Refunds and Compensation for United Airlines Strike

Yurii Moskalenko
30.08.2024
Updated 05.05.2025

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 hours2-3 hours3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursNever arrivedDistance
€125€250€250€250€250All flights 1,500 km or less
€200€200€400€400€400Internal EU flights over 1,500 km
€200€200€400€400€400Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km
€300€300€300€600€600Non-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 hoursBetween 3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursDistance
€0€250€250All flights up to 1500 km
€0€400€400All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km
€0€400€400All intra-EU flights over 3500 km
€0€300€600All 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.

ItineraryCovered 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:

  1. Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
  2. 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 Flight number Route Status Compensation

05.07.202519:30

United Airlines

7314

Seoul (ICN)

Hanoi (HAN)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202515:40

United Airlines

7505

Darwin (DRW)

Melbourne (MEL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202515:35

United Airlines

9702

Munich (MUC)

Bologna (BLQ)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202515:25

United Airlines

6601

Dar Es Salaam (DAR)

Dubai (DXB)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202515:20

United Airlines

133

Pohnpei (PNI)

Majuro (MAJ)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202514:25

United Airlines

7257

Zagreb (ZAG)

Dubrovnik (DBV)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202513:45

United Airlines

9054

Frankfurt (FRA)

Gudja (MLA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202512:20

United Airlines

9995

Brussels (BRU)

Barcelona (BCN)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202512:20

United Airlines

9690

Frankfurt (FRA)

Turin (TRN)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202512:05

United Airlines

7194

Zanzibar (ZNZ)

Addis Ababa (ADD)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202511:50

United Airlines

9884

Munich (MUC)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202511:40

United Airlines

9932

Brussels (BRU)

Abidjan (ABJ)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202511:30

United Airlines

9662

Frankfurt (FRA)

Tampa (TPA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202511:15

United Airlines

361

San Antonio (SAT)

Denver (DEN)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202511:00

United Airlines

749

Geneva (GVA)

New York (IAD)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202511:00

United Airlines

9959

Brussels (BRU)

Lyon (LYS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202510:45

United Airlines

9903

Brussels (BRU)

New York (IAD)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202510:25

United Airlines

9952

Brussels (BRU)

Kigali (KGL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202510:10

United Airlines

7436

Melbourne (MEL)

Brisbane (BNE)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202510:00

United Airlines

8329

Brussels (BRU)

Montreal (YUL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202510:00

United Airlines

699

Denver (DEN)

Savannah (SAV)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:45

United Airlines

9951

Brussels (BRU)

Napoli (NAP)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:40

United Airlines

9793

Brussels (BRU)

Zurich (ZRH)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:40

United Airlines

9967

Brussels (BRU)

Toulouse (TLS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:40

United Airlines

2403

Denver (DEN)

New York (RSW)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:30

United Airlines

9795

Budapest (BUD)

Zurich (ZRH)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:20

United Airlines

9987

Brussels (BRU)

Faro (FAO)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:20

United Airlines

9910

Brussels (BRU)

Geneva (GVA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:10

United Airlines

7217

Addis Ababa (ADD)

Blantyre (BLZ)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:10

United Airlines

9746

Zurich (ZRH)

Geneva (GVA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:10

United Airlines

9954

Brussels (BRU)

Bilbao (BIO)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202509:00

United Airlines

9938

Frankfurt (FRA)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202508:55

United Airlines

9743

London (LHR)

Geneva (GVA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202508:55

United Airlines

9978

Paris (CDG)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202508:45

United Airlines

619

Brussels (BRU)

Newark (EWR)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202508:35

United Airlines

9949

Rome (MXP)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202508:25

United Airlines

7692

Singapore (SIN)

Phnom Penh (SAI)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202508:15

United Airlines

4327

New York (IAD)

Dayton (DAY)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202508:15

United Airlines

7220

Addis Ababa (ADD)

Zanzibar (ZNZ)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202508:12

United Airlines

5571

Santa Barbara (SBA)

San Francisco (SFO)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202508:10

United Airlines

9763

Frankfurt (FRA)

Geneva (GVA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202507:45

United Airlines

9900

London (LHR)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202507:25

United Airlines

9792

Zurich (ZRH)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202507:23

United Airlines

1966

Chicago (IAH)

San Antonio (SAT)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202507:05

United Airlines

9944

Lyon (LYS)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202507:05

United Airlines

9907

Geneva (GVA)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202507:00

United Airlines

9916

Gothenburg (GOT)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202506:50

United Airlines

9912

Copenhagen (CPH)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202506:45

United Airlines

9914

Oslo (OSL)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202501:15

United Airlines

9731

Dubai (DXB)

Zurich (ZRH)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202500:50

United Airlines

8741

Dubai (DXB)

Frankfurt (FRA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202500:14

United Airlines

206

Bogota (BOG)

Chicago (IAH)

Delayed

Claim Refund

05.07.202500:05

United Airlines

8003

Tokyo (HND)

Bangkok (BKK)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202523:54

United Airlines

209

Chicago (IAH)

Bogota (BOG)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202523:20

United Airlines

6699

Bogota (BOG)

Miami (MIA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202522:45

United Airlines

1266

Los Angeles (LAX)

San Salvador (SAL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202522:25

United Airlines

6678

Bogota (BOG)

Pereira (PEI)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202522:18

United Airlines

755

New York (IAD)

Boston (BOS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202521:55

United Airlines

742

Chicago (IAH)

San Salvador (SAL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202521:25

United Airlines

8911

Munich (MUC)

Toulouse (TLS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202521:25

United Airlines

9985

Kinshasa (FIH)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202521:25

United Airlines

9941

(DSS)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202521:10

United Airlines

9974

Monrovia (ROB)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202521:10

United Airlines

9922

Douala (NSI)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202521:05

United Airlines

9274

Frankfurt (FRA)

Toulouse (TLS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202521:05

United Airlines

9886

Ouagadougou (OUA)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202520:55

United Airlines

9249

Frankfurt (FRA)

Tallinn (TLL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202520:40

United Airlines

8130

Toronto (YYZ)

Dallas (DFW)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202520:35

United Airlines

8150

Detroit (DTW)

Toronto (YYZ)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202520:15

United Airlines

7587

Beijing (PEK)

Shenzhen (SZX)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202519:45

United Airlines

9941

Banjul (BJL)

(DSS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202519:20

United Airlines

7954

Tokyo (HND)

Nagoya (NGO)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202518:55

United Airlines

7989

Tokyo (NRT)

Hong Kong (HKG)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202518:50

United Airlines

9413

Seattle (SEA)

Munich (MUC)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202518:50

United Airlines

8488

Vancouver (YVR)

San Diego (SAN)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202518:40

United Airlines

8177

Toronto (YYZ)

Detroit (DTW)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202518:40

United Airlines

8888

Munich (MUC)

Zurich (BSL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202518:30

United Airlines

461

New York (IAD)

(DSS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202518:10

United Airlines

8007

Tokyo (HND)

Hiroshima (HIJ)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202518:00

United Airlines

7586

Beijing (PEK)

Shenzhen (SZX)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:58

United Airlines

1937

Denver (DEN)

Tulsa (TUL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:58

United Airlines

2690

Denver (DEN)

Louisville (SDF)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:52

United Airlines

503

Denver (DEN)

Boston (BOS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:50

United Airlines

1764

Denver (DEN)

Traverse City (TVC)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:48

United Airlines

314

Denver (DEN)

Tampa (TPA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:45

United Airlines

1479

Denver (DEN)

Nashville (BNA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:45

United Airlines

1593

Denver (DEN)

Buffalo (BUF)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:45

United Airlines

950

New York (IAD)

Brussels (BRU)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:40

United Airlines

3684

Detroit (DTW)

Newark (EWR)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:30

United Airlines

9968

(DSS)

Banjul (BJL)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:20

United Airlines

1517

Dallas (DFW)

Newark (EWR)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:12

United Airlines

2681

Des Moines (DSM)

Denver (DEN)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202517:00

United Airlines

8006

Tokyo (HND)

Tokyo (CTS)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202516:59

United Airlines

1115

Newark (EWR)

West Palm Beach (PBI)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202516:55

United Airlines

1723

San Francisco (SFO)

Kona (KOA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202516:50

United Airlines

7959

Tokyo (HND)

Komatsu (KMQ)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202516:30

United Airlines

7922

Tokyo (HND)

Okinawa (OKA)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202516:30

United Airlines

8876

Frankfurt (FRA)

Zurich (ZRH)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202516:25

United Airlines

291

Chicago (IAH)

Des Moines (DSM)

Delayed

Claim Refund

04.07.202516:20

United Airlines

793

(ORD)

Dallas (DFW)

Delayed

Claim Refund
Yurii Moskalenko
2296 articles
Yurii educates people about human rights and advocacy. He creates helpful materials for travelers to assert their rights. With certifications in law and economics, Yurii turns legal terms into simple, actionable advice. His travel experience gives him valuable insight into the challenges travelers face, helping him better understand their needs.

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