Cabin crew working for Ireland’s budget airline, Ryanair, are threatening 24-hour strikes over working conditions and salary disputes. Unions representing the Mediterranean-based staff called for the strikes to take place on Tuesday 8th, Thursday 10th and Sunday 13th January 2019.
If the strikes go ahead as planned, holidaymakers looking to travel to and from Spain could be facing delays and disruption.
Ryanair has already met with several unions to resolve the dispute, but failed to reach an agreement. As it stands Ryanair’s staff have Irish-based contracts, however employees are requesting these contracts are changed to align with local laws.
Passengers should contact their airline directly if they are affected by strike or industrial action. In the instance of a delayed or cancelled flight, under these circumstances, the airline has a duty of care to either refund any unused tickets, or re-book passengers on the next available flight. The airline does not have to provide food or accommodation in this instance.
If passengers, who are returning to the UK, are delayed or their flight is cancelled then Ryanair hold the responsibility to rearrange a flight home, and arrange accommodation is necessary.
Those looking to claim for delays or cancellation, due to the strike, should check their travel insurance carefully. Most insurers will not cover claims related to strike or industrial action, especially if the strike has already been announced before the travel date.
Threats of strike action aren’t the only hiccup Ryanair customers are facing, just three days into the New Year. Ryanair customers are facing fees of over £100 for name changes that occurred due to a fault with the airline’s website.
Customers are taking to online forums and social media to complain that the budget-airlines booking system changed the surname of anyone on the booking to match the lead passenger. Those who noticed the mistake within 24-hours were able to amend the details, however at least 44 customers who didn’t spot the error are being charged £115.00.
Ryanair is yet to admit the error, leaving customers no choice but to pay the fee. The budget airline was in the headlines on numerous occasions in 2018, and it seems 2019 isn’t looking promising.