One of the most common factors behind flight interruptions is flight strikes, which can be arranged by airline staff, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of European Union Regulation 261, according to which you may be qualified for compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Learn more 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 law 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 must provide travelers with information about their rights.
- In case of flight cancellation, a passenger is entitled to select one of these 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 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 LOT Polish Airlines Strike Compensation
Frequently, LOT Polish Airlines strikes involve their staff. These can be flight attendants, pilots, engineers, or other essential personnel. As you now know, you may be eligible for airline strike compensation, if your travel was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you faced due to 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. Importantly, if a staff strike occurs, the airline could have potentially foreseen and managed such incidents, thus 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 have a right to claim flight compensation.
Nonetheless, you need to be aware 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.
LOT Polish Airlines Strike Compensation
Before seeking the airline strike compensation, you need to know about the requirements and the amount of compensation you might receive.
LOT Polish Airlines 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 essential to be aware that if your flight is delayed for over 3 hours due to a strike, you can claim compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
When assessing the potential sum of compensation, passengers need to take two critical factors into account: the flight’s distance and the delay length they experience. 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. In the following, you can see a table with the amounts of compensation you can 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 |
LOT Polish Airlines Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellations. Under EU 261, 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 two weeks 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 alternative 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 the destination point 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. 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 LOT Polish Airlines Flights Are Covered by EU261?
The EU261 regulation applies to every flight departing from airports in the EU, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from non-EU countries if they are operated by EU airlines. It also applies to flights to/from Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.
The table below shows which LOT Polish Airlines flights are covered by EU 261:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim LOT Polish Airlines Strike Compensation
If you have experienced flight delays or cancellations at least once, you know how frustrating it can be.
Passengers who experience any of these situations on LOT Polish Airlines flights have a right to claim compensation, according to European Union regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We understand the EU laws well and will strive to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.