Austrian Airlines Strike Compensation

One of the most common causes of flight interruptions is flight strikes, which may be initiated by the personnel, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of European Union Regulation 261, under which you might be eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros.

Read on to find out how to obtain compensation and when you qualify.

Your Passenger Rights

The good news is that every air traveler is protected by the EU 261 regulation. The EU 261 is a European Union law that sets the rules for assistance and compensation to passengers in cases of flight delays and cancellations. Now, let’s take a closer look at air passenger rights, according to EU 261:

• The airline needs to provide passengers with information about their rights.
• In case of flight cancellation, a passenger is entitled to choose one of the following options: either a ticket refund or rebooking 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 the hotel and airport.
• Compensation from 250 to 600 euros per passenger

When You Are Entitled to Austrian Airlines Strike Compensation

Frequently, Austrian Airlines strikes involve their workers. These could be flight attendants, pilots, engineers, or other essential personnel. As you’re now aware, you can seek compensation for airline strikes, if your trip was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you faced 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 required to provide compensation. Importantly, if a staff strike happens, the airline could have potentially foreseen and managed such incidents, therefore such cases are within the airline’s control. That is when flight disruptions are caused by the airline’s own employees, these are not cases of extraordinary circumstances. As a result, 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 provide compensation.

Austrian Airlines Strike Compensation

Before claiming compensation for an airline strike, it’s important to understand the conditions and the amount of compensation you might receive.

Austrian Airlines 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 passengers’ plans and make them arrive at their final destination much later than expected. It is crucial to be aware that if your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours because of a strike, you are entitled to compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.

In considering 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 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 may 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

Austrian Airlines Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation

Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellations. According to EU Regulation 261/2004, you are eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros. Note that the regulation also states that you are entitled to compensation in the case when the airline informed you about the cancellation less than 14 days before your travel.

However, there are always some exceptions to the rules, and here is the case. The airline has a right to avoid paying compensation if it provides the passenger an alternative flight. This flight must meet the criteria listed 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 determined by the flight distance and the time of delay in arriving at the final destination. Take a look at 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 Austrian Airlines Flights Are Covered by EU261?

The EU261 regulation covers all flights departing from EU airports, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from non-EU countries when operated by EU airlines. It also applies to flights to and from Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.

The table below shows which Austrian Airlines flights are protected by EU 261:

Itinerary	Covered by EU 261
Flights departing the EU airports	✅ Covered
Flights arriving at the EU airports	✅ Covered

How to Claim Austrian Airlines Strike Compensation

If you have faced flight cancellations or delays at least once, you know how frustrating it can be.

Passengers who face any of these issues on Austrian Airlines flights have a right to claim compensation, according to European Union regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:

1. Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We are well-versed in the EU laws well and will strive to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.