One of the most common reasons for flight interruptions is flight strikes, which are often arranged 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 may be eligible for LEVEL compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Continue reading to find out how to obtain compensation and under what circumstances.
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 assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of flight delays and cancellations. Now, let’s take a closer look at passenger rights, under EU 261:
- The airline must provide travelers with information about their rights;
- In the event of flight cancellation, a passenger is entitled to select one of the following options: either a ticket refund or rebooking to the final destination under similar conditions. To receive a LEVEL refund, passengers must have a confirmed reservation;
- Passengers can expect to receive food and beverages; they are also entitled to have two free phone calls, e-mails, or faxes;
- If you choose an alternative flight, 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 between 250 to 600 euros per passenger.
When You Are Entitled to LEVEL Strike Compensation
Often, LEVEL strikes involve their workers. These can be flight attendants, pilots, engineers, or other essential personnel. As you’re now aware, you may be eligible for compensation for airline strikes, if your travel was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you encountered due to the strike.
It is also important 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 obliged to provide compensation. Importantly, if a staff strike occurs, the airline could have potentially foreseen and handled such incidents, therefore such cases are within the airline’s control. That is when flight disruptions are made by the airline’s own employees, they are not cases of extraordinary circumstances. Consequently, passengers have a right to claim flight compensation.
However, you need to be aware that each incident is unique, meaning that every flight disruption caused by a strike must be carefully analyzed to determine whether the airline will provide compensation.
LEVEL Strike Compensation
Before seeking compensation for an airline strike, you should be aware of the requirements and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.
LEVEL Strike Flight Delay Compensation
If your flight was delayed by more than 3 hours as a result of the LEVEL strike, you are entitled to compensation of up to €600 per passenger under EU 261/2004. Keep in mind that the amount of compensation depends on the distance of the flight and the time of delay.
For more details on the amount of compensation, see the table below:
| 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
If your flight was cancelled and the airline informed you less than 14 days before your scheduled travel, you could receive compensation of up to €600 under EU 261/2004. However, in some cases, the airline may avoid paying compensation if it offers an alternative flight to your final destination that meets certain 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 can 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 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 covers 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 airlines based in the EU. It also applies to flights to/from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
The following table 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 encountered flight cancellations or delays at least once, you know how annoying it can be.
Passengers who encounter any of these situations have a right to claim LEVEL compensation, according to the EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We understand the EU laws thoroughly and will strive 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 |
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