GermanWings Pilot Strike

james_lawless

Last year I was due to travel to Berlin from Birmingham with German Wings. Less than twenty-four hours before departure I was contacted by text-message to tell me that my flight was cancelled due to industrial action. Having eventually got through to their customer services I was told I could have a refund or book on the next available flight which was three days later (effectively leaving me with 1 day of a 4 day stay in Berlin). I cancelled and obtained a refund when they refused to help me book with another carrier.


I had booked an airport hotel (non-refundable) as it was an early departure, I had to book a new flight from Manchester and another overnight stay in an airport hotel. I complained directly to the airline about this and asked for reimbursement for the additional costs, they flatly refused all compensation.

I have now complained to the CAA about this but I was wondering if the Pilot Strike counts within the Industrial Action aspect of the Extraordinary Circumstances, given a pilot strike is within the control of the carrier.

JPears

In a word no. Pilot strike is NOT EC.
Send your NBA then start legal proceedings.