One of the most common factors behind flight interruptions is flight strikes, which can be organized by the personnel, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of EU Regulation 261, under which you might be qualified for compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Read on to find out how you can get compensation and under what circumstances.
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 regulation 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 passenger rights, under European Regulation 261:
- The airline is required to provide passengers with information about their rights.
- In case of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right to choose one of these 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 Iberia Express Strike Compensation
Often, Iberia Express strikes involve their employees. These can be flight attendants, pilots, engineers, or any other crucial employees. As you’re now aware, you have the right to claim airline strike compensation, if your travel was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you faced because of the strike.
It is also crucial to understand what “extraordinary circumstances” are. These are events outside of the airline’s control. If a strike is considered one of these circumstances, the airline is not required to provide compensation. It is important to note 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, they are not cases of extraordinary circumstances. As a result, passengers are entitled to claim flight compensation.
However, 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.
Iberia Express Strike Compensation
Before seeking the airline strike compensation, you need to know about the conditions and the amount of compensation you might receive.
Iberia Express Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it creates for passengers. When airline workers go on strike, it can disrupt travelers’ plans and make them arrive at their final destination much later than expected. It is important to know that if your flight is delayed for over 3 hours because of a strike, you are eligible for compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
When evaluating the potential sum of compensation, passengers need to take two critical facts into account: the flight’s distance and the delay length they experience. It’s essential 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 see 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 |
Iberia Express Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes cause flight cancellation. According to EU Regulation 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 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 your destination was still delayed, you have a right to 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 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 Iberia Express Flights Are Covered by EU261?
The EU261 regulation applies to all flights departing from airports in the EU, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from outside the EU when operated by EU airlines. The regulation also covers flights to/from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
The following table shows which Iberia Express 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 Iberia Express Strike Compensation
If you’ve encountered flight cancellations or delays at least once, you know how annoying it can be.
Passengers who encounter any of these situations on Iberia Express flights have a right to claim compensation, according to EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will do our best to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.