One of the most common reasons for flight interruptions is flight strikes, which may be initiated by airline workers, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of European Union Regulation 261, under which you might be qualified for SAS compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Learn more 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 EU Regulation 261. The EU 261 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, according to EU 261/2004:
- The airline is required to provide travelers with information about their rights;
- In case of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right to select one of these options: either a ticket refund or rerouting to the final destination under similar conditions. To receive a SAS refund, passengers must have a confirmed reservation;
- 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
Frequently, SAS strikes involve their workers. These can be engineers, pilots, flight attendants, or any other crucial employees. As you’re now aware, you can seek compensation for airline strikes, 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. Importantly, if a staff strike occurs, the airline could have potentially foreseen and handled such incidents, thus 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 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 pay compensation.
SAS Strike Compensation
Before seeking compensation for an airline strike, you need to know about the conditions and the amount of compensation you might receive.
SAS Strike Flight Delay Compensation
If your flight was delayed by more than 3 hours as a result of the SAS strike, you are entitled to compensation of up to €600 per passenger under EU 261. 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 |
SAS Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
If your flight was cancelled and the airline notified you less than 14 days before your scheduled travel, you could receive compensation of up to €600 under EU 261. However, in some cases, the airline might not have to pay compensation if it provides an alternative flight to your final destination that satisfies 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 the destination point 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 SAS 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 outside the EU when operated by airlines based in the EU. 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’ve encountered flight cancellations or delays at least once, you understand how annoying it can be.
Travelers who experience any of these issues are entitled to claim SAS compensation, according to EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in 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 know the EU laws thoroughly and will strive to obtain your rightful 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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