One of the most common reasons for flight interruptions is flight strikes, which are often initiated by airline workers, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of the EU 261 regulation, under which you might be entitled to compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Continue reading to find out how to obtain compensation and under what circumstances.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that any passenger is protected by EU Regulation 261. The EU 261/2004 is a European Union regulation that sets the rules for compensation and assistance for travelers in cases of flight delays and cancellations. Now, let’s take a closer look at passenger rights, under EU 261/2004:
- The airline needs to provide passengers with information about their rights.
- In the event of flight cancellation, a passenger is entitled 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 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 airport and the hotel.
- Compensation from 250 to 600 euros per passenger
When You Are Entitled to Swiss International Air Lines Strike Compensation
Often, Swiss International Air Lines strikes involve their staff. These could be flight attendants, pilots, engineers, or other essential 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 because of 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, therefore 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. As a result, passengers have a right to claim flight compensation.
Nonetheless, 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.
Swiss International Air Lines Strike Compensation
Before seeking the airline strike compensation, you should be aware of the criteria and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.
Swiss International Air Lines 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 understand that if your flight is delayed for over 3 hours because of a strike, you have the right to seek compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
When evaluating the potential sum of compensation, passengers should take two critical factors into account: the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay. It is important to understand these details, as only that is how you can be calm regarding the fair flight delay compensation you deserve. 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 |
Swiss International Air Lines Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes cause flight cancellations. Under EU 261, you are eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros. Note 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 flight must meet the requirements 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 are entitled 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. 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 Swiss International Air Lines Flights Are Covered by EU261?
EU261 regulation covers every flight departing from EU airports, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from non-EU countries when operated by EU airlines. The regulation also covers flights to and from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
The table below shows which Swiss International Air Lines 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 Swiss International Air Lines Strike Compensation
If you’ve faced flight cancellations or delays at least once, you know how annoying it can be.
Travelers who experience any of these situations on Swiss International Air Lines flights have a right to claim compensation, according to EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We know the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.