One of the most common causes of flight disruptions is flight strikes, which may be 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 qualified for Virgin Atlantic compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Learn more to find out how you can get compensation and when you qualify.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that any passenger is protected by the EU 261 regulation. The EU 261 is a European Union law that sets the rules for assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of flight delays and cancellations. Now, let’s take a closer look at air passenger rights, under EU 261/2004:
- The airline has 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. To receive a Virgin Atlantic refund, passengers must have a confirmed reservation;
- Passengers can expect to receive food and beverages; they are also entitled to have two free phone calls, e-mails, or faxes;
- If you decide to reroute, and it involves an overnight stay, the airline is required to provide hotel accommodation, as well as transportation between the airport and the hotel;
- Compensation between 250 to 600 euros per passenger.
When You Are Entitled to Virgin Atlantic Strike Compensation
Often, Virgin Atlantic strikes involve their workers. These can be pilots, engineers, flight attendants, or any other crucial employees. As you now know, you have the right to claim compensation for airline strikes, if your trip was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you encountered due to the strike.
It is also essential to understand what “extraordinary circumstances” are. These are events outside of the airline’s control. If a strike is considered one of these circumstances, the airline is not obliged to provide compensation. Importantly, if a staff strike happens, the airline could have potentially foreseen and handled 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 are entitled to claim flight compensation.
Nonetheless, you should understand that each incident is unique, 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 claiming the airline strike compensation, you need to know about the conditions and the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.
Virgin Atlantic Strike Flight Delay Compensation
If your flight was delayed by more than 3 hours due to the Virgin Atlantic strike, you are entitled to compensation of up to €600 per passenger under EU 261/2004. It is important to note that the amount of compensation depends on the distance of the flight and the time of delay.
For more details on the amount of compensation, see the table below:
| 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
If your flight was cancelled and the airline informed you less than 14 days before your scheduled travel, you might qualify for compensation of up to €600 under EU 261. However, in some cases, the airline may avoid paying compensation if it offers an alternative flight to your final destination that meets certain criteria 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. Take a look at 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 Virgin Atlantic Flights Are Covered by EU261?
The EU261 regulation covers all flights departing from EU airports, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from non-EU countries if they are operated by EU airlines. The regulation also covers flights to/from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
The following table shows which Virgin Atlantic flights are protected by EU 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’ve experienced flight delays or cancellations at least once, you understand how frustrating it can be.
Passengers who encounter any of these issues have a right to claim Virgin Atlantic compensation, according to European Union regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We are well-versed in the EU laws well and will do our best to get you 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 | Flight number | Route | Status | Compensation |
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