Flight cancellations or delays due to airline strikes can be annoying, but there is good news for travelers. There is a regulation called EU 261/2004 that protects you. It says that airlines must issue compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled due to a strike. In this article, we will explain what EU261 is and how it can help you.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
Now let’s explore the particulars of EU Regulation 261/2004. 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 states that if you are protected by the EU 261/2004, you are entitled to seek compensation if a wildcat or planned strike by airline workers disrupts your flight. It’s important to note, that both cases do not qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” meaning circumstances the airline cannot control.
Flight Cancellation Compensation
According to EU Regulation 261, you are entitled to compensation of up to €600 if your flight is cancelled and the airline does not notify you about the cancellation within 14 days before your planned departure date.
However, as it often happens, there are exceptions you should be aware of. In particular, the airline has a right to refuse compensation if they decide to offer you an alternative flight. Though this flight is required to 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 primary factors that affect the amount of compensation are the flight distance and the delay time. 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 caused by airline strikes of any duration can be frustrating and may seriously affect your itinerary. You are entitled to compensation if the flight delay resulting from an airline strike lasts at least three hours.
As for the possible compensation amount that passengers may receive, there are two key factors to consider: the duration of the delay and the flight distance. Check the table 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 situations 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 delayed or cancelled 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 select the option that meets your needs.
Right to Care
Besides compensation for a disrupted flight resulting from an airline strike, passengers are also entitled to the right to care. So, the airline must provide passengers with food, drinks, and the opportunity to make two phone calls, fax messages, and emails. When your flight is rescheduled for the next day, the airline has to provide you with a hotel, as well as transportation between the airport and the hotel.
Upgrading and Downgrading
Sometimes it happens the airline might either upgrade or downgrade your flight’s class when providing an alternative flight. In such cases, you should be aware of specific rules and your rights:
In case of upgrading: if your class has been upgraded, you don’t need 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 is determined by 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 rules cover all flights inside the EU; additionally, these regulations apply to 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 be aware that in situations when the airline cannot influence 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 events are not under an airline’s control, and it’s not its fault that this situation occurs. As a result, the airline is not obligated to pay compensation for disrupted flights.
Even though 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 pay compensation.
According to the ECJ ruling of 11 June 2020 (Case C-74/19), the airline must prove they have done everything possible to prevent a strike. If the airline cannot prove it, it is required to pay passengers compensation for flight disruptions.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU Regulation 261 applies to all flights departing from EU 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, Frontier Airlines isn’t a European airline. Therefore, they aren’t required to issue compensation if their flights operate outside the European Union. This applies even to 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 Frontier Airlines Strike Compensation
Dealing with cancelled or delayed flights due to strikes is always frustrating. Such situations can ruin not just your trip but also create problems – emotional, financial, etc. To claim compensation for this inconvenience, take the following actions:
- Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- 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 do our best to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee 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 | Flight number | Route | Status | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
02.07.202507:15 | Frontier Airlines 2211 | Detroit (DTW) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202522:29 | Frontier Airlines 1499 | Denver (DEN) Ontario (ONT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202521:10 | Frontier Airlines 6860 | Guadalajara (GDL) Ontario (ONT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202520:45 | Frontier Airlines 2231 | Las Vegas (LAS) Ontario (ONT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202518:40 | Frontier Airlines 4171 | New York (TTN) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202517:26 | Frontier Airlines 2581 | Philadelphia (PHL) West Palm Beach (PBI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202515:58 | Frontier Airlines 1665 | Baltimore (BWI) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202515:07 | Frontier Airlines 3442 | Atlanta (ATL) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202513:45 | Frontier Airlines 2014 | New York (MCO) New York (TTN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202509:19 | Frontier Airlines 2898 | Atlanta (ATL) Detroit (DTW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202507:25 | Frontier Airlines 6703 | (ORD) Mexico City (MEX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
01.07.202507:25 | Frontier Airlines 6703 | (ORD) Mexico City (MEX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202522:51 | Frontier Airlines 1425 | Dallas (DFW) San Diego (SAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202521:24 | Frontier Airlines 1216 | Tampa (TPA) Boston (BOS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202521:15 | Frontier Airlines 4464 | Denver (DEN) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202521:15 | Frontier Airlines 2742 | New York (MCO) New York (TTN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202521:10 | Frontier Airlines 6801 | Dallas (DFW) Mexico City (MEX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202520:59 | Frontier Airlines 219 | Atlanta (ATL) San Salvador (SAL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202520:36 | Frontier Airlines 1475 | Baltimore (BWI) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202520:09 | Frontier Airlines 2924 | Ontario (ONT) Dallas (DFW) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
30.06.202519:53 | Frontier Airlines 1877 | Austin (AUS) San Diego (SAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202519:40 | Frontier Airlines 9815 | Savannah (SAV) Philadelphia (PHL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202519:03 | Frontier Airlines 4964 | Los Angeles (LAX) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202515:46 | Frontier Airlines 2083 | Phoenix (PHX) San Diego (SAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202511:37 | Frontier Airlines 2683 | Cleveland (CLE) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
30.06.202506:45 | Frontier Airlines 3512 | Atlanta (ATL) Boston (BOS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202523:58 | Frontier Airlines 1114 | Denver (DEN) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202523:12 | Frontier Airlines 1954 | New York (MCO) Aguadilla (BQN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202522:29 | Frontier Airlines 1499 | Denver (DEN) Ontario (ONT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202521:10 | Frontier Airlines 6860 | Guadalajara (GDL) Ontario (ONT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202519:32 | Frontier Airlines 3371 | Raleigh (RDU) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202518:06 | Frontier Airlines 2953 | New York (IAD) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202518:05 | Frontier Airlines 2339 | Philadelphia (PHL) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202518:02 | Frontier Airlines 2025 | Philadelphia (PHL) New York (RSW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202517:43 | Frontier Airlines 2215 | San Juan (SJU) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202517:04 | Frontier Airlines 1243 | Buffalo (BUF) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202516:25 | Frontier Airlines 2912 | Atlanta (ATL) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202516:10 | Frontier Airlines 2345 | Indianapolis (IND) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202516:06 | Frontier Airlines 1186 | Chicago (MDW) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202515:05 | Frontier Airlines 71 | Cancun (CUN) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202514:45 | Frontier Airlines 3982 | Salt Lake City (SLC) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202514:30 | Frontier Airlines 1334 | Dallas (DFW) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202513:02 | Frontier Airlines 3265 | Philadelphia (PHL) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202512:55 | Frontier Airlines 1291 | Minneapolis (MSP) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202512:36 | Frontier Airlines 3934 | Boise (BOI) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202512:35 | Frontier Airlines 3079 | (ORD) Nashville (BNA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202511:58 | Frontier Airlines 3358 | Spokane (GEG) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202511:41 | Frontier Airlines 3565 | Detroit (DTW) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202511:41 | Frontier Airlines 2374 | Denver (DEN) Knoxville (TYS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202511:37 | Frontier Airlines 2683 | Cleveland (CLE) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202511:34 | Frontier Airlines 4721 | Denver (DEN) Salt Lake City (SLC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202511:25 | Frontier Airlines 2108 | Denver (DEN) Sioux Falls (FSD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202511:05 | Frontier Airlines 6780 | Mexico City (MEX) New York (MCO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202510:50 | Frontier Airlines 6109 | Cancun (CUN) Mexico City (MEX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202509:50 | Frontier Airlines 3933 | Denver (DEN) Boise (BOI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202509:14 | Frontier Airlines 2016 | Las Vegas (LAS) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202506:35 | Frontier Airlines 1790 | Portland (PDX) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
29.06.202506:25 | Frontier Airlines 3406 | Seattle (SEA) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202522:58 | Frontier Airlines 3397 | Atlanta (ATL) (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202521:25 | Frontier Airlines 1216 | Tampa (TPA) Boston (BOS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202521:10 | Frontier Airlines 6801 | Dallas (DFW) Mexico City (MEX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202520:36 | Frontier Airlines 1475 | Baltimore (BWI) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202520:23 | Frontier Airlines 3097 | Atlanta (ATL) Dallas (DFW) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
28.06.202518:30 | Frontier Airlines 6702 | Mexico City (MEX) (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202517:08 | Frontier Airlines 81 | Higuey (PUJ) (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202516:46 | Frontier Airlines 2446 | Los Angeles (LAX) (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202515:19 | Frontier Airlines 6602 | Cancun (CUN) Leon (BJX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202513:56 | Frontier Airlines 1855 | (ORD) San Diego (SAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202513:08 | Frontier Airlines 4418 | El Paso (ELP) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202512:53 | Frontier Airlines 2897 | Detroit (DTW) Atlanta (ATL) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
28.06.202512:35 | Frontier Airlines 6461 | San Jose (SJC) Leon (BJX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202512:04 | Frontier Airlines 4346 | Los Angeles (LAX) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202510:50 | Frontier Airlines 6109 | Cancun (CUN) Mexico City (MEX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202510:30 | Frontier Airlines 6201 | San Jose (SJC) Morelia (MLM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202509:55 | Frontier Airlines 6790 | Mexico City (MEX) Miami (MIA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202509:19 | Frontier Airlines 2898 | Atlanta (ATL) Detroit (DTW) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
28.06.202508:00 | Frontier Airlines 1426 | San Diego (SAN) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202507:40 | Frontier Airlines 3293 | Atlanta (ATL) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202507:00 | Frontier Airlines 1483 | (ORD) Denver (DEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202506:45 | Frontier Airlines 4091 | Baltimore (BWI) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
28.06.202506:28 | Frontier Airlines 2911 | Tampa (TPA) Atlanta (ATL) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
27.06.202523:59 | Frontier Airlines 4672 | Phoenix (PHX) Detroit (DTW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202521:28 | Frontier Airlines 4960 | Indianapolis (IND) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202521:05 | Frontier Airlines 3242 | Dallas (DFW) (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202520:46 | Frontier Airlines 2562 | Chicago (IAH) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202520:21 | Frontier Airlines 3174 | Denver (DEN) (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202520:20 | Frontier Airlines 3371 | Raleigh (RDU) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202517:08 | Frontier Airlines 81 | Higuey (PUJ) (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202516:53 | Frontier Airlines 1856 | San Diego (SAN) (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202515:54 | Frontier Airlines 6850 | Guadalajara (GDL) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202512:59 | Frontier Airlines 4286 | Detroit (DTW) New York (MCO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202509:11 | Frontier Airlines 2984 | Atlanta (ATL) New York (TTN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202508:33 | Frontier Airlines 1177 | Los Angeles (LAX) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202508:30 | Frontier Airlines 4091 | Baltimore (BWI) Tampa (TPA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202506:20 | Frontier Airlines 122 | Tampa (TPA) Santo Domingo (SDQ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
27.06.202506:00 | Frontier Airlines 4172 | Tampa (TPA) New York (TTN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202522:57 | Frontier Airlines 2547 | New York (MCO) Covington (CVG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202522:00 | Frontier Airlines 6105 | Cancun (CUN) Mexico City (MEX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202521:59 | Frontier Airlines 6603 | Chicago (MDW) Leon (BJX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
26.06.202521:24 | Frontier Airlines 1216 | Tampa (TPA) Boston (BOS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
