Turbulence ahead: what travellers need to know about the upcoming Aer Lingus industrial action

With summer now is full swing and the school holidays about to begin, many of us will be looking forward to our annual getaway over the coming weeks.  

However if you’ve booked a flight with Aer Lingus then feelings of excitement may have turned to feelings of worry as upcoming industrial action at the airline threatens to throw holidaymakers' plans into disarray.  

In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know from understanding the reasons behind the action to practical tips for minimising travel hassles.

The background 

For the past year or so Aer Lingus pilots who are members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) have been in dispute with their employer over pay. 

The union is seeking a pay rise of 23.8% over three years for pilots, which would be similar to what British Airlines – another airline within IAG, the owner of Aer Lingus – awarded its pilots in 2019. The pilots claim they haven't had a pay rise since 2019 and that the sought after increase is merely in line with increases in inflation since then.

Perhaps, unsurprisingly, IAG has baulked at the union’s demands saying it would cost up to €45m extra a year to implement and increase some pilots’ pay by more than €50,000 a year to around €350,000. It's offered a 12.25% pay increase instead while the Labour Court recommended an interim increase of 9.25%. However both deals were resoundingly rejected by the pilots on the recommendation of the IALPA.

And as a result, industrial action is now being taken.

What’s the latest update?

Aer Lingus pilots will go on an indefinite work-to-rule from Wednesday 26th June. This action will see pilots refusing to work overtime or conduct any out-of-hours tasks requested by management. Pilots will also refuse to answer work calls outside of working hours and refuse any requests to change their rosters.

This is likely to significantly disrupt the day-to-day running of Aer Lingus as airlines require a degree of flexibility from pilots and cabin crew to operate smoothly. Especially during the busy summer months. As a result significant flight delays and flight cancellations are expected. 

The effect is likely to be cumulative with delays and cancellations increasing the longer the work-to-rule goes on. And Donal Moriarty, the airline’s chief corporate affairs officer, has said that the impact on passengers will be “significant”. 

Already Aer Lingus has cancelled over 100 flights for the first five days of the work-to-rule action. And in an escalation of the dispute, pilots will go on an eight-hour all-out strike on Saturday 29th June, resulting in over 100 more flights being cancelled. A further 50 flights have been cancelled for Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd July and over 120 flights have just been cancelled between Wednesday 3rd and Sunday 7th July.

A complete all-out strike and full withdrawal of labour by pilots also remains a threat in the days ahead. 

What are my rights?

Firstly, the good news. 

If an event takes place that is entirely outside an airline’s control, it can usually avoid having to pay out compensation - think cancellation due to war or extreme weather events. Cancellation due to strikes by third parties is another example. These are often called ‘force majeure’ events in the insurance industry.    

However this doesn’t apply here as this event is technically within Aer Lingus’s control.

This means if your flight is delayed or cancelled then the usual EU compensation rules apply. 

If Aer Lingus cancels your flight then you have the right to ONE of the following:

1. A full refund of the cost of your flight within seven days by the original method of payment
2. Being placed on another flight to your destination at the earliest opportunity or, 
3. A re-routing at a later date at your own convenience subject to availability

On top of this you may also be entitled to compensation. The level of compensation depends on the length of your flight (short, medium or long), how much notice you were given about the cancellation, the distance of your flight and/or the length of the delay in getting to your destination.

You won’t be entitled to any compensation if Aer Lingus informs you of the flight cancellation more than 14 days in advance of your flight’s departure (however you’re still entitled to a full refund or a rerouting of course).

Where you choose to get a refund, and you're also entitled to compensation, the following compensation must be paid: 

If your flight is delayed, or you choose the option of rerouting onto another flight, your compensation will depend on the distance of your flight and the delay you experienced in reaching your final destination: 

You can find more info here on your rights in the event of a flight cancellation.

I bought through a travel agent. What are my rights?

If you bought a package holiday through a travel agent then you have additional rights. Contact your travel agent or tour operator directly for more information. 

I'm due to fly on a domestic flight. Am I impacted?

No. Aer Lingus regional flights won't be affected because they are operated by a separate company Emerald Airlines.

Should I just cancel my Aer Lingus flight?

It depends on the type of ticket you bought with Aer Lingus.

If you bought a standard ‘Saver’ or ‘Plus’ fare, as most people do, then you’ll receive no refund from the airline if you cancel your flight. So there’s not much point in cancelling as you’re just losing money on the basis you might be disrupted.

However if you booked a premium ‘Advantage’ or ‘AerSpace’ ticket then you can cancel and get a refund which you could then use to book with another airline. Though you’ll probably find that prices have significantly increased.   

You’ll receive no compensation under EU rules if you cancel your flight yourself regardless of the type of fare that you have. Compensation is only ever paid to those who have officially checked in for a flight and are willing and able to fly.

Assistance at the airport 

Airlines also need to provide you with care and assistance while you’re left waiting to get to your final destination. This includes:

• Food and refreshments
• Accommodation (if you are rebooked to travel the next day)
• Transport to your accommodation and return to the airport
• Two telephone calls, telex, fax messages or emails

If Aer Lingus doesn’t provide the above assistance and you’re forced to make your own arrangements, you should retain all your receipts as you’ll be entitled to a refund of your expenses.

However in all cases your expenses should be reasonable and appropriate so don’t go booking five-star hotels and Michelin restaurants! 

What about compensation for cancelling accommodation? 

If your flight gets cancelled or delayed you’re not entitled to any compensation from Aer Lingus for accommodation that you booked yourself. 

Any compensation or refund will depend on the terms and conditions of the provider you booked with e.g. Airbnb or Booking.com etc.   

If your flight gets delayed make sure you’re up-to-speed on what the check-in rules with your accommodation provider are. This is where booking into a hotel has an advantage as you can generally check in easily at any time as long as you let reception know you'll be running late and there'll usually always be someone there to greet you. 

It’s more complicated with self-service check-ins. Often check-in codes to collect keys expire after a certain time. And if you need to meet someone to get the key, you’ll have to rearrange the correct time and place to meet them. And you may be charged a fee if you check in late or outside of certain hours.   

What about my travel insurance?

Your travel insurance may cover you for some loss if you purchased it several weeks ago. 

However in insurance terms the industrial action at Aer Lingus is now known as a 'known event'. So any policies purchased on or after 13th June 2024, when pilots notified Aer Lingus about the industrial action, won't cover you.  

For any policies purchased BEFORE this date your claim will be reviewed in line with your policy terms and conditions.

Anything else?

Some people love to relax on holiday and take everything on a day-by-day basis. Others like to plan things down to the hour and pre-book attractions for almost every day. 

But given the uncertainty about whether you'll make it to your destination on time it might be best to postpone pre-booking any attractions unless you can be sure you can get a full refund from the operator or your insurance provider in case you can't make it. 

Aer Lingus may also cancel or delay your flight at the last minute. Even after you've arrived at the airport and have checked in. You may not get much notice. So prepare for the worst and hope for the best. 

Airport food can be expensive and often there isn't much choice. Bring adequate food and drink with you. A good book to pass the time. Fully charged phones and laptops. And something to keep the kids entertained. And keep your phone and laptop chargers with you - don't place them in your checked-in baggage.

And think about how you'll get home from the airport or to your accommodation abroad if your flight is delayed. If you arrive late into Dublin or Malaga airport at 2am your only option home may be an expensive taxi. And you may need to pay additional parking charges if you're late arriving back home to collect your car. And on the subject of parking... 

Car parking 

Unfortunately flight delays aren't the only thing passengers have to worry about this summer. 

Those arriving at Dublin Airport by car may struggle to find parking due to a lack of space. 

The CCPC, the competition authority, recently blocked the sale of a vacant car park to DAA. And while the decision should have longer-term benefits for passengers, in the short term at least, it’s likely to cause headaches for those flying from Dublin Airport at busy times over the coming year.

So make sure you book your parking well in advance so that you’re not disappointed. Also, consider travelling to the airport by bus or taxi or arrange to get dropped off.