Refunds and Compensation for Delta Air Lines Strike

Yurii Moskalenko
30.08.2024
Updated 05.05.2025

Flight delays or cancellations due to airline strikes can be frustrating, but there is good news for passengers. There is a law called EU 261 that protects you. It stipulates that airlines are required to issue compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled because of a strike. In this article, we will explain what EU261 is and how it can assist you.

Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004

Now let’s explore the specifics of EU Regulation 261. In the following sections, you will discover your rights to compensation and what benefits you can expect in the event of a flight disruption.

Right to Compensation

The European Union regulation stipulates that if you are protected by EU 261, you have a right to claim compensation if a wildcat or planned strike of the airline’s workers disrupts your flight. Notably, that both cases do not qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” meaning circumstances the airline cannot control.

Flight Cancellation Compensation

According to EU Regulation 261, you can receive 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 is frequently the case, there are exceptions you should be aware of. Specifically, the airline is entitled to refuse compensation if they decide to offer you an alternative flight. Though this flight should also meet certain 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 provided by the airline but reached your final destination later than you were supposed to, you are still eligible to claim compensation.

The key factors that affect the amount of compensation are the flight distance and the duration of the delay. Check the table provided below for compensation amounts:

Under 2 hours2-3 hours3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursNever arrivedDistance
€125€250€250€250€250All flights 1,500 km or less
€200€200€400€400€400Internal EU flights over 1,500 km
€200€200€400€400€400Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km
€300€300€300€600€600Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km

Flight Delay Compensation

Delays due to airline strikes of any duration can be frustrating and may seriously affect your itinerary. You are entitled to compensation if the flight delay caused by an airline strike lasts at least three hours.

As for the possible compensation amount that passengers may receive, there are two crucial factors to consider: the duration of the delay and the flight distance. See the table below for compensation amounts:

Less than 3 hoursBetween 3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursDistance
€0€250€250All flights up to 1500 km
€0€400€400All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km
€0€400€400All intra-EU flights over 3500 km
€0€300€600All non-EU flights over 3500 km

Ticket Refund or Alternative Transportation

In the rare cases when a passenger’s flight is either cancelled or delayed for 5 or more hours, the passenger has more substantial rights. There are two options for you to choose from:

  • You can refuse the delayed or cancelled flight and choose a full 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 select 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 is required to provide passengers with meals, drinks, 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

In some instances, it occurs the airline may either upgrade or downgrade your flight’s class when providing an alternative flight. In such cases, you should know about specific rules and your rights:

In case of upgrading: if your class has been upgraded, you won’t have to pay extra for this benefit.

In case of downgrading: if your class is downgraded, the airline is obligated to reimburse you. Furthermore, the compensation here 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 apply to all flights within the EU; besides, these rules cover flights that are either departing from or arriving in the European Union on airlines based in the EU.

When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?

Unfortunately, you should know that in situations where the airline can’t influence or prevent the strike, there will be no compensation for passengers. Let’s take an example: any labor dispute could considerably affect aviation (it can be a national labor or air traffic strike); however, such situations are not under the airline’s control, and it’s not its fault that this situation happens. As a result, the airline is not obligated to pay compensation for disrupted flights.

Although many cases 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 it has 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 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU. It also applies to flights arriving in the EU if the airline originates in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

However, Delta Air Lines isn’t a European airline. Consequently, they are not obliged 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.

ItineraryCovered by EU 261
Flights departing from EU airports✔️ Yes
Flights arriving at EU airports❌ No

How to Get Delta Air Lines Strike Compensation

Dealing with flight delays or cancellations due to strikes is always frustrating. This can spoil your trip but also create problems – emotional, financial, etc. To seek compensation for this inconvenience, proceed with these steps:

  1. Fill in this 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 handle the rest. We know the EU laws well and will do our best to secure your 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

29.05.202520:00

Delta Air Lines

7813

Seoul (ICN)

Ho Chi Minh (CXR)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202519:45

Delta Air Lines

7773

Seoul (ICN)

Hong Kong (HKG)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202519:45

Delta Air Lines

7919

Seoul (ICN)

Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202519:35

Delta Air Lines

7887

Seoul (ICN)

Busan (PUS)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202519:00

Delta Air Lines

7783

Seoul (ICN)

Tokyo (KIX)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202518:50

Delta Air Lines

7871

Seoul (ICN)

Phnom Penh (PNH)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202518:40

Delta Air Lines

7821

Seoul (ICN)

Singapore (SIN)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202518:25

Delta Air Lines

7879

Seoul (ICN)

Busan (PUS)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202517:40

Delta Air Lines

7621

Copenhagen (CPH)

Budapest (BUD)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202516:35

Delta Air Lines

3707

San Francisco (SFO)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202516:20

Delta Air Lines

7911

Seoul (ICN)

Kuala Lumpur (KUL)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202516:10

Delta Air Lines

7777

Seoul (ICN)

Taipei (TPE)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202516:05

Delta Air Lines

3695

Santa Ana (SNA)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202515:35

Delta Air Lines

4031

Seattle (SEA)

Ontario (ONT)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202515:10

Delta Air Lines

7913

Seoul (ICN)

Jakarta (CGK)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202515:05

Delta Air Lines

7787

Seoul (ICN)

Tokyo (KIX)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202514:40

Delta Air Lines

145

Amsterdam (AMS)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202514:25

Delta Air Lines

7533

Nairobi (NBO)

Entebbe (EBB)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202514:20

Delta Air Lines

1317

Anchorage (ANC)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202511:50

Delta Air Lines

167

Seattle (SEA)

Tokyo (HND)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202511:30

Delta Air Lines

9341

Amsterdam (AMS)

Budapest (BUD)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202511:30

Delta Air Lines

9165

Amsterdam (AMS)

Krakow (KRK)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202510:25

Delta Air Lines

8401

Paris (CDG)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202510:20

Delta Air Lines

143

Amsterdam (AMS)

Seattle (SEA)

cancelled

Claim Refund

29.05.202509:38

Delta Air Lines

5223

New York (JFK)

Buffalo (BUF)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202509:35

Delta Air Lines

8638

Paris (CDG)

Budapest (BUD)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202509:15

Delta Air Lines

9337

Amsterdam (AMS)

Krakow (KRK)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202509:10

Delta Air Lines

3953

Portland (PDX)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202509:05

Delta Air Lines

3830

Spokane (GEG)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202508:46

Delta Air Lines

3740

Boise (BOI)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202508:10

Delta Air Lines

3048

Atlanta (ATL)

Chicago (ECP)

delayed

Claim Refund

29.05.202501:35

Delta Air Lines

7530

Nairobi (NBO)

Entebbe (EBB)

cancelled

Claim Refund

28.05.202523:15

Delta Air Lines

8214

(DSS)

Paris (CDG)

cancelled

Claim Refund

28.05.202520:55

Delta Air Lines

8842

Seattle (SEA)

Minneapolis (MSP)

cancelled

Claim Refund

28.05.202519:01

Delta Air Lines

5325

Tallahassee (TLH)

Atlanta (ATL)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202518:45

Delta Air Lines

2759

Denver (DEN)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202518:40

Delta Air Lines

3692

Seattle (SEA)

Boise (BOI)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202517:59

Delta Air Lines

2157

Detroit (DTW)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202517:38

Delta Air Lines

3733

Seattle (SEA)

Vancouver (YVR)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202517:20

Delta Air Lines

3968

Vancouver (YVR)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202517:00

Delta Air Lines

8213

Paris (CDG)

(DSS)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:35

Delta Air Lines

7476

Tokyo (HND)

Hanoi (HAN)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202516:00

Delta Air Lines

81

Paris (CDG)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202515:39

Delta Air Lines

6872

Seattle (SEA)

Kelowna (YLW)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202515:15

Delta Air Lines

4270

Minneapolis (MSP)

Iron Mountain (IMT)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202514:40

Delta Air Lines

145

Amsterdam (AMS)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202514:20

Delta Air Lines

9320

Amsterdam (AMS)

Dubai (DXB)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202513:05

Delta Air Lines

8113

Mexico City (MEX)

Chetumal (CTM)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202511:50

Delta Air Lines

9453

Billund (BLL)

Amsterdam (AMS)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202511:50

Delta Air Lines

167

Seattle (SEA)

Tokyo (HND)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:55

Delta Air Lines

6322

Santiago (SCL)

Easter Island (IPC)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:25

Delta Air Lines

382

Austin (AUS)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:25

Delta Air Lines

5352

Atlanta (ATL)

Columbus (CSG)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:20

Delta Air Lines

7

Los Angeles (LAX)

Tokyo (HND)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202510:00

Delta Air Lines

483

Atlanta (ATL)

Burbank (BUR)

delayed

Claim Refund

28.05.202505:30

Delta Air Lines

8597

Tunis (TUN)

Paris (CDG)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202522:59

Delta Air Lines

1495

Atlanta (ATL)

West Palm Beach (PBI)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202522:50

Delta Air Lines

5264

New York (JFK)

Buffalo (BUF)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202522:45

Delta Air Lines

8959

Minneapolis (MSP)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202522:42

Delta Air Lines

2043

Atlanta (ATL)

Tulsa (TUL)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202521:45

Delta Air Lines

1065

Atlanta (ATL)

West Palm Beach (PBI)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202521:20

Delta Air Lines

2306

Atlanta (ATL)

Des Moines (DSM)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202520:45

Delta Air Lines

1058

Atlanta (ATL)

West Palm Beach (PBI)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202520:40

Delta Air Lines

3849

Salt Lake City (SLC)

Twin Falls (TWF)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202520:33

Delta Air Lines

1251

Atlanta (ATL)

Tucson (TUS)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202520:15

Delta Air Lines

1551

Los Angeles (LAX)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202519:55

Delta Air Lines

1027

Atlanta (ATL)

Burlington (BTV)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202519:45

Delta Air Lines

1606

Atlanta (ATL)

West Palm Beach (PBI)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202519:33

Delta Air Lines

2116

Atlanta (ATL)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202519:15

Delta Air Lines

2613

San Diego (SAN)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202519:05

Delta Air Lines

216

New York (JFK)

(DSS)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202518:59

Delta Air Lines

3846

Los Angeles (LAX)

Tucson (TUS)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202518:55

Delta Air Lines

328

New York (MCO)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202518:55

Delta Air Lines

New York (MCO)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202518:45

Delta Air Lines

2759

Denver (DEN)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202518:13

Delta Air Lines

4006

Tulsa (TUL)

Salt Lake City (SLC)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202517:59

Delta Air Lines

3053

Atlanta (ATL)

Chicago (ECP)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202517:15

Delta Air Lines

1449

Anchorage (ANC)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202517:00

Delta Air Lines

1539

Atlanta (ATL)

Tulsa (TUL)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202516:40

Delta Air Lines

7837

Seoul (ICN)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202516:35

Delta Air Lines

7476

Tokyo (HND)

Hanoi (HAN)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202516:30

Delta Air Lines

3776

Tucson (TUS)

Los Angeles (LAX)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202516:30

Delta Air Lines

959

Atlanta (ATL)

West Palm Beach (PBI)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202516:22

Delta Air Lines

472

Atlanta (ATL)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202516:05

Delta Air Lines

166

Tokyo (HND)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202515:20

Delta Air Lines

9417

Amsterdam (AMS)

Krakow (KRK)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202514:35

Delta Air Lines

9204

Amsterdam (AMS)

Budapest (BUD)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202514:18

Delta Air Lines

3776

Los Angeles (LAX)

Tucson (TUS)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202513:30

Delta Air Lines

5296

New York (JFK)

Buffalo (BUF)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202512:18

Delta Air Lines

629

Atlanta (ATL)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202512:10

Delta Air Lines

6112

Sao Paulo (GRU)

Porto Seguro (BPS)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202512:10

Delta Air Lines

6190

Sao Paulo (GRU)

Porto Seguro (BPS)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202512:05

Delta Air Lines

1384

Buffalo (BUF)

Atlanta (ATL)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202511:50

Delta Air Lines

8255

Tunis (TUN)

Paris (CDG)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202511:25

Delta Air Lines

332

Boston (BOS)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202511:10

Delta Air Lines

2101

Santa Ana (SNA)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202510:25

Delta Air Lines

382

Austin (AUS)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202510:25

Delta Air Lines

8401

Paris (CDG)

Seattle (SEA)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202510:20

Delta Air Lines

7

Los Angeles (LAX)

Tokyo (HND)

delayed

Claim Refund

27.05.202510:15

Delta Air Lines

9470

Zurich (BSL)

Amsterdam (AMS)

delayed

Claim Refund
Yurii Moskalenko
2296 articles
Yurii educates people about human rights and advocacy. He creates helpful materials for travelers to assert their rights. With certifications in law and economics, Yurii turns legal terms into simple, actionable advice. His travel experience gives him valuable insight into the challenges travelers face, helping him better understand their needs.

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