I’m going to have to wait a bit longer for my first flight on Air France…my flight to Paris was cancelled due to a strike.
My afternoon flight from Venice to Paris was unceremoniously canceled sometime between 8-12 hours before departure. Although Air France boasted that 85% of its intra-Europe flights were operating during the strike, my flight was one of the lucky 15%.
As I mentioned yesterday, I booked this ticket via American Express. Unfortunately, I received no notice of the cancelation: thankfully I found out when checking in online.
Air France asks for your record locator and flight number in order to check-in online. When I first attempted to check-in, I received an error message stating my record could not be found. Upon navigating to the “check my trip” portion of the Air France website, I found I had been rebooked on a late evening flight from Venice to Paris.
My dinner meeting in Paris was absolutely essential, so I jumped into action. I knew the only other option was EasyJet and quickly secured space. I’ll have a post on that tomorrow.
I have reached out to Air France for a refund and EU261 compensation. I believe Air France will say I booked this as a through fare and therefore even with the delay I would not have arrived in Amsterdam late. But my response will be that I performed a multi-city search, booking a one-way from Venice to Paris and another from Paris to Amsterdam. Why else would I schedule in 15 hours in Paris?
CONCLUSION
Every cliché has some basis in reality. The French love of striking is certainly alive and well. Hopefully when I actually do get to fly Air France for the first time, it will be in La Premiere…
I believe Air France will say, “EU261 Compensation???” Sorry, American Rookie, Strikes Don’t Count.
That’s incorrect. See AF link in my article.
“you are entitled to compensation except in the following circumstances:
If the cancelation was due to extraordinary circumstances that could not be avoided. For example: bad weather conditions, political instability, strike…”
1.2 CANCELATION COMPENSATION
In the event that your flight is canceled, you are entitled to compensation except in the following circumstances:
If the cancelation was due to extraordinary circumstances that could not be avoided. For example: bad weather conditions, political instability, strike, security concerns on the ground and/or in flight
No Eu261 on strike for sure – tried and tested extraordinary circumstances (despite the fact an AF strike is anything but !!)
If it’s a strike of AF staff, then EC261 applies (compensation). If it’s a strike of e.g. airport staff, then no EC261 compensation (however, other articles of the regulation still apply).
In any case, they were obliged to book you on the earliest available flight (under same travel conditions; that is total travel time, number of transfers, class of service etc.). You’ve chosen to make the arrangement yourself, hence, on top of the refund for AF ticket, you should also ask for the price difference between AF and U2 tickets
Thanks.
So now you better than to try flying AF. Consider that a dodged bullet!
No EU261 applies for the strike action for sure. If you think know better, try posting on the FB forum on FT and see how it goes down. That doesn’t mean you can’t seek recourse with AF, but EU261 is not the way you’ll achieve it.
*now you know better*
damn lack of editing capabilitydxcdds`d`
Had similar experience last week when I was returning with my family back from vacation from Naples, Italy to Cincinnati. Airfrance connecting flight from Naples to Paris was Unceremoniously cancelled. This affected our connecting flight from Paris to Cincy. No notification on the cancellation. The best is to check a day before or if you don’t get a 24 hours checkin notice in your email start to sense that something is going go bad. Be prepared. Be on the lookout. Also be ready for the ugly finger pointing between AF and it’s afffliates (skyteam)