by We’re becoming all too familiar with strikes affecting our daily lives – and upcoming industrial action could also throw spring break plans into disarray.
A new wave of strikes has been announced, with more than 300 Border Officers expected to go on strike at the end of April. This is the latest development in a series of walkouts affecting travel in Britain, and one that could cause disruption.
Rail strikes by Aslef, the train drivers’ union, have also been announced for early May.
Here we round up the travel strikes across the UK and Europe in the coming months and give you advice on what to do if your plans are upset. This page will be updated regularly to reflect the latest information, but please note that some strikes will be announced with little notice.
Travel disruption this spring
SAY
Railway strikes
Aslef members in the UK are planning a series of rail strikes in early May. The move is the latest in a long-running pay dispute between staff, operators and the Department for Transport.
Train drivers at c2c, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express and South Western Railway will all go on strike on Tuesday 7 May.
This will be followed by a 24-hour walkout at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Rail, CrossCountry, East Midland Rail, Great Western Rail and West Midland Trains on Wednesday 8 May. The following day, LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express will see disruption.
Passengers are advised to check train companies’ websites before travelling, and be warned: services may be disrupted the day after the walkout, as well as on the day of the strike itself. While there are strikes by English operators contracted to the DfT, cross-border services to Scotland and Wales may also be affected.
Border Force meets at Heathrow Airport
More than 300 UK Border Force officers at Heathrow – Britain’s busiest airport – will go on strike from 29 April to 2 May.
According to the PCS union, officers are taking action to contest changes to the shift pattern. More than 90 per cent of members voted to walk out, with the union’s general secretary, Fran Heathcote, saying: “The Home Office should be doing all it can to keep skilled staff – not lose them through a roster system introduce new unworkable.”
In response, the Home Office promised to reduce the impact on holidaymakers, promising “robust plans to minimize delays”. At this stage, it is not known how the strikes will be managed, but consider extra time at the airport as a precaution and check the latest advice from your airline.
What to do if strike action disrupts your travel plans
“There can be no excuse for airlines playing fast and loose with their legal obligations if flights are delayed or cancelled,” says travel writer Jo Rhodes. “Time and time again, passengers have had to be re-routed to competing carriers or helped because airlines have not kept their side of the bargain.” Travelers are advised to “prepare for disruption to their journey”.
Before you travel, check if there are any strikes in your destination and plan accordingly. Local train strikes, for example, could cause problems for travel from the airport once they arrive.
Below, we outline your rights in relation to major modes of transport. Find our comprehensive guide to all the advice you’ll need this summer here.
Flights
If your flight is delayed or canceled due to strike action, contact your airline immediately. Airlines are obliged to offer assistance such as food and drink or accommodation in the event of extensive delays due to industrial action. Most will try to put you on another flight, space permitting.
In the case of fully canceled flights, whether you are entitled to compensation depends on whether the strike is considered something that the airline could reasonably control. In the case of European air traffic control strikes, for example, this would not be seen as the responsibility of the airline. However, those who have booked a package holiday may be protected by rules set by the tour operator or travel industry bodies.
Generally, under UK and EU law, you are only entitled to a refund if your carrier notifies you that your flight has been canceled less than 14 days from the date you are due to fly .
Rhodes warns vacationers to check insurance policies carefully. “This summer is shaping up to be one of the busiest in recent memory, and it’s vital that airlines and airports work together to keep travelers informed of any potential issues.”
“Make sure you have travel insurance from the date you book your holiday and check the policy carefully to make sure it covers you in the event of a strike.”
Unfortunately for travelers still to buy, once industrial action is announced (even without exact dates) travelers would not be able to buy cover for strikes.
For more information on what to do if your flight is delayed or cancelled, read our comprehensive guide here.
Eurostar trains and services
If you have bought an advance ticket and the train is rescheduled or canceled due to a strike, you are entitled to a change or refund.
The refund process depends on each operator, but most have a simple “delayed refund” system. Be sure to contact the retailer you purchased the ticket from.
For Eurostar, if your train has been canceled or announced as being delayed more than 60 minutes before departure, you can reschedule your journey to another date or exchange your ticket for an e-confirmation, which you can use to book again later in the year. or claim a refund. Those whose trains have been delayed after departure are entitled to partial refunds, depending on the length of the delay. Find out more here.
Ferries
According to trade body Abta, if your ferry is expected to be delayed or cancelled, you should be provided with free snacks, meals and refreshments for the waiting time. Refreshments should be provided even if the cancellation is due to bad weather (considered beyond the company’s control).
When your ferry operator cancels your service due to strike action, they should offer an alternative or a refund.
You are entitled to compensation of 25 per cent of the price of your ticket, for that part of the journey concerned, if your service to you is delayed by at least:
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an hour on a four-hour journey
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two hours for journeys between four and eight hours
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three hours for journeys between eight and 24 hours
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six hours for journeys longer than 24 hours
If the delay is more than twice the scheduled time, the compensation should be equal to 50 per ticket price. The ferry operator must pay compensation within one month of submitting a substantiated claim for compensation. Passengers should note that compensation is not payable where the delay was caused by weather conditions that jeopardized the safe operation of the ferry or by unavoidable extraordinary circumstances that prevented sailing.
This piece is regularly updated with the latest strike news.
