Flight cancellations or delays due to airline strikes can be frustrating, but there is good news for travelers. There is a law called EU 261 that protects you. It stipulates that airlines must issue compensation if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to a strike. In this article, we will explain what EU261 is and how it can help you.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
Now let’s explore the details of EU Regulation 261/2004. In the following sections, you will discover your rights to compensation and what advantages you can expect in case of a flight disruption.
Right to Compensation
The European Union regulation states that if you are protected by the EU 261/2004, you are entitled to claim compensation if a wildcat or planned strike by airline workers affects your flight. It’s important to note, such situations do not qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” i.e., those beyond the airline’s control.
Flight Cancellation Compensation
According to EU Regulation 261, you can receive compensation of up to €600 if your flight is cancelled and the airline does not notify you of the flight cancellation within 14 days before your scheduled travel date.
However, as is frequently the case, 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 is required to 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 offered by the airline but arrived at the final destination later than originally scheduled, you are still eligible to claim compensation.
The key factors that affect the amount of compensation are the flight distance and the duration of the delay. Check the table 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 due to 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 a minimum of three hours.
Concerning the possible compensation amount that passengers could be entitled to, there are two key factors to consider: the duration of the delay and the flight distance. See the table provided 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 either cancelled or delayed for 5 or more hours, the passenger has more substantial rights. You have two options to select 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 choose the option that meets your needs.
Right to Care
In addition to compensation for a cancelled or delayed flight resulting from an airline strike, passengers also have the right to care. So, the airline is required to provide passengers with food, beverages, and the opportunity to make two phone calls, fax messages, and emails. If your flight is rescheduled for the next day, the airline is obliged to provide you with a hotel, as well as transportation between the airport and the hotel.
Upgrading and Downgrading
Sometimes it happens the airline might either upgrade or downgrade your flight’s class when providing an alternative flight. In such cases, you should be aware of specific rules and your rights:
In case of upgrading: if your class has been upgraded, you won’t have to pay extra for this advantage.
In case of downgrading: if your class is downgraded, the airline must reimburse you. Furthermore, the compensation in this case is determined by 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 within the EU; besides, these regulations cover flights that are either departing from or arriving in the European Union on EU-based airlines.
When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?
Unfortunately, you should understand that in situations when the airline cannot control or prevent the strike, there will be no compensation for passengers. Let’s take an example: any labor dispute could significantly affect aviation (it can be a national labor or air traffic strike); however, such events are not under the airline’s control, and it’s not its fault that this situation happens. Therefore, the airline is not obligated to pay compensation for disrupted flights.
Even though many instances of strikes are not covered by EU261 and are classified as “extraordinary circumstances”, this doesn’t automatically mean that the airline will not provide compensation.
In line with the ECJ ruling of 11 June 2020 (Case C-74/19), the airline must prove it has done everything possible to prevent a strike. If the airline cannot prove it, they are required to provide passengers compensation for flight disruptions.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU. 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, United Airlines is not a European airline. Consequently, they aren’t required to issue compensation if their flights operate outside the European Union. This applies even to 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 United Airlines Strike Compensation
Dealing with flight delays or cancellations due to strikes is always frustrating. This can ruin not just your trip but also create problems – emotional, financial, etc. To get compensated for this inconvenience, proceed with these steps:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort 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 | Airline (Flight number) | Route | Status | Your compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
09.05.202500:40 | United Airlines 7991 | Tokyo (HND) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202518:10 | United Airlines 8007 | Tokyo (HND) Hiroshima (HIJ) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202518:05 | United Airlines 7951 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (KIX) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202517:10 | United Airlines 7919 | Tokyo (HND) Iwakuni (IWK) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202517:00 | United Airlines 8006 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (CTS) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202516:50 | United Airlines 7959 | Tokyo (HND) Komatsu (KMQ) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202516:00 | United Airlines 7979 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (CTS) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202515:00 | United Airlines 3057 | Tampa (TPA) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | cancelled | Refunds |
08.05.202513:50 | United Airlines 7690 | Singapore (SIN) Phnom Penh (SAI) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202513:25 | United Airlines 9403 | Krakow (KRK) Munich (MUC) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202513:20 | United Airlines 132 | Kwajalein (KWA) Pohnpei (PNI) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202513:10 | United Airlines 8395 | Vancouver (YVR) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202513:05 | United Airlines 7900 | Okinawa (OKA) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202511:45 | United Airlines 7970 | Fukuoka (FUK) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202511:15 | United Airlines 9386 | Krakow (KRK) Frankfurt (FRA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202511:00 | United Airlines 3059 | Tampa (TPA) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202510:45 | United Airlines 8717 | Frankfurt (FRA) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202510:35 | United Airlines 9385 | Frankfurt (FRA) Krakow (KRK) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202510:30 | United Airlines 6492 | Johannesburg (JNB) Bulawayo (BUQ) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202509:50 | United Airlines 9818 | Vienna (VIE) Budapest (BUD) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202509:30 | United Airlines 9795 | Budapest (BUD) Zurich (ZRH) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202509:15 | United Airlines 9072 | Frankfurt (FRA) Budapest (BUD) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202509:00 | United Airlines 8788 | Frankfurt (FRA) Krakow (KRK) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202507:05 | United Airlines 9006 | Frankfurt (FRA) Budapest (BUD) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202500:40 | United Airlines 7991 | Tokyo (HND) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202523:35 | United Airlines 848 | Tokyo (HND) Agana (GUM) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202522:10 | United Airlines 4535 | New York (IAD) Burlington (BTV) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202521:59 | United Airlines 1397 | Newark (EWR) Burlington (BTV) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202520:50 | United Airlines 5059 | Denver (DEN) Kearney (EAR) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202520:32 | United Airlines 5097 | Denver (DEN) Dickinson (DIK) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202520:23 | United Airlines | Denver (DEN) Butte (BTM) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202520:00 | United Airlines 7901 | Tokyo (HND) Okinawa (OKA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202519:05 | United Airlines 5252 | Denver (DEN) Vail (EGE) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202519:05 | United Airlines 7844 | Honolulu (HNL) Maui (OGG) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202518:50 | United Airlines 5061 | Chicago (IAH) Meridian (MEI) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202518:25 | United Airlines 7954 | Tokyo (HND) Nagoya (NGO) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202516:32 | United Airlines 213 | Nashville (BNA) Newark (EWR) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202516:00 | United Airlines 7979 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (CTS) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202515:45 | United Airlines 9414 | Munich (MUC) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202515:30 | United Airlines 7931 | Tokyo (HND) Okinawa (OKA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202514:35 | United Airlines 287 | Nashville (BNA) Denver (DEN) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202514:30 | United Airlines 7969 | Tokyo (CTS) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202514:00 | United Airlines 8004 | Okinawa (OKA) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202514:00 | United Airlines 133 | Pohnpei (PNI) Kwajalein (KWA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202513:40 | United Airlines 676 | Denver (DEN) Burbank (BUR) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202513:25 | United Airlines 9403 | Krakow (KRK) Munich (MUC) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202512:40 | United Airlines 7978 | Hiroshima (HIJ) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202512:25 | United Airlines 9968 | Brussels (BRU) (DSS) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202512:15 | United Airlines 7941 | New York (IAD) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202512:10 | United Airlines 9972 | Brussels (BRU) Accra (ACC) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202512:10 | United Airlines 803 | New York (IAD) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202511:31 | United Airlines 661 | Tampa (TPA) Newark (EWR) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202511:30 | United Airlines 5075 | Salina (SLN) Chicago (IAH) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202511:20 | United Airlines 8766 | Munich (MUC) Krakow (KRK) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202511:05 | United Airlines 7908 | Okinawa (OKA) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202510:55 | United Airlines 5719 | Memphis (MEM) (ORD) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202510:55 | United Airlines 1496 | Salt Lake City (SLC) Denver (DEN) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202510:50 | United Airlines 9947 | Brussels (BRU) Rome (LIN) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202510:45 | United Airlines 8717 | Frankfurt (FRA) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202510:35 | United Airlines 9385 | Frankfurt (FRA) Krakow (KRK) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202510:35 | United Airlines 9929 | Brussels (BRU) New York (JFK) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202510:30 | United Airlines 6492 | Johannesburg (JNB) Bulawayo (BUQ) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202510:30 | United Airlines 875 | San Francisco (SFO) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202510:25 | United Airlines 9932 | Brussels (BRU) Ouagadougou (OUA) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202510:15 | United Airlines 6414 | Spanish Town (VIJ) San Juan (SJU) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:55 | United Airlines 6 | (UBN) Tokyo (NRT) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202509:40 | United Airlines 9967 | Brussels (BRU) Toulouse (TLS) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:30 | United Airlines 9975 | Brussels (BRU) Madrid (MAD) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:30 | United Airlines 9911 | Brussels (BRU) Copenhagen (CPH) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:20 | United Airlines 7264 | Brussels (BRU) Zagreb (ZAG) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:20 | United Airlines 9910 | Brussels (BRU) Geneva (GVA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:00 | United Airlines 7542 | Hefei (Luogang Airport) (HFE) Beijing (PEK) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202508:50 | United Airlines 945 | Frankfurt (FRA) (ORD) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202508:25 | United Airlines 8270 | Toronto (YYZ) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202508:00 | United Airlines 1872 | Salt Lake City (SLC) (ORD) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202507:45 | United Airlines 1970 | Salt Lake City (SLC) New York (IAD) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202507:00 | United Airlines 2643 | Salt Lake City (SLC) Denver (DEN) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202506:00 | United Airlines 2947 | Pendleton (PDT) Portland (PDX) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202506:00 | United Airlines 8734 | Prague (PRG) Frankfurt (FRA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202500:40 | United Airlines 7991 | Tokyo (HND) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202522:25 | United Airlines 192 | Manila (MNL) Koror (ROR) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202522:11 | United Airlines 4950 | New York (IAD) Ithaca (ITH) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202521:30 | United Airlines 8312 | Montreal (YUL) Nice (NCE) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202521:10 | United Airlines 8669 | Vancouver (YVR) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202520:35 | United Airlines 5107 | Denver (DEN) Salina (SLN) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202520:25 | United Airlines 3061 | Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Tampa (TPA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:50 | United Airlines 2456 | Chicago (IAH) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:44 | United Airlines 1766 | Denver (DEN) Montrose (MTJ) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:35 | United Airlines 7563 | Beijing (PEK) Lanzhou (LHW) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:30 | United Airlines 7314 | Seoul (ICN) Hanoi (HAN) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:30 | United Airlines 7300 | Seoul (ICN) Phnom Penh (PNH) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:25 | United Airlines 2644 | Denver (DEN) Palm Springs (PSP) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:20 | United Airlines 7954 | Tokyo (HND) Nagoya (NGO) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:00 | United Airlines 5826 | Denver (DEN) Hayden (HDN) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:00 | United Airlines 5550 | Denver (DEN) Gunnison (GUC) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:00 | United Airlines 8176 | Vancouver (YVR) Kelowna (YLW) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202518:50 | United Airlines 5061 | Chicago (IAH) Meridian (MEI) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202517:45 | United Airlines 7911 | (ORD) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202517:15 | United Airlines 7925 | Los Angeles (LAX) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202517:10 | United Airlines 7919 | Tokyo (HND) Iwakuni (IWK) | delayed | Refunds |
