SAS Strike Compensation

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 European Union Regulation 261, under which you may be eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros.

Continue reading to find out how to obtain 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 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, according to EU 261:

• The airline must provide passengers with information about their rights.
• In case of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right 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 meals and drinks; 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 SAS Strike Compensation

Often, SAS strikes involve their workers. These could be engineers, pilots, flight attendants, or any other crucial personnel. As you now know, you can seek compensation for airline strikes, if your trip was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you experienced due to the strike.

It is also important 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 obliged to provide compensation. It is important to note if a staff strike happens, 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 made by the airline’s own employees, these are not cases of extraordinary circumstances. As a result, passengers are entitled 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.

SAS Strike Compensation

Before seeking compensation for an airline strike, it’s important to understand the requirements and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.

SAS Strike Flight Delay Compensation

The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it causes passengers. When airline workers go on strike, it can disrupt passengers’ plans and make them arrive at their final destination much later than expected. It is important to be aware that if your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours due to a strike, you are entitled to compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.

When evaluating the potential sum of compensation, passengers should 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 find 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

SAS Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation

Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes cause flight cancellations. According to EU 261/2004, you may receive 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.

Nevertheless, there are always some exceptions to the regulations, 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 requirements 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 have a right to claim compensation.

The amount of the compensation fully depends on the flight distance and the time of delay in arriving at the final destination. Check 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 SAS Flights Are Covered by EU261?

EU261 regulation applies to every flight departing from EU airports, 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 and from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

The following table shows which SAS 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 SAS Strike Compensation

If you have experienced flight cancellations or delays at least once, you understand how frustrating it can be.

Passengers who experience any of these issues on SAS flights are entitled to claim compensation, according to the EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:

1. Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We know the EU laws comprehensively and will make every effort to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.

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