One of the most common causes of 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 European Union Regulation 261, according to which you could be qualified for compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Continue reading to find out how to obtain compensation and in which situations.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that every air traveler is protected by EU Regulation 261. The EU 261 is a European Union regulation that sets the rules for assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of flight disruptions. Now, let’s take a closer look at air passenger rights, according to EU 261/2004:
- The airline has to provide passengers with information about their rights.
- In the event of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right to select one of the following options: either a ticket refund or rebooking 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 the hotel and airport.
- Compensation between 250 to 600 euros per passenger
When You Are Entitled to Wizz Air Strike Compensation
Often, Wizz Air strikes involve their employees. These could be pilots, engineers, flight attendants, or other essential employees. As you now know, you have the right to claim compensation for airline strikes, if your travel was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you experienced due to the strike.
It is also crucial 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 managed such incidents, therefore 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. As a result, passengers are entitled 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 provide compensation.
Wizz Air Strike Compensation
Before claiming the airline strike compensation, you need to know about the criteria and the amount of compensation you might receive.
Wizz Air Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it creates for passengers. When airline workers go on strike, it can disrupt passengers’ plans and make them arrive at their final destination much later than expected. It is crucial to know that if your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours because of a strike, you are entitled to compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
In considering the potential sum of compensation, passengers need to take two critical facts into account: the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay. It’s essential to understand these details, as only that is how you can be calm regarding the fair flight delay compensation you are entitled to. Below you can find a table with the amounts of compensation you may receive.
| 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 |
Wizz Air 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 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 alternative 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 your destination was still delayed, you can 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 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 Wizz Air Flights Are Covered by EU261?
Regulation EU261 applies to all flights departing from airports in the EU, 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 following table shows which Wizz Air flights are covered by EU 261:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim Wizz Air Strike Compensation
If you’ve faced flight delays or cancellations at least once, you know how irritating it can be.
Passengers who face any of these issues on Wizz Air flights have a right to claim compensation, according to the EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details including 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 well and will do our best to get you your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.