One of the most common reasons for flight interruptions is flight strikes, which may be arranged by airline workers, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of EU Regulation 261, under which you could be qualified for compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Read on to find out how to obtain compensation and when you qualify.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that every air traveler is protected by EU Regulation 261. The EU 261 is a European Union law that sets the rules for assistance and compensation to passengers in cases of flight delays and cancellations. Now, let’s take a closer look at air passenger rights, under EU 261:
- The airline has to provide passengers with information about their rights.
- In the event 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 meals and drinks; 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 Virgin Atlantic Strike Compensation
Often, Virgin Atlantic strikes involve their staff. These could be engineers, pilots, flight attendants, or any other crucial personnel. As you now know, you have the right to claim airline strike compensation, if your travel was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you faced due to 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 required 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.
However, you need to be aware that each incident is individual, meaning that every flight disruption caused by a strike must be carefully analyzed to determine whether the airline will pay compensation.
Virgin Atlantic Strike Compensation
Before seeking the airline strike compensation, it’s important to understand the requirements and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.
Virgin Atlantic Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it causes passengers. When airline staff go on strike, it can disrupt travelers’ 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 more than 3 hours due to a strike, you are eligible for compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
When assessing the potential sum of compensation, passengers should take two critical facts into account: the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay. It’s essential to understand these factors, as only that is how you can be calm regarding the fair flight delay compensation you deserve. Below 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 |
Virgin Atlantic Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellation. According to EU 261, you are eligible for compensation of up to 600 Euros. It’s important to know that the regulation also states that you are entitled to compensation in the case when the airline notified you about the cancellation less than two weeks before your travel.
Nevertheless, 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 requirements enumerated 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 have a right to 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 additional information:
| 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 Virgin Atlantic Flights Are Covered by EU261?
Regulation EU261 applies to 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 Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
The table below shows which Virgin Atlantic flights are covered by EU Regulation 261:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim Virgin Atlantic Strike Compensation
If you have encountered flight delays or cancellations at least once, you know how annoying it can be.
Passengers who experience any of these situations on Virgin Atlantic flights are entitled to claim compensation, according to European Union regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in our 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 take over. We are well-versed in the EU laws well and will do our best to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.