You could now be able to get up to £530 compensation if your airline cancels a flight due to a strike
The UK’s aviation regulator says it is unlikely a planned strike by the airline's own staff would be deemed as an 'extraordinary circumstance'
BRITS struck by British Airways’ delays or flight cancellations over the two-week cabin crew strike in July may be able to claim up to £530, consumer site MoneySavingExpert.com has found.
Earlier this month Unite announced that British Airways cabin crew will stage a two-week strike in a long-running dispute over pay and travel concessions.
“Conversely, wild cat strikes, where no notice is given, would be more likely to fall under the definition of an extraordinary circumstance.";
A spokesperson for British Airways told the Sun Online: “We understand the uncertainty that the threatened industrial action is causing, and we would like to reassure our customers that the vast majority of our services will be unaffected.”
BA said all flights to and from Gatwick, London City and Stansted will operate as normal, as will the recently-launched Mediterranean services to and from Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester.
The vast majority of flights to and from Heathrow will also operate as normal, according to BA.
If you’re not able to claim online, you can write to: British Airways Customer Relations, EU Compensation Claims, PO Box 1126, Uxbridge, UB8 9XS
If your claim is rejected – and you think you have a case – you can raise a complaint through the for free.
MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis said there seems to be a “never-ending debate” about what is an airline's fault and what isn't.
He said: "Usually it's accepted that industrial action isn't an airline's fault. But that's generally when it's other staff such as air traffic control - the situation is more complicated when it's the airline's own staff.
"Arguably if they have had a long time and due notice of the strike, then why should it be seen as an extraordinary circumstance? The airline should be able to put plans in place to prevent detriment to customers”
"The problem here is the only people who can actually decide if it is the airline's fault or not are the courts."
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