The Consumer Council on the SAS strike: – Have ice in your stomach

If you are going to leave next week, it might be a good idea to make a plan B, says consumer lawyer Thomas Iversen in the Consumer Council to NTB.

– If it is a very important journey, then it may be a good idea to check out alternative routes by bus, train or other airlines. For example, if you are going to a wedding, says Iversen.

– Ha is i magen

He adds that even if you make a plan B, you should not book new tickets before the flight is possibly cancelled.

– If you have plane tickets and travel plans, you must first of all plan as if it will be a turn, because the strike can be called off, says Iversen.

– You are not entitled to compensation for alternative tickets if the flight leaves. The same applies if SAS manages to rebook you relatively quickly. Have ice in your stomach, but make a plan B.

On Sunday afternoon, there were at least 40 SAS cancellations on Sunday. There may be more in the next few days.

On Friday, 120 cabin crew in SAS went on strike after they could not reach an agreement with the SAS management in the collective bargaining negotiations. The conflict concerns both wages and working conditions.

Two groups of consumers who make contact

The Consumer Council says that they are noticing an increase in the use of the services, which The Norwegian Consumer Council’s flight rights calculator which shows which rights apply to a journey.

– There are mainly two groups of consumers who contact and use our services. There are those who experience cancellations, and those who have not yet experienced cancellations, but will be traveling very soon.

He emphasizes that since the strike is taking place outside the public holiday, it means that the consequences will be less overall. But he points out that the consequences of the SAS strike are starting to kick in.

Three alternatives if you are hit

If you are affected by a strike, the lawyer says that you have three options:

– You have the right to be rebooked as soon as possible, but it can be difficult when there is a strike, he points out.

– You can also choose to be rebooked for a later date or get your money back.

Iversen emphasizes that you are entitled to compensation according to standardized rates, which range from 250 to 600 euros per passenger. He also advises people not to cancel the tickets themselves, unless the tickets are completely flexible and you do not need to travel.

– When the cancellation is a fact, you have good rights, he adds in conclusion.