Traveling to Europe this summer? Airline strikes could impact your trip — here's what to do if your flight is affected

03.08.2023 - 18:23 / insider.com

Chaotic schedules, safety issues, and lack of negotiation are a few reasons why aviation unions across Europe are striking. 

From the UK to France, Italy, and Spain, countries across Europe have already seen aviation strikes cause thousands of flight cancellations this summer, Reuters reported.

And according to Euronews, strikes could continue to lead to flight cancellations in multiple countries throughout August. Here's what to do if your travel plans are affected by a strike. 

From pilots to airline workers, aviation strikes may cause your flight to be delayed or canceled. Although this is out of your control as a customer, knowing your rights is key to getting through it, according to Passengers Friend, a company that helps travelers deal with these issues. 

The official European Union website states that in the event of a strike, travelers can receive benefits from the airline if their flight is canceled or delayed.

However, this depends on who is on strike, according to the same source. If the strike is internal, meaning it includes people who work for the airline, the airline must provide compensation. But if the strike is external, meaning it only includes workers outside the airline, such as airport staff, the airline is not required to compensate.

But in either case, the airline should offer you alternative transportation, Ben Mutzabaugh, senior aviation editor for The Points Guy, told Insider.

Mutzabaugh explained an example of what could happen in the event of an external strike. 

"If there is an air-traffic controllers strike in France, then the airline would not be on the hook in most circumstances to compensate passengers for delays or cancellations," he said. "However, the passengers still have the right that they would have normally when flying, and in this case, the airline would be obligated to get the passenger to their destination on the next available flight, or to refund them in a cancellation if the passenger chooses to stop traveling."

Passengers of flights impacted by third-party strikes will need to contact their specific airline to find out whether or not they'd be required to pay the price difference for alternative transportation.

Travelers may agree that this process is taxing, but there are ways to avoid strikes impacting your trip.

First, check the news. To stay up to date on potential strikes leading up to your trip, sign up for airline travel alerts.

"These strikes in Europe are frequently telegraphed fairly far in advance, so you are unlikely to be caught by surprise," Mutzabaugh told Insider. 

If you find that your flight may be impacted by a strike, Mutzabaugh recommends arriving at the airport with a few alternative options in mind for getting to your