving at the final destination. Take a look at the table below for more details:
| 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 Air France Flights Are Covered by EU261?
The EU261 regulation applies to all flights departing from EU airports, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from outside the EU if they are operated by EU airlines. The regulation also covers flights to/from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
The table below shows which Air France flights are protected by EU Regulation 261:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim Air France Strike Compensation
If you have encountered flight cancellations or delays at least once, you know how irritating it can be.
Travelers who experience any of these situations on Air France flights have a right to claim compensation, according to European Union regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- 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 take over. We understand the EU laws well and will do our best to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.