Can I get my money back if my flight is cancelled?

A historic strike at Zurich Airport is becoming more and more likely. The pilots of the Swiss airline overwhelmingly approved the strike demand of the pilots union Aeropers on Sunday. Next weekend, Aeropers President Clemens Kopetz will meet with Swiss CEO Dieter Vranckx (49) for the final round of negotiations. Unless a new collective bargaining agreement (GAV) is agreed upon – pilots demand higher wages and more flexible working hours – a strike should become a reality on the last weekend of October, Blick knows.

What should passengers of Lufthansa’s subsidiary Swiss prepare for? The most important questions and answers:

Which flights will be affected by the strike?

All scheduled Swiss flights are on the weekend of 29 and 30 October. Although then the autumn holidays will be largely over, hundreds of flights to and from Zurich, and thus tens of thousands of passengers, will be affected. For example, long-distance connections with Los Angeles or New York (USA), Hong Kong or Sao Paulo (Brazil), as well as numerous short-haul destinations such as Berlin (Germany), Barcelona (Spain) or London (Great Britain).

Are Edelweiss flights also threatened by the strike?

no Edelweiss pilots negotiated their own collective bargaining agreement (GAV). They would not join the strike.

Have there been any pilot strikes in Switzerland?

Yes. On September 26, 2006, the pilots of the Euro fleet went on strike – then only the European business of Switzerland was affected. The strike lasted all day and resulted in the cancellation of 128 flights.

What can I do if my flight is canceled due to the strike?

“Basically, the customer has a right to claim compensation,” says Compparis expert Felix Schneuwly (62). If you have booked directly through them, you must report this to the airline. If you have booked through a travel agency, you will need to contact them. In both cases, the customer is entitled to a free change of reservation or a refund of the amount.

Is there a catch?

Yes. For example, if you have booked the rental car and the hotel separately, you may be stuck with costs. “If I book my trip individually, I have a different contact person for each issue,” Schneuwly says. Travel insurance won’t help in the event of a strike. “Normally, they do not cover the costs of flight cancellations due to strikes.” You are only on the safe side if you have booked the entire trip through a travel agent.

What do tour operators say?

“We regret that we went on strike. This will require a significant amount of additional work,” says Hotelplan spokesperson Tanja Pöll. Some customers have already asked what would happen to flights in the event of a strike.

Sounds similar to Kuoni. “We have confidence in the Swiss and Aeropers that they are aware of their responsibilities and are doing everything they can to prevent a strike,” spokesman Markus Flick said. In the worst-case scenario, the person will be prepared. “We have a lot of experience in rebooking flights in Kuoni. The corona pandemic has made this necessary again and again. There are also frequent strikes in Germany and France,” Flick says.