So Aer Lingus pilots have supported the strike action, when will it happen?
We don’t know for sure yet. What we do know is that the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) – the union representing pilots – must give the airline at least seven days’ notice before any industrial action takes place, so nothing will happen until early next week to happen. very earliest.
And what impact is the strike likely to have on the traveling public?
Again, we don’t know for sure. However, we are heading into the busiest travel time of the year and Aer Lingus is likely to fly more than 40,000 passengers every day until the end of the summer.
If the pilots call for a single day of action, the plans of many of those 40,000 people will likely be thrown into disarray.
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Some of them?
If industrial action takes place and Aer Lingus cannot fly its own planes, it will try to hire planes and crews from other airlines to fly key routes.
The company will be helped in that endeavor by being part of the IAG group which also owns British Airways and Iberia, but it is also the busiest time of year for those airlines so the availability of other aircraft will be limited .
What are my rights if my flight is canceled due to a strike?
The airline has clear obligations to all its passengers under EU Directive 261. If you are traveling to another country and your outbound flight is cancelled, Aer Lingus must offer a refund or rerouting on the next available flight or at a later time of your choice.
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And what happens if I am abroad and have to come home on a canceled flight?
You have the same rights under EU Regulation 261 to a refund or re-routing on the next available flight or at a later time of your choice.
The airline also has a duty to take its passengers home and care for them abroad until they are able to do so.
This means that passengers are legally entitled to meals and refreshments while stranded and, if necessary, they must cover the costs of hotel accommodation and transport between the hotel and the airport.
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And will the airline arrange my accommodation and food?
It could be, but it is not more likely. If you are abroad and the airline does not provide the care and assistance it should, you must make reasonable arrangements yourself.
The definition of reasonable is broad, but people who stay in a modestly priced hotel and eat in modestly priced restaurants while they wait for the strike to end will be able to reclaim that money. It is incredibly important to keep all receipts as they will be needed to file the claim.
And do I send the receipts to the airline?
It is important that you send copies of all receipts to Aer Lingus (it is very important that the original documentation is never sent in case it is lost).
Entries must also include booking references, passenger names and original and new flight details. If you do not get your money back within a reasonable time (e.g. four weeks), contact the Irish Aviation Authority.
And can I be compensated?
There is a good chance that you can expect compensation. While strikes by baggage handlers or air traffic controllers are considered extraordinary circumstances beyond Aer Lingus’s control, internal strikes are not, meaning compensation payable under EU regulations must be paid.
The amount of compensation payable depends on the distance of the flight. If the flight is classified as short distance, the amount to be paid is €250 per person. It costs €400 for a medium-haul flight and €600 per person for a long-haul flight.
To give you an idea of the distances: Dublin to Paris is a short distance, Dublin to Barcelona is a medium distance and Dublin to New York is a long distance.
And will the airline reimburse the cost of the lost hotel accommodation?
No. But some travel insurance policies can cover travel disruptions. Many don’t do this, so you should check the terms and conditions carefully.