The four-day Easter weekend from Good Friday to Easter Monday is nearly upon us. You can expect crowds and queues at the best of times, but this weekend, travellers setting off from Gatwick airport face cancellations due to strike action.
The UK’s second biggest airport could be hit by significant disruption when hundreds of baggage handlers and flight dispatchers working for Red Handling Staff take industrial action over their pension schemes, the Unite union announced last week.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Workers have had enough of Red Handling playing fast and loose with their retirement plans and waiting weeks for pay they are rightfully owed for their hard work.”
It is still unclear if the strike will go ahead, as a resolution may still be found. If it goes ahead, the strike action will apply to the entire four days, Friday, April 18 and will last the entire Easter weekend until early morning on Tuesday, April 22.
Which airlines could be affected?
The airlines affected by the walk-outs will include Delta, TAP, Air Peace and Norwegian Airlines.
There may be long queues and disruptions at check-in desks, and travellers should get to the airport earlier than usual to allow plenty of time to check in.
What about compensation?
Unfortunately, in these circumstances, airlines are not obliged to offer compensation. Baggage handlers and flight dispatchers aren’t employed by airlines, so the strike action is considered an ‘extraordinary circumstance’ and out of their control.
However, the airlines still have a duty of care and offer refunds or replacement flights. Airlines should offer food, a place to stay while they arrange for an alternative flight.
Guy Anker, Director at Compare the Market, said: “Many carriers will offer rebooking options or refunds if services are disrupted. However, if the airline is forced to cancel the flight due to circumstances outside of its control, then you might not be entitled to compensation from it. If this is the case, check if you can make a claim on your travel insurance policy. Depending on your policy, your travel insurance could allow you to reclaim your holiday cancellation costs and may cover costs arising from missed connections or delays caused by the strike. However, some travel insurance policies specifically exclude cover for strikes, so check the terms and conditions.
“Also, remember that a travel insurance policy won’t cover you for strike action if you buy it after the strike has been announced, which has happened already. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get insured if you’ve got a holiday booked as a policy can cover a raft of other circumstances. Travellers can compare a range of travel insurance policies on our website to ensure they’re covered for unexpected disruptions in the future.”