One of the most common reasons for flight interruptions is flight strikes, which can be initiated by the personnel, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of the EU 261 regulation, according to which you could be qualified for compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Read on to find out how you can get compensation and when you qualify.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that any passenger is protected by the EU 261 regulation. The EU 261/2004 is a European Union law that sets the rules for compensation and assistance for travelers in cases of flight disruptions. Now, let’s take a closer look at passenger rights, under EU 261:
- The airline must 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 obligated 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 LEVEL Strike Compensation
Often, LEVEL strikes involve their employees. These could be pilots, engineers, flight attendants, or other essential personnel. As you now know, you have the right to claim compensation for airline strikes, if your trip was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you faced because of the strike.
It is also essential 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 occurs, the airline could have potentially foreseen and managed such incidents, therefore these situations 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. Consequently, 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 pay compensation.
LEVEL Strike Compensation
Before seeking compensation for an airline strike, you need to know about the criteria and the amount of compensation you might receive.
LEVEL Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it creates for 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 over 3 hours due to a strike, you are eligible for compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
In considering the potential sum of compensation, passengers should take two critical facts into account: the flight’s distance and the duration of the delay. It is important to understand these factors, as only that is how you can be calm regarding the fair flight delay compensation you are entitled to. Below you can see a table with the amounts of compensation you could 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 |
LEVEL Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellations. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, you are eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros. It’s important to know 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 enumerated 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 determined by the flight distance and the time of delay in arriving at the final destination. Check the table below for more details:
| 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 LEVEL Flights Are Covered by EU261?
Regulation EU261 applies to 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 airlines based in the EU. The regulation also covers flights to and from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
The table below shows which LEVEL flights are covered by EU Regulation 261/2004:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim LEVEL Strike Compensation
If you’ve experienced flight delays or cancellations at least once, you understand how frustrating it can be.
Passengers who experience any of these situations on LEVEL flights have a right to claim compensation, according to European Union regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details such as 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 understand the EU laws well and will do our best to get you your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.