Passengers who face flight cancellations are entitled to a refund of the ticket or to an airline providing an alternative means of transport to their final destination, as outlined by the European Aviation Safety Agency (AESA).
In addition to the Ryanair cabin crew strikes that span Monday through Thursday, there are planned walkouts by easyJet pilots and Iberia Express cabin crew from 28 August to 6 September this month.
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that strikes carried out by an airline’s own staff do not constitute an “extraordinary circumstance” and do not relieve the airline of its obligation to pay compensation in the event of flight cancellations or long delays.
Passengers’ rights are set out in European Regulation 261/2004 on delays, cancellations and denied boarding, which specifies the option to choose between a refund or alternative transport to the final destination.
Strike day at Ryanair opens Thursday with 22 delays and no cancellations
If a delay exceeds five hours, a passenger can abandon the flight and request a ticket refund. In this scenario, no additional financial compensation is provided.
cash back
The ticket price must be refunded in cash. Reimbursement typically occurs within seven days and can be paid by bank transfer, check, or cash. Travel vouchers may be offered if both parties agree.
If an alternative flight is delayed or departs more than two hours later than scheduled, the airline should provide complimentary food and drink and, if necessary, accommodation and transportation between the airport and lodging.
If the airline does not cover these costs, passengers should keep all invoices for expenses caused by the delay or cancellation to claim later, AESA reminds.
Compensation between 250 and 600 Euros
Passengers on canceled flights or arriving with a delay of more than three hours are eligible for compensation: 250 euros for flights up to 1,500 kilometers; 400 euros for flights within the Community longer than 1,500 kilometers and up to 3,500 kilometers; and 600 euros for other cases.
In a strike situation, the airline may be exempt from paying compensation if it proves that it informed the passenger and offered alternative transport with at least two weeks’ notice of cancellation or seven days’ notice.
Requests should be directed to the airline, but if passengers believe their rights were not respected, they can file a claim with AESA and pursue legal action if needed.
Delays on trains and buses
If a train is delayed by more than 60 minutes, the passenger is entitled to 25% of the ticket price; this increases to 50% after a two-hour delay.
For bus travel, if a delay exceeds two hours, the passenger may request a ticket refund or an alternative transport fee.
For boat trips, travelers are entitled to a refund or alternative transport if the departure delays by more than ninety minutes, with compensation ranging from 25% to 50% of the ticket price depending on the length of the delay.
Passengers have the right to free food and drink during delays. The Ministry of Consumption notes that compensation may cover hotel nights and related transfers if delay extends into the next day’s travel.
baggage loss
When a transport company loses luggage, passengers should notify the responsible company in writing; otherwise, compensation rights may be lost, according to Consumption guidance.
If traveling by plane, the loss must be reported to the airline before departure, which should issue an Irregularity Report (PIR). This document is essential to recover luggage and receive compensation up to 1,600 euros. If more than 21 days pass, the luggage is considered lost.
The maximum compensation for train travel is 1,400 euros. Compensation for loss per passenger by bus is up to 450 euros when the journey exceeds 250 kilometers.
For boat trips, compensation for loss, delay or damage can reach up to 2,700 euros for cabin baggage and 15,500 euros per vehicle.