There are frequent airline strikes. Affected travelers often do not know whether they should rebook their flight as a precaution or whether they are entitled to compensation if their flight is canceled due to a strike. ÖAMTC legal advice provides tips and clarifies those affected about their rights.

“The first point of contact for information as to whether your own flight is affected by the strike is the airline itself or, for package travelers, the tour operator. The airlines offer up-to-date and detailed information about the booked flight online or by telephone and sometimes also inform the passengers directly, e.g. B. via SMS,” says ÖAMTC lawyer Verena Pronebner.

Avoid hasty rebooking:

Travelers who arrange an alternative flight or transport (e.g. by train) as a precaution run the risk of being left with the costs if the originally planned flight does go ahead. "It is therefore better to coordinate with the airline and get a rebooking through them," recommends Pronebner.

Canceled flights:

Passengers whose flights are canceled due to a strike will be refunded the full ticket price including taxes and fees from the airlines. Alternatively, there is a right to a free rebooking on another flight. The airline is also obliged to offer transport using other means of transport with comparable travel conditions. No additional costs may arise for travelers. 

Compensations:

In the event of cancellation, overbooking or major delays, passengers are entitled to compensation of up to 600 euros according to the EU regulation - but only if no "extraordinary circumstances" are to blame. "Airlines are only exempt from lump-sum compensation payments if they can prove in such cases that they have done everything reasonable to avoid the consequences of the strike for the passengers or that these consequences were unavoidable," says the expert.

Holiday start late:

If the holiday can only be started later due to a strike, a distinction must be made between package and individual travel. “In the case of short strikes, package travelers can be expected to start their holiday slightly late and there is no right to cancel, at most to a price reduction. In the event of longer strikes, individual travelers can claim back the flight costs, but still have to pay for the booked hotel or the cancellation costs incurred, unless an accommodating solution can be found. Getting to the resort is at your own risk,” explains the expert. 

“Stranded” at the airport:

“According to the EU passenger rights regulation, an airline or tour operator must look after its stranded customers with a departure delay of two hours or more (for flights within Europe) – regardless of whether the company is responsible for the delays or cancellations of flights or not,” says Pronebner. Food and drinks can be consumed in relation to the waiting time. If the flight is postponed to another day, the airline or tour operator must also bear the hotel and transfer costs. “In practice, however, only very small amounts are reimbursed, so that the costs for meals at the airport are almost never covered. An adjustment to the passenger rights regulation is urgently needed here,” criticizes Pronebner.