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 | Airline (Flight number) | Route | Status | Your compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
30.05.202506:30 | American Airlines 8473 | Tokyo (HND) Okinawa (OKA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
30.05.202506:25 | American Airlines 8470 | Tokyo (HND) Fukuoka (FUK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
30.05.202500:05 | American Airlines 8487 | Tokyo (HND) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202521:05 | American Airlines 8434 | Tokyo (HND) Honolulu (HNL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202519:15 | American Airlines 8387 | Tokyo (HND) Kagoshima (KOJ) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202519:10 | American Airlines 8441 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (ITM) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202518:45 | American Airlines 8395 | Tokyo (HND) Fukuoka (FUK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202517:35 | American Airlines 8457 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (ITM) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202517:15 | American Airlines 8420 | Tokyo (HND) Misawa (MSJ) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202516:55 | American Airlines 8462 | Tokyo (HND) Okinawa (OKA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202516:50 | American Airlines 7585 | Seattle (SEA) San Jose (SJC) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202516:20 | American Airlines 9023 | Helsinki (HEL) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202516:09 | American Airlines 727 | Dallas (DFW) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202516:00 | American Airlines 9349 | Seattle (SEA) New York (IAD) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202516:00 | American Airlines 8449 | Tokyo (CTS) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202515:50 | American Airlines 8450 | Okinawa (OKA) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202514:42 | American Airlines 7405 | Seattle (SEA) Victoria (YYJ) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202514:30 | American Airlines 9246 | Amman (AMM) Aqaba (AQJ) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202514:12 | American Airlines 9297 | Seattle (SEA) Pasco (PSC) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202513:29 | American Airlines 757 | Dallas (DFW) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202513:25 | American Airlines 8463 | Okinawa (OKA) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202512:39 | American Airlines 7500 | Seattle (SEA) Yakima (YKM) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202512:30 | American Airlines 8973 | Krakow (KRK) Helsinki (HEL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202512:20 | American Airlines 8477 | Okinawa (OKA) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202511:51 | American Airlines 7516 | Seattle (SEA) Ketchikan (KTN) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202511:25 | American Airlines 8468 | Tokyo (HND) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202511:10 | American Airlines 8425 | Okinawa (OKA) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202510:30 | American Airlines 8397 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (ITM) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202510:15 | American Airlines 1208 | Dallas (DFW) Burbank (BUR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202510:00 | American Airlines 8185 | Doha (DOH) Entebbe (EBB) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202509:55 | American Airlines 8452 | Misawa (MSJ) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202509:25 | American Airlines 7530 | San Francisco (SFO) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202509:04 | American Airlines 7439 | Seattle (SEA) Chicago (MCI) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202508:55 | American Airlines 4738 | New York (LGA) Buffalo (BUF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202508:27 | American Airlines 7429 | Indianapolis (IND) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202508:08 | American Airlines 9398 | Seattle (SEA) San Francisco (SFO) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202507:30 | American Airlines 8490 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (ITM) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202507:15 | American Airlines 9420 | Juneau (JNU) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
29.05.202506:30 | American Airlines 8473 | Tokyo (HND) Okinawa (OKA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202523:45 | American Airlines 7956 | Casablanca (CMN) Nouakchott (NKC) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202522:33 | American Airlines 5163 | (DCA) Buffalo (BUF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202522:00 | American Airlines 5191 | (DCA) Burlington (BTV) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202521:56 | American Airlines 7433 | Seattle (SEA) Victoria (YYJ) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202521:45 | American Airlines 7503 | Seattle (SEA) Columbus (CMH) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202521:15 | American Airlines 6332 | Dallas (DFW) Kilgore (GGG) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202520:05 | American Airlines 8443 | Tokyo (HND) Okinawa (OKA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202519:45 | American Airlines 8489 | Tokyo (HND) Okayama (OKJ) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202518:59 | American Airlines 7526 | Austin (AUS) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202518:45 | American Airlines 8395 | Tokyo (HND) Fukuoka (FUK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202518:22 | American Airlines 7514 | St Louis (STL) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202518:10 | American Airlines 7610 | Seattle (SEA) Milwaukee (MKE) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202518:05 | American Airlines 7573 | Seattle (SEA) Chicago (MCI) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202518:00 | American Airlines 8766 | Madrid (MAD) (DSS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202517:45 | American Airlines 8388 | Tokyo (HND) Nagasaki (NGS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202517:45 | American Airlines 8446 | Tokyo (NRT) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202517:44 | American Airlines 7621 | Ketchikan (KTN) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202517:35 | American Airlines 8457 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (ITM) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202517:05 | American Airlines 8438 | Tokyo (HND) Fukuoka (FUK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202516:55 | American Airlines 8462 | Tokyo (HND) Okinawa (OKA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202516:30 | American Airlines 6908 | London (LHR) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202516:30 | American Airlines 8447 | Tokyo (ITM) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202516:30 | American Airlines 8398 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (ITM) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202516:20 | American Airlines 9023 | Helsinki (HEL) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202516:10 | American Airlines 7045 | London (LHR) Krakow (KRK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202516:00 | American Airlines 8449 | Tokyo (CTS) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202516:00 | American Airlines 8448 | Fukuoka (FUK) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202515:55 | American Airlines 8451 | Tokyo (HND) Okinawa (OKA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202515:50 | American Airlines 8450 | Okinawa (OKA) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202515:45 | American Airlines 7552 | San Jose (SJC) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202515:40 | American Airlines 7432 | Seattle (SEA) Boston (BOS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202515:30 | American Airlines 6611 | London (LHR) Budapest (BUD) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202515:17 | American Airlines 5059 | Charlotte (CLT) Chicago (ECP) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202515:05 | American Airlines 7857 | Lima (LIM) Piura (PIU) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202514:39 | American Airlines 9399 | San Francisco (SFO) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202513:39 | American Airlines 7569 | San Diego (SAN) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202513:34 | American Airlines 7540 | Austin (AUS) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202513:30 | American Airlines 8464 | Tokyo (ITM) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202513:02 | American Airlines 1739 | Dallas (DFW) Chicago (ECP) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202512:55 | American Airlines 8471 | Fukuoka (FUK) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202512:50 | American Airlines 7078 | London (LHR) Dubai (DXB) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202512:15 | American Airlines 1319 | Miami (MIA) Camaguey (CMW) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202512:05 | American Airlines 9012 | Budapest (BUD) Helsinki (HEL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202511:56 | American Airlines 9368 | Seattle (SEA) Pullman (PUW) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202511:40 | American Airlines 6212 | Seattle (SEA) Phoenix (PHX) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202511:25 | American Airlines 8468 | Tokyo (HND) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202511:25 | American Airlines 9421 | Seattle (SEA) Santa Ana (SNA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202511:10 | American Airlines 6011 | Philadelphia (PHL) Buffalo (BUF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:55 | American Airlines 1215 | Dallas (DFW) Puerto Vallarta (PVR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:40 | American Airlines 8433 | Tokyo (HND) Bangkok (BKK) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:38 | American Airlines 4008 | (DCA) Buffalo (BUF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:30 | American Airlines 8397 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (ITM) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:25 | American Airlines 281 | Dallas (DFW) Seoul (ICN) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:22 | American Airlines 3102 | Dallas (DFW) Boston (BOS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:15 | American Airlines 1770 | Dallas (DFW) Fresno (FAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:11 | American Airlines 3698 | Dallas (DFW) Corpus Christi (CRP) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:09 | American Airlines 2398 | (ORD) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:09 | American Airlines 1923 | Dallas (DFW) Jackson (JAC) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:05 | American Airlines 409 | Dallas (DFW) Liberia (LIR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202510:03 | American Airlines 3076 | Dallas (DFW) Palm Springs (PSP) | delayed | Claim Refund |
28.05.202509:59 | American Airlines 1671 | Dallas (DFW) Philadelphia (PHL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
