Travel question of the day: Simon Calder on claiming compensation following a pilots’ strike

Have a travel question that needs answering? Ask our expert Simon Calder

Strike action meant SAS flights from Stockholm were cancelled (Getty)

Q I was booked on SAS from Stockholm to Manchester last weekend, when Swedish pilots went on strike. The airline did not make any attempt to contact me (or the other passengers) I met to inform us that our flights were cancelled. I found out on arrival at the airport three hours before departure.

Eventually the staff at the airport advised me to take a coach they were arranging to Copenhagen and they booked me on a flight to Manchester the following morning.

As I booked directly with the airline, I feel that it should have been their responsibility to contact me and other passengers earlier to inform us of the strike action and cancellation. I feel that this is appropriate for compensation. Also, Is there any guidance regarding minimum efforts that need to be made to inform of strike action?

Tulasi Chadalavada

A I find it surprising that SAS apparently made no attempt to contact you, especially since you booked direct with the airline, rather than via a third party. Having said that, as far as I know there is no legal stipulation about how an airline should tell you in advance of disruption.

In terms of compensation: according to Europe’s passengers’ rights rules, strikes count as an “extraordinary circumstance”. Therefore you are not entitled to the standard compensation of €250 for the cancellation of that flight. You might well feel that SAS is responsible for the work, or lack thereof, of its staff. But the EC261 rules on compensation exclude delays and cancellations caused by strikes. Otherwise, the thinking goes, unions would be given extra power to damage airlines financially, by making them liable for tens of thousands of pounds in compensation every time a flight is cancelled.

Whatever the cause of disruption, SAS is responsible for accommodation and meals until it can get you to your destination. Often in such circumstances airlines fail to meet their obligations; passengers should therefore keep receipts for all the expenses incurred because of the cancellation.

Every day, our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder