One of the most common reasons for flight disruptions is flight strikes, which are often arranged by airline staff, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of EU 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 in which situations.
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 compensation and assistance to passengers in cases of flight disruptions. Now, let’s take a closer look at air passenger rights, under EU 261/2004:
- The airline is required to 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 rerouting 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 from 250 to 600 euros per passenger
When You Are Entitled to Smartwings Strike Compensation
Often, Smartwings strikes involve their employees. These can be flight attendants, pilots, engineers, or other essential staff. As you’re now aware, you have the right to claim airline strike compensation, 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 outside of 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 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. Consequently, passengers have a right to claim flight compensation.
Nonetheless, you should understand 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.
Smartwings Strike Compensation
Before seeking compensation for an airline strike, you should be aware of the criteria and the amount of compensation you might receive.
Smartwings 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 understand 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 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’s crucial to understand these details, 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 could receive.
| 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 |
Smartwings Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes cause flight cancellation. According to EU Regulation 261/2004, you are eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros. Keep in mind 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 regulations, and here is the case. The airline is entitled to avoid paying compensation if it provides the passenger an alternative flight. This flight must meet the conditions 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 fully depends 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 Smartwings Flights Are Covered by EU261?
Regulation EU261 applies to every flight departing from airports in the EU, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from outside the EU if they are operated by EU airlines. The regulation also covers flights to and from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
The table below shows which Smartwings flights are protected 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 Smartwings Strike Compensation
If you have experienced flight delays or cancellations at least once, you understand how frustrating it can be.
Passengers who encounter any of these situations on Smartwings flights are entitled to claim compensation, according to the EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Complete this 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 take over. We are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.