Flight cancellations or delays due to airline strikes can be frustrating, but there is good news for travelers. There is a regulation called EU 261/2004 that protects you. It says that airlines have to issue compensation if your flight is cancelled or delayed as a result of a strike. In this article, we will explain what the EU 261 regulation is and how it can assist you.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
Now let’s explore the specifics of EU Regulation 261/2004. In the following sections, you will discover your entitlement to compensation and what benefits you can expect in case of a flight disruption.
Right to Compensation
The European Union regulation states that if you are protected by EU 261, you are entitled to claim compensation if a wildcat or planned strike of the airline’s workers affects your flight. It is worth noting, such situations do not qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” which are events outside the airline’s control.
Flight Cancellation Compensation
According to EU Regulation 261, you may be eligible for compensation of up to €600 if your flight is cancelled and the airline does not notify you about the cancellation within two weeks before your scheduled travel date.
Yet, as it often happens, there are exceptions you should be aware of. Specifically, the airline is entitled to refuse compensation if they choose to offer you an alternative flight. Though this flight should also meet certain requirements:
- If your flight is over 3,500 km, your replacement flight must arrive at the point of destination with a delay of less than 4 hours;
- If your flight is 1,500-3,500 km, your replacement flight must arrive at the point of destination with a delay of less than 3 hours;
- If your flight is less than 1,500 km, your replacement flight must arrive at the point of destination with a delay of less than 2 hours;
If you agreed to the alternative flight proposed by the airline but reached the final destination later than originally scheduled, you are still eligible to claim compensation.
The main factors that affect the amount of compensation are the flight distance and the duration of the delay. Check the table provided below for compensation amounts:
| 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 |
Flight Delay Compensation
Delays caused by airline strikes of any duration can be frustrating and can significantly disrupt your itinerary. You may be eligible for compensation if the flight delay caused by an airline strike lasts three or more hours.
Regarding the possible amount of compensation that passengers could be entitled to, there are two crucial factors to consider: the duration of the delay and the flight distance. See the table below for compensation amounts:
| 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 |
Ticket Refund or Alternative Transportation
In the rare situations when a passenger’s flight is delayed for 5 or more hours or cancelled, the passenger is entitled to more substantial rights. There are two options for you to choose from:
- You can refuse the delayed or cancelled flight and choose a full refund, meaning that you will also cancel your planned trip, and there won’t be a financial penalty for this.
- You can agree to use an alternative flight that the airline arranges for you.
As you can see, you have the right to select the option that meets your needs.
Right to Care
Besides compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight due to an airline strike, passengers are also entitled to the right to care. So, the airline is required to provide passengers with meals, beverages, and the opportunity to make two phone calls, fax messages, and emails. When your flight is rescheduled for the next day, the airline is required to provide you with a hotel, as well as transport to and from the hotel.
Upgrading and Downgrading
Occasionally it happens the airline might either downgrade or upgrade your flight’s class when offering an alternative flight. In these situations, you should be aware of specific rules and your rights:
In case of upgrading: if your class has been upgraded, you aren’t required to pay extra for this benefit.
In case of downgrading: if your class is downgraded, the airline is obligated to reimburse you. Again, the compensation here is based on the distance of the flight:
- 30% of the cost of the flights that are 1,500 km or less;
- 50% of the cost of t is an intra-EU flight over 1,500 km; also, if these are all other flights that are 1,500-3,500 km;
- 75% of the cost of the flight is 3,500 km and more.
These rules cover all flights inside the EU; additionally, these rules cover flights that are either departing from or arriving in the European Union on airlines based in the EU.
When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?
Unfortunately, you should know that in cases where the airline cannot influence or prevent the strike, there will be no compensation for passengers. Let’s take an example: any labor dispute could considerably affect aviation (it can be a national labor or air traffic strike); however, such situations are not under an airline’s control, and it’s not their fault that this situation happens. As a result, the airline is not obligated to pay compensation for disrupted flights.
Although many cases of strikes are not covered by EU261 and are classified as “extraordinary circumstances”, this does not automatically mean that the airline will not provide compensation.
According to the ECJ ruling of 11 June 2020 (Case C-74/19), the airline must prove it has done everything possible to avoid a strike. If the airline cannot prove it, they are obliged to provide passengers compensation for flight disruptions.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from European Union airports. It also applies to flights arriving in the EU if the airline originates in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
However, Southwest Airlines is not a European airline. Consequently, they are not obliged to issue compensation if their flights operate outside the European Union. This is true even for their flights to the European Union if they start outside the EU.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing from EU airports | ✔️ Yes |
| Flights arriving at EU airports | ❌ No |
How to Get Southwest Airlines Strike Compensation
Dealing with flight delays or cancellations due to strikes is always frustrating. Such situations can ruin not just your trip but also create problems – emotional, financial, etc. To seek compensation for this inconvenience, take the following actions:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We understand the EU laws comprehensively and will make every effort to secure 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 | Airline (Flight number) | Route | Status | Your compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
20.06.202514:15 | Southwest Airlines 1571 | Chicago (MCI) Burbank (BUR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
20.06.202514:00 | Southwest Airlines 1562 | Chicago (MDW) Burbank (BUR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
20.06.202513:10 | Southwest Airlines 1369 | Boise (BOI) Burbank (BUR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
20.06.202511:45 | Southwest Airlines 1059 | New York (MCO) Buffalo (BUF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
20.06.202511:40 | Southwest Airlines 4026 | Oakland (OAK) Burbank (BUR) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
20.06.202510:10 | Southwest Airlines 1770 | Burbank (BUR) Oakland (OAK) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
20.06.202510:05 | Southwest Airlines 311 | Chicago (DAL) Chicago (ECP) | delayed | Claim Refund |
20.06.202507:45 | Southwest Airlines 2174 | Boston (BOS) Baltimore (BWI) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
20.06.202505:50 | Southwest Airlines 2892 | Savannah (SAV) Houston (HOU) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
20.06.202505:40 | Southwest Airlines 3002 | Charlotte (CLT) Chicago (MDW) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202522:50 | Southwest Airlines 3174 | Baltimore (BWI) Boston (BOS) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
19.06.202522:30 | Southwest Airlines 1307 | Nashville (BNA) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202522:05 | Southwest Airlines 4563 | Las Vegas (LAS) Santa Barbara (SBA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202521:35 | Southwest Airlines 2164 | El Paso (ELP) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202521:20 | Southwest Airlines 3756 | New York (MCO) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202521:10 | Southwest Airlines 1614 | Baltimore (BWI) Boston (BOS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202521:05 | Southwest Airlines 3412 | Las Vegas (LAS) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202520:50 | Southwest Airlines 898 | San Antonio (SAT) Houston (HOU) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202520:40 | Southwest Airlines 3413 | Baltimore (BWI) Savannah (SAV) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202520:40 | Southwest Airlines 2541 | Salt Lake City (SLC) Las Vegas (LAS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202520:35 | Southwest Airlines 942 | Nashville (BNA) Boston (BOS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202520:35 | Southwest Airlines 654 | San Antonio (SAT) Los Angeles (LAX) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202520:30 | Southwest Airlines 2047 | Salt Lake City (SLC) Phoenix (PHX) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202520:30 | Southwest Airlines 1011 | Chicago (MDW) Boston (BOS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202520:25 | Southwest Airlines 2746 | St Louis (STL) Boston (BOS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202520:20 | Southwest Airlines 3056 | Houston (HOU) Chicago (ECP) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202520:05 | Southwest Airlines 1927 | Baltimore (BWI) San Antonio (SAT) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
19.06.202519:35 | Southwest Airlines 1944 | Salt Lake City (SLC) Los Angeles (SMF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202519:35 | Southwest Airlines 2366 | Chicago (DAL) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202519:30 | Southwest Airlines 477 | Phoenix (PHX) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202519:15 | Southwest Airlines 2163 | Denver (DEN) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202518:55 | Southwest Airlines 937 | Chicago (MDW) Boston (BOS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202518:45 | Southwest Airlines 4405 | San Diego (SAN) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202518:40 | Southwest Airlines 3411 | Las Vegas (LAS) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202518:00 | Southwest Airlines 4707 | Salt Lake City (SLC) Denver (DEN) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202518:00 | Southwest Airlines 4201 | Salt Lake City (SLC) Phoenix (PHX) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202517:15 | Southwest Airlines 3633 | Salt Lake City (SLC) San Diego (SAN) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202517:00 | Southwest Airlines 4487 | San Jose (SJC) Burbank (BUR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202516:45 | Southwest Airlines 1956 | Salt Lake City (SLC) Las Vegas (LAS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202516:45 | Southwest Airlines 1437 | Chicago (MDW) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202516:45 | Southwest Airlines 1187 | Denver (DEN) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202516:05 | Southwest Airlines 898 | Phoenix (PHX) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202515:40 | Southwest Airlines 3171 | Charlotte (CLT) Denver (DEN) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202514:35 | Southwest Airlines 1490 | Seattle (SEA) Los Angeles (SMF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202514:25 | Southwest Airlines 2663 | Buffalo (BUF) Tampa (TPA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202514:10 | Southwest Airlines 2533 | New York (MCO) Tulsa (TUL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202513:45 | Southwest Airlines 2090 | St Louis (STL) Burbank (BUR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202513:45 | Southwest Airlines 3979 | Baltimore (BWI) Buffalo (BUF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202512:30 | Southwest Airlines 202 | Denver (DEN) Chicago (ECP) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202511:25 | Southwest Airlines 150 | San Jose (SJC) Burbank (BUR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202511:15 | Southwest Airlines 2663 | Chicago (MDW) Buffalo (BUF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202510:35 | Southwest Airlines 1625 | Baltimore (BWI) Buffalo (BUF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202510:30 | Southwest Airlines 1596 | Nashville (BNA) Burbank (BUR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202509:55 | Southwest Airlines 1566 | Burbank (BUR) Los Angeles (SMF) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
19.06.202508:20 | Southwest Airlines 1529 | Baltimore (BWI) Boston (BOS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202508:10 | Southwest Airlines 2915 | Baltimore (BWI) Savannah (SAV) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202507:50 | Southwest Airlines 2029 | Chicago (MDW) Savannah (SAV) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202507:30 | Southwest Airlines 3189 | St Louis (STL) Chicago (ECP) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202506:25 | Southwest Airlines 172 | Oakland (OAK) Burbank (BUR) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202506:15 | Southwest Airlines 3976 | Baltimore (BWI) Boston (BOS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202505:50 | Southwest Airlines 1409 | Boston (BOS) Baltimore (BWI) | delayed | Claim Refund |
19.06.202505:00 | Southwest Airlines 1148 | Boston (BOS) Nashville (BNA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202521:55 | Southwest Airlines 3175 | Houston (HOU) Tulsa (TUL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202521:45 | Southwest Airlines 1936 | Baltimore (BWI) Louisville (SDF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202521:45 | Southwest Airlines 3469 | St Louis (STL) Tulsa (TUL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202521:40 | Southwest Airlines 968 | Chicago (MDW) Louisville (SDF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202520:45 | Southwest Airlines 4393 | Chicago (DAL) Tulsa (TUL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202520:35 | Southwest Airlines 2068 | Chicago (MDW) Tucson (TUS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202520:25 | Southwest Airlines 893 | San Diego (SAN) Tucson (TUS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202520:15 | Southwest Airlines 4571 | Nashville (BNA) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202519:50 | Southwest Airlines 3189 | St Louis (STL) Chicago (ECP) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202519:50 | Southwest Airlines 2450 | Tulsa (TUL) Chicago (DAL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202519:50 | Southwest Airlines 3650 | New York (MCO) Louisville (SDF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202518:15 | Southwest Airlines 2541 | Las Vegas (LAS) Louisville (SDF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202517:50 | Southwest Airlines 4007 | Chicago (MDW) Tulsa (TUL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202517:50 | Southwest Airlines 3337 | Austin (AUS) Tulsa (TUL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202516:00 | Southwest Airlines 4738 | Chicago (MDW) Buffalo (BUF) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
18.06.202515:35 | Southwest Airlines 384 | Nashville (BNA) (DCA) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
18.06.202515:00 | Southwest Airlines 3956 | Memphis (MEM) Phoenix (PHX) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202512:30 | Southwest Airlines 1466 | Memphis (MEM) Nashville (BNA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202510:25 | Southwest Airlines 1034 | Nashville (BNA) Denver (DEN) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202509:40 | Southwest Airlines 736 | Denver (DEN) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202509:15 | Southwest Airlines 1195 | Nashville (BNA) Milwaukee (MKE) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202509:00 | Southwest Airlines 1229 | Nashville (BNA) West Palm Beach (PBI) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202507:25 | Southwest Airlines 1200 | Nashville (BNA) New Orleans (MSY) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202507:20 | Southwest Airlines 1431 | Boston (BOS) Chicago (MDW) | delayed | Claim Refund |
18.06.202506:40 | Southwest Airlines 373 | San Antonio (SAT) El Paso (ELP) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202522:05 | Southwest Airlines 846 | St Louis (STL) Des Moines (DSM) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:55 | Southwest Airlines 205 | Denver (DEN) Tucson (TUS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:55 | Southwest Airlines 3175 | Houston (HOU) Tulsa (TUL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:50 | Southwest Airlines 1660 | Nashville (BNA) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:45 | Southwest Airlines 3469 | St Louis (STL) Tulsa (TUL) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:45 | Southwest Airlines 2411 | Las Vegas (LAS) Boise (BOI) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:45 | Southwest Airlines 3478 | Las Vegas (LAS) Tucson (TUS) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:45 | Southwest Airlines 1379 | Denver (DEN) Boise (BOI) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:40 | Southwest Airlines 3979 | Baltimore (BWI) Buffalo (BUF) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:40 | Southwest Airlines 4202 | Phoenix (PHX) Boise (BOI) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:30 | Southwest Airlines 3353 | Chicago (MDW) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202521:25 | Southwest Airlines 3910 | Chicago (MDW) San Antonio (SAT) | delayed | Claim Refund |
17.06.202520:25 | Southwest Airlines 893 | San Diego (SAN) Tucson (TUS) | cancelled | Claim Refund |
