Milesopedia, a leading French frequent-traveller site, published a 9 October explainer detailing compensation rules under EU Regulation 261/2004 as multiple airline and air-traffic-control strikes loom this month. The guide clarifies that labour actions by an airline’s own staff—such as the Air Corsica dispute—are not considered ‘extraordinary circumstances’, meaning affected travellers can claim up to €600 in cash compensation, meals, hotels and re-routing. The article urges passengers to keep boarding passes, request written explanations of cancellations and use the official DGAC list of accepted extraordinary events when carriers deny payouts. It also warns that third-party strike-claim agencies often deduct fees of 25-35 %, and encourages direct filings through the airline first. For corporate mobility teams, proactive communication is key: issuing template claim letters and tracking payouts centrally can recoup significant costs, especially when group bookings are involved. Companies should also audit their travel-insurance policies, which may offer additional cover for staff stranded longer than 12 hours. With further industrial action by Air France cabin crew threatened for 17-21 October, the reminder comes at an opportune time for firms to brief travellers on their rights and claim procedures.
Source: Milesopedia
